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What Are Council Rates and Charges?
Council rates help fund essential local services, facilities and infrastructure across the Inner West such as:
- Waste and recycling services
- Roads, footpaths and drainage
- Parks, libraries, and community centres
- Sports grounds and open spaces
- Local programs, events and community services
Council’s rates are determined in accordance with the Local Government Act 1993.
How Rates Are Calculated:
Rate Increase
The general rates increase for each year is advised by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), who are a State Government regulatory body. For the 2025/26 Financial Year, IPART determined that the rate increase for Inner West Council is 3.7% for the entire Council rates revenue base – not individual properties.
Land Values and Ad Valorem Rate
Rates for individual properties are calculated based on land values provided by the NSW Valuer General, in accordance with the Valuation of Land Act.
Council calculates general rates by:
- Taking your property’s land value and
- Multiplying it by the ad valorem rate (rate in the dollar) that applies to your property’s rating category.
A different ad valorem rate applies to each rating category. Details of Council’s 2025/26 rating structure can be found in the Delivery Program, Operational Plan and Budget.
Under Section 548 of the Local Government Act 1993, councils are permitted to apply a minimum rate to each parcel of land.
There is a set minimum rate for 2025/26 Financial Year is:
- Residential ($978.03)
Applies to properties with land values equal to or less than $920,758.80 - Business ($943.51)
Applies to properties with land values equal to or less than $258,742.58
Your Annual Rates Notice
Council issues one Annual Rates and Charges notice each July, followed by quarterly instalment notices.
Quarterly Instalments are due on:
- 31 August
- 30 November
- 28 February
- 31 May