Rates & fees
Rates pay for most council services. In Victoria, the state sets a yearly cap on how much a council can raise its average rates. For 2026–27 the cap is 2.75%, and Ballarat's budget raises average rates by exactly that much; the council says this is about $58 a year for the average household. The cap applies to the average across all properties, so your own bill can rise or fall by more, depending on how your property's value moved compared with others. Ballarat has no municipal charge. Its four waste service charges aren't capped, and together they rise 1.2% this year.
New to these terms? Read them in plain English
- Pensioner rebate
- A discount on rates for eligible pensioners.
Rates at a glance
- 2026–27 rate rise
- Average rates +2.75%The budget's capped average rate is $2,163.01 per property, up from a base average of $2,105.12. This equals the 2.75% cap set under the Fair Go Rates System run by the Essential Services Commission. In 2025–26 the budgeted average rate increase was 0%, against a 3% cap (budget section 4.1.1(l)).
- How your rates are calculated
- Capital Improved Value × rate in the dollar2026–27 rates in the dollar on CIV: residential 0.00297314, business 0.00743285 (250% of the residential rate) and farm 0.00214066 (72% of the residential rate). Land eligible under the Cultural and Recreational Lands Act 1963 ('Recreational 1') is rated at nil. Properties in the Bridge Mall area also pay a special rate.How rates are calculated →
- Waste service charges (2026–27)
- $613 a year in total (up from $606, +1.2%)Shown as four separate items on your notice: general waste $450, recycling $78, food and garden organics (FOGO) $60 and glass $25. The council says the charges also fund the Transfer Station, the Ballarat Regional Landfill, leaf collection, street cleaning, two Transfer Station vouchers per household and the set-up of a hard waste service from 1 July 2027. The state landfill levy rises to $177.19 a tonne in 2026–27; the council budgets to pay $6.9 million in levy, about 16.4% of the general waste charge. Waste charges aren't covered by the rate cap.
- When it's due
- 4 instalments (30 Sep, 30 Nov, 28 Feb, 31 May), in full by 15 Feb, or 10 monthly direct debitsTo pay by instalments, the first must be paid by 30 September. Monthly direct debits fall on the 15th of each month from September to June. Notices go out in August.Due dates and ways to pay →
- Interest on overdue rates
- Penalty interest rate — currently 10% a year (Penalty Interest Rates Act 1983); check your noticeThe council's rates pages say interest may be charged on unpaid amounts but don't state the rate. Interest isn't charged while a formal payment plan is kept up.
- Rebates
- Pensioner concession up to $272.20; extra $120 council rebatesPension card holders may claim a state-funded rebate of up to $272.20 (council page). Pensioners who live alone and are solely responsible for the rates can claim a further $120 waiver funded by the council. Holders of a low-income Health Care Card can claim a $120 council rebate instead; you can't claim both the pensioner concession and the Health Care Card rebate.Concessions and rebates →
- Financial hardship
- Payment plans and hardship assistanceApply under the council's Financial Hardship Policy, or call 03 5320 5500. The council also lists free financial counselling services.Rates assistance →
- Also on your notice: ESVF
- Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund — a state levyThe council collects it for the Victorian Government. It replaced the Fire Services Property Levy in 2025. It isn't council revenue and isn't covered by the rate cap. Payments are split between rates and the ESVF by law. The council has publicly opposed the fund.About the ESVF →
Figures come from the adopted 2026–27 budget (section 4.1.1 and p.19) and the council's rates pages. The worked example on the council's 'calculating your rates' page uses 2025–26 figures, so use your own notice for your amounts.
Sources — check it yourself
- City of Ballarat — Budget 2026/27, section 4.1.1 Rates and charges and p.19 Waste charges (PDF, adopted 24 Jun 2026) · 2026–27
- City of Ballarat — Budget 2026/27 page (highlights) · Sep 2026
- Essential Services Commission — Annual council rate caps (2026–27: 2.75%) · Sep 2026
- City of Ballarat — Property values, rate capping and calculating your rates · Sep 2026
- City of Ballarat — Rates notices, due dates and payment options · Sep 2026
- City of Ballarat — Concessions, rebates and payment plans · Sep 2026
- City of Ballarat — Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) · Sep 2026
- Supreme Court of Victoria — Penalty interest rates · Sep 2026
- State Revenue Office — Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund · Sep 2026
Figures are current as at the dates shown and may change — always confirm with the linked source. See the notice at the bottom of the page for full details and how to report a correction.