Yarra (VIC) council rates — what you pay and when

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 Yarra's adopted budget raises average general rates by that much. The cap applies to the average across all properties, so your own bill can rise or fall by more. Yarra rates on a property's Net Annual Value (NAV), not its capital value. Your notice also carries two waste rates, which the cap doesn't cover; the council has chosen to hold their total increase to 2.75% as well.

New to these terms? Read them in plain English

Pensioner rebate: A discount on rates for eligible pensioners.

See the full explainer, with formulas →

Rates at a glance

2026–27 rate rise: General rates: +2.75% (the state cap)The capped average rate is $2,075.16, and budgeted general rates revenue is $126.86 million, the maximum the cap allows under the Fair Go Rates System. Yarra has no municipal charge and no differential rates.
How your general rates are calculated: Net Annual Value × 0.03603061 (one rate for all land)The same rate in the dollar applies to residential, commercial and industrial land. The council explains that NAV is generally 5% of the capital improved value (CIV), and both are set by the Valuer-General. Using the council's own example of an $800,000 property (NAV $40,000), general rates in 2026–27 would be $1,441.22 (our arithmetic with the adopted rate).How rates are calculated →
Waste rates (2026–27): Public waste collection: NAV × 0.00201535; household bin collection: NAV × 0.00649140Two separate service rates since 2023–24. The public waste rate pays for street sweeping, park and street bins and litter removal, and applies to all rateable properties. The household bin rate pays for kerbside rubbish, recycling, glass and FOGO collection and hard rubbish, and applies only to properties that use the council's bin service (apartments with a private collector don't pay it). For the $40,000 NAV example: $80.61 public waste and $259.66 household bins (our arithmetic). The budget says waste costs rise by about $3.6 million in 2026–27, and the council is absorbing the difference.About the waste rates →
When it's due: 4 instalments (30 Sep, 30 Nov, 28 Feb, 31 May) or 10 monthly direct debits from 15 SeptemberRates notices are issued each August. The council's payment page (as archived in June 2026) lists these instalment dates for 2025–26, and also a single payment by 30 September; check your 2026–27 notice for this year's dates. The page lists a 0.5% surcharge on credit card payments; the adopted budget removes card surcharges from 1 October 2026, following the Reserve Bank's decision.Payment options →
Interest on overdue rates: 10% a year penalty interestCharged on outstanding rates under the Penalty Interest Rates Act 1983, until the amount and interest are paid (council's overdue rates page, as archived in November 2025). If hardship stops you paying on time, the council offers payment plans under its hardship policy; contact it as early as you can.Overdue rates and hardship →
Pensioner rebates: 2025–26: $266.00 municipal concession + $215.91 additional concession + $50 off the ESVFFor Pensioner Concession Card holders and DVA Gold Card holders (War Widow or TPI) who are named ratepayers, on their primary place of residence; eligibility is subject to Centrelink approval. The amounts shown are the council's 2025–26 figures (page as archived in November 2025); 2026–27 amounts are on your notice.Apply for a rebate →
Also on your notice: ESVF: Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund — a state levyThe council collects it for the Victorian Government and passes it on. It replaced the Fire Services Property Levy on 1 July 2025. It isn't council revenue and isn't covered by the rate cap.About the ESVF →

The adopted budget puts total rates and charges at $151.55 million in 2026–27, up 3.81% on the 2025–26 budget; this includes the waste rates, supplementary rates and interest. The rates in the dollar are from the adopted Annual Budget 2026-27 (section 4.1.1), set after the Valuer-General's final valuations and adopted at the extraordinary council meeting of 16 June 2026. Payment, interest and rebate details come from the council's rates pages as archived between November 2025 and June 2026.

Sources — check it yourself

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.