Adelaide Hills Council holds a variety of electronic and hard copy information including, but not limited to:
- Council and Council Committee documents
- Rates certificates
- Decision Notification Forms for approved Development Applications
- House plans, site plans, wastewater systems, soil reports, structural reports, and engineering reports
- Ratepayer personal details (e.g. full name, address, date of birth).
Many of Council's policies, codes and registers are available through Council's Service Centre's for inspection and/or purchase by the public (for a fee as set out in Council's Fees and Charges Policy). Most are available on this website at no charge — a list of these documents is contained in our Freedom of Information Statement.
Find out how to access information held by Council below.
Freedom of Information and access to your personal records
Freedom of Information and access to your personal records
The Freedom of Information Act 1991 enables public access to official documents and records that may not be accessible via the Adelaide Hills Council Internet. It also provides for the correction of public documents and records, enables access to Council documents relating to an individual's personal affairs and the correction of information about an individual that is incomplete, incorrect or misleading or out-of-date.
To access official documents or records not listed in the Freedom of Information Statement, a Freedom of Information request can be made.
It is recommended that prior to completing a Freedom of Information application you contact Council on 8408 0400 and ask to speak to a Freedom of Information Officer to ascertain access to the information you are requesting is possible as some information may be obtained via a different process (e.g. access to copies or building plans and/or reports).
Please note that some documents requested by Freedom of Information may be classified as exempt documents and may not be available in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 1991.
How to lodge a Freedom of Information Application Form
To lodge a Freedom of Information application, either fill in all the required areas of a form below or write to Council outlining the following:
- include your name, address, email (if applicable) and telephone number
- specify that you are making an application under the Freedom of Information Act 1991
- specify the documents you would like access to, if they contain your personal affairs and what they may relate too
- advise how you would like to receive the information e.g. electronically, via the mail or to inspect the documents at Council.
- if you are requesting a waiver of the application fee a copy of supporting documents will be required (e.g. copy of your pension card)
Upon receipt of your application a Freedom of Information Officer will contact you. Should payment be required (fees have been included below for your easy reference) a Customer Service Officer will contact you, please do not place your card payment details in any email to us. Any cheques received that are for an incorrect amount will be returned and a replacement cheque will be required.
Word doc Freedom of Information Application Form 2025 26
Freedom of Information Application Form 2025 26
2025 26 Freedom of Information Fees Charges
FOI requests should be addressed to:
Freedom of Information Officer
Adelaide Hills Council
63 Mount Barker Road
Stirling SA 5152
mail@ahc.sa.gov.au
Other Information
The State Records website has detailed information regarding the Freedom of Information process.
Section 7 and Section 187 searches
Section 7 and Section 187 searches may take eight (8) full business days for return.
Both Section 7 and Section 187 searches must be completed by Adelaide Hills Council upon application by or on behalf of a person who has acquired a relevant interest in land situated within Council boundaries.
In accordance with the Local Government Act 1999 a person who has acquired a relevant interest in land includes:
- The owner of a registered estate or interest in the land; or
- An occupier of the land; or
- A person who has entered or declares to the council that he or she proposes to enter into a contract to purchase the land; or
- A mortgagee or prospective mortgagee of the land.
A full Section 7 search provides information on land areas and is completed in accordance with the Land and Business (Sale and Conveyancing) Act 1994 and will include:
- Rates certificate which outlines rates levied for the current financial year and any outstanding rates owed.
- Relevant health notices for the land (e.g. wastewater system issues); and
- Development notifications (including Decision Notification Forms for approved development applications) and any applicable conditions.
A Section 187 search (rates) provides information on any liabilities for rates or charges attached to a land area in accordance with the Local Government Act 1999. This search only includes a rates certificate which outlines rates levied for the current financial year and any outstanding rates owed.
To arrange either a Section 7 or Section 187 search, please email your request to mail@ahc.sa.gov.au. You must include details of the property and a copy of the properties Certificate of Title which can be obtained via the Lands Services Group SAILIS system (refer link below).
Fees and Charges for all services offered by Adelaide Hills Council can be found on the Council Fees page.
Please note Adelaide Hills Council will contact you for payment, we request that you do not place your card payment details in any email to us. Any cheques received that are for an incorrect amount will be returned and a replacement cheque will be required.
In 1997 the District Councils of East Torrens, Gumeracha, Onkaparinga and Stirling amalgamated to form the Adelaide Hills Council. Due to the amalgamation, Adelaide Hills Council currently stores most records off site, therefore urgent requests cannot be completed. Whilst Council will endeavor to complete your search request as soon as possible, Council has eight full business days to complete the search.
Useful links — Section 7 or Section 187 searches
Access to copy/view plans and/or reports
In 1997 the District Councils of East Torrens, Gumeracha, Onkaparinga and Stirling amalgamated to form the Adelaide Hills Council (AHC). AHC have a range of electronic and hard copy records which relate to property plans and reports. Applications dated prior to 1997 may be of poor quality or incomplete due to superseded legislation and varying recordkeeping standards at that time. For this reason, Adelaide Hills Council makes no guarantee regarding the contents, quality or physical condition of the information contained in these files.
An application form will be required together with the relevant Fees and Charges, however the application form can only be provided once Council has determined if there is any relevant information available for you.
If you are obtaining copies of documents on behalf of the owner, the current property owners' permission is required.
If copies of plans and/or reports are required, copyright release will need to be obtained in writing from the copyright owner in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). For further information on copyright please visit the Australian Copyright Council website.
As most records are kept in off-site storage, retrieval may take up to ten working days. Once the files have been received, an Information Management Officer will contact you to organise a viewing appointment at the Stirling Coventry Library, 63 Mount Barker Road, Stirling. Appointments can be made Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm.
To enquire further please contact Council on 8408 0400.
Amendment to Council records
If you require additional information or details, please contact us.