Enrol to vote as a non-resident property owner, occupier or rate-paying lessee

Council Elections unit

Please email us with your enquiry. We’ll respond within 5 business days.

email address
[email protected]

Key changes

  • Non-residents must apply to be added to the non-residential rolls
  • Voting as a non-resident is voluntary
  • Voting entitlement is a maximum of one vote per property

Non-residential rolls for each City of Sydney election will be prepared and certified by our Chief Executive Officer. At close of rolls for each election these rolls must be confirmed by the NSW Electoral Commissioner to ensure that the voters listed are eligible for enrolment on the non-residential rolls.

Non-resident entitlement

You, or your corporation’s or trust’s nominee, are eligible to vote in City of Sydney elections as a non-resident if you:

  • own, occupy or pay rates on rateable land in the City of Sydney area and
  • are enrolled to vote in Australia and are not enrolled to vote as a resident of the City of Sydney.

Entitlement is limited to one owner, one occupier and one rate-paying lessee per rateable property.

If you own, occupy or lease as a corporation, trust, lessee of Crown land or part of a group you need to nominate someone to vote on your behalf.

You are entitled as a non-resident owner if you:

You are entitled as a non-resident occupier if you:

  • occupy a rateable property in the City of Sydney area, excluding parking lots in strata plans and
  • have the right to occupy that property continuously for at least three years from your application date.

You are entitled as a non-resident rate-paying lessee if you:

  • have a documented liability to pay a contribution to rates for a rateable property in the City of Sydney area, excluding parking lots in strata plans and
  • this liability is for rates due over the next 3 years from your application date.

You can only vote once for the City of Sydney, even if you or your company own, occupy or lease multiple rateable properties within the City of Sydney.

Making a claim for inclusion on the non-resident rolls

To make a claim for inclusion on the City of Sydney’s non-residential rolls you need to submit a claim form.

The information about the elector must match the enrolment details held by the NSW Electoral Commission. You can check your enrolment details online.

A claim must be signed by the person who lodges it and must contain a statement signed by a witness to the effect that the witness saw the person sign the claim and believes, to the best of the witness’s knowledge, that the statements in the claim are true.

I own, occupy or lease as an individual

Use this form.

Non-resident claim for individual owner, occupier or ratepaying lesseePDF · 104.31 KB · Last modified

I own, occupy or lease as a corporation, trust, lessee of Crown land or part of a group

Use this form.

Non-resident claim with nomination of an electorPDF · 119.02 KB · Last modified

Key dates for the next election

  • 6pm Monday 5 August 2024: Close of rolls. Final date for receipt of claims for inclusion on the City of Sydney’s non-residential rolls. Following this, the City of Sydney passes electoral details of each eligible non-resident to the NSW Electoral Commission for verification. The details of those verified are then added to the authorised electoral roll for the 2024 election.
  • Saturday 14 September 2024: City of Sydney local government election.
People walking in front of Sydney Town Hall.2021 election