Rate increases and caps

The Victorian Government sets a cap on how much local councils can increase total rates for the municipality each year.

The cap doesn’t apply to all charges in your rates notice, such as the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund and Waste Management Charge.

For the 2025-26 rating period, the rate cap has been set at three per cent.

This complies with the Victorian Government's Fair Go Rates system, and is in line with the maximum allowable rate cap of 3.00 per cent set by the Minister for Local Government.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean your rates will increase by three per cent.

Your rates may change depending on:

• the value of your property relative to other properties in Nillumbik
• other charges and levies not covered by the cap
• your land type (for example residential, commercial or farmland).

For more information about the annual council rate cap, visit the Essential Services Commission website.

Find out how your rates are calculated and what’s included on your rates notice.