Free title search
Free title search in the ACT: what's free and what ACT Land Titles charges
There's no free title search in the ACT: ACT Land Titles charges A$36.00 for a certificate of title search. ACTmapi is free and shows blocks, sections and zoning, and a check search is listed at no fee, but neither gives you the title.
See the exact lot and title before you pay. No title, no charge.
Australian Capital Territory title search
A$99
Includes the A$36.00 registry fee and GST
Title + Full ReportA$129
- The official Certificate of Title search from ACT Land Titles
- A one-page plain-English summary
- Owner names (titles here don't print an address)
- Usually within minutes; some take up to 1 business day, any day of the week
- Exact lot and title confirmed before you pay
Is there a free title search in the ACT?
No. The fee applies to everyone, including the leaseholder. Most ACT land is held under a Crown lease, and the names of the people who hold it, along with any mortgages, caveats, easements or covenants, are only on the title.
ACTmapi: free blocks, sections and zones
ACTmapi is the ACT Government's free online map. It identifies a block and the zone that applies under the Territory Plan, with blocks shown by stage, from proposed to registered. It's a guide only: ACTmapi isn't a statutory map and doesn't replace the Territory Plan map.
It's the quickest way to find a property's block, section and suburb, which, together with the volume and folio on the title, is how ACT land is identified.
ACT Land Titles fees at a glance
Fees are from Access Canberra's fee list, current from 1 July 2026, and GST doesn't apply. A check search is a status check, not a copy of the title.
| Search | ACT Land Titles fee, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Certificate of title search | A$36 |
| Historic title search | A$36 |
| Deposited plan | A$26 |
| Instrument or dealing | A$24 |
| Name search (ACTLIS subscribers only) | A$36 |
| Check search | No fee |
What's the cheapest way to get an ACT title?
Search through ACTLIS as a member of the public and pay A$36.00 for the certificate of title search. Start at Access Canberra's land titles page.
- 1Find the block, section and suburb in ACTmapi, or the volume and folio on old paperwork.
- 2Open ACTLIS from Access Canberra and use it as a member of the public.
- 3Order a certificate of title search and pay.
- 4Read it with our guide on how to read an ACT title.
When is paying more worth it in the ACT?
Our ACT title search is A$99. You start from the street address, see the block, section and title before you pay, and get a one-page plain-English summary with the title. The Title + Full Report (A$129) explains every entry. Most ACT orders arrive within minutes; some are processed by hand and take up to 1 business day. If the title can't be delivered, you pay nothing.
The Crown lease is a separate document
A title search tells you who holds the lease and what's registered against it. If you need the terms of the Crown lease itself, order it from ACT Land Titles; a Crown lease search needs the volume and folio from a title search first. We don't sell Crown lease copies yet.
Common questions
Is ACTmapi free?
Yes. It's the ACT Government's free online map, showing blocks, sections and zones.
What is an ACT check search?
A status check that ACT Land Titles lists at no fee. It isn't a copy of the title.
Can I find out who owns a Canberra property for free?
No. The leaseholders' names are on the title, which costs A$36.00. Name searches cost A$36 and are only available through ACTLIS subscriber accounts.
Do I need an account to use ACTLIS?
No. You can use ACTLIS as a member of the public or with a subscriber account.
Can I get alerts when my ACT title changes?
ACT Land Titles offers Title Watch, which notifies you when actions are detected on titles you nominate. We don't offer title monitoring yet.
Do leaseholders get a free copy of their title?
No. The fee is the same for everyone.