How Rates are Calculated
The Council continues to use 'capital value' as the basis for valuing land within the Council area. This is considered the fairest method to calculate rates.
In setting rates, the Council considers its strategic management plan, CityPlan 2030, the current economic climate, legislative changes and the need to maintain and improve physical infrastructure.
The fundamental principle of equity within the community and an assessment of the impact of rates are also considered.
On this page:
Annual Business Plan 2026–2027 – Summary
The Annual Business Plan Summary explains how rates are calculated and provides a breakdown of where your rates go.
Download Annual Business Plan Summary
You can also visit the Annual Business Plan webpage to download the full document, which includes the Long-term Financial Plan Update.
How rates are calculated
Each year, the Council determines the services, infrastructure and programs it will deliver to the community. These are outlined in the Annual Business Plan.
The Council then calculates how much revenue needs to be raised through rates to fund these services.
To work out what each property owner pays, the Council divides the total amount to be raised by the total value of all rateable properties in the Council area. This creates the rate in the dollar, which is then multiplied by the capital value of an individual property to calculate the rates payable.
Capital value
The Council uses the capital value of your property to calculate your rates. Property values are independently assessed by the Office of the Valuer-General
Using capital value is considered the fairest way to calculate rates because it reflects the overall value of a property. In general, higher-value properties contribute more in rates than lower-value properties, helping to distribute the cost of Council services across the community.
Rate-in-the-dollar — 2026–2027 financial year
Each year, the Council sets a rate-in-the-dollar to determine how much each property contributes towards funding Council services. Different rates apply to different property types.
For the 2026–2027 financial year, the rates are:
- Residential: 0.0018287
- Commercial, Vacant Land and Industrial: 0.0023773
- Primary Production and Other: 0.0021944
- The Parade Precinct Levy: 0.000412
The Council also collects a Regional Landscape Levy of 0.00006035 on behalf of the Green Adelaide Board
The minimum rate for the 2026–2027 financial year is $1,386. This ensures every property makes a reasonable contribution towards the cost of providing essential Council services.
How rates are calculated graphic:
For more information about council rates in South Australia, visit: localcouncils.sa.gov.au
How your rates are spent
For every $100 spent, we provide the following services:
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Contact
Council's Rates Officer
T: 08 8366 4554
E: rates@npsp.sa.gov.au
