How is land categorised?

The rating category or sub-category is shown on your Rate Notice. Section 493 of the Local Government Act states that there are four categories of ordinary rates: Farmland, Residential, Mining and Business. Parramatta City Council only have use for two of these categories, Residential with the sub-category of Residential/CBD and Business with the sub-categories of Business/CBD and Business/Industrial. Council has to determine what "Rating Category" for each rateable parcel of land according to it's dominant use.

If you disagree with the category given to your land, you or your agent can ask for a review. A request for a review must be in writing on an "Application for Change in Category of Land Categorisation for Rating Purposes" form that is available from Council's Enquiry Counter at 30 Darcy Street, Parramatta or this page. You can also phone Council's Rates Section on 9806 5441 and ask for the form to be posted, or faxed to you.

Of course, if the category of your property is different to that shown on the Rate Notice, it is your obligation to notify Council of the correct category. If you are dissatisfied with Council's declaration of the category of your land after it has been reviewed, or the date the category of your land is to take effect, you may appeal to the Land and Environment Court within 30 days after the declaration is made, under Section 526 of the Local Government Act, 1993.

Mixed Development Rating
In general, Mixed Development rating allows for a property to receive a combination of Residential and Business rating categories (providing a form of rating relief - in most cases) due to the property having dual usage. The Local Government Act, 1993 provides for Mixed Development rating. A parcel of land occupied, or used solely as one building comprising a residence and a business, may be considered for Mixed Development rating, if it can be separately occupied for both business and residential purposes. The residential category and business category could be rated according to the proportion that each usage has to the whole of the property.

The Valuer General's Department supplies Council with a Mixed Development Apportionment Factor (MDAF), for land subject to Mixed Development rating. The MDAF is determined by calculating the proportion that the value of the business part bears to the value of the land as a whole. The result is expressed as a percentage. Rates and charges are apportioned according to the MDAF. If, for example, a parcel of mixed development land has an MDAF of 60%, rates and charges would be apportioned as Business 60% and Residential 40%.

Any additional information regarding Mixed Development rating can be obtained by contacting Council's Rates Section on 9806 5441.