Local government elections

Local government elections occur every four years in Queensland to elect the mayors and councillors in each of Queensland’s 77 councils.

So you want to be a councillor or mayor?

By becoming a councillor, or even just running for election, you can make a positive difference to your local community. Queensland councils need councillors and mayors that reflect the diversity of our communities.

Before nominating for a local government election you must complete the mandatory candidate training, So You Want To Be a Councillor (SYWTBC). Mandatory candidate training is a requirement under the Local Government Electoral Act 2011.

Candidates who are not sitting councillors must complete the training within six months before the nomination day for a quadrennial election or by-election.

Sitting councillors or mayors who intend to nominate for a by-election are not required to repeat the mandatory candidate training, provided they completed it for the 2024 quadrennial election, or a by-election since, and have remained in continuous office since then. Sitting councillors or mayors who have done the candidate training previously can advise of this when completing the nomination form. For more information on candidate obligations, visit the Electoral Commission of Queensland website.

Local Government expenditure caps

The Local Government Electoral Act 2011 (the Act) provides for an expenditure caps scheme for local government elections.

The electoral expenditure caps scheme applies to elections being held across Queensland.

• The caps are tiered to take into consideration the number of electors in local government areas. The sliding scale does not apply to Brisbane City Council for which the caps are a set amount, subject only to CPI increases.
• For Mayoral candidates, caps range from $35,520 in council areas with 30,000 or fewer electors through to $1,539,210 for the Brisbane City Council.
• Expenditure caps for councillor candidates range from $17,760 for council areas or divisions with 20,000 or fewer electors up to $65,120 for Brisbane City Council wards.
• Expenditure caps also apply to third parties, groups of candidates and registered political parties.
• The capped expenditure period for the 2028 quadrennial election is anticipated to start on 30 August 2027. For a by-election the period starts from the day a by-election notice is published.
  In both cases the period ends at 6pm on polling day.

Find out more about the local government electoral expenditure caps scheme.

Electoral Commission of Queensland

The Electoral Commission of Queensland is the independent authority set up to ensure impartial and democratic elections in Queensland, including local government elections.

The ECQ is responsible for:

• appointing a returning officer for each local government area who is responsible for the conduct of the election for that area, from taking candidate nominations to counting the votes and formally declaring the successful candidates
• managing the electoral roll for voters
• managing candidates’ disclosures of donations and expenditure
• reviewing complaints about candidate conduct.

For more information on elections and candidate obligations contact the Electoral Commission of Queensland.

Election leave

Read about requirements for councillors and council employees who contest elections on LG Central.

Local government caretaker period

Councils cannot make major policy decisions during the election ‘caretaker’ period near the end of their council term that could bind future elected councils. However, the Minister has power to approve certain major policy decisions in limited circumstances.

Councils also cannot use communications such as newsletters to help the campaigns of current councillors standing for re-election.

The caretaker period applies from the date of the notice of the election until the election is declared.

For more information you can read the Caretaker period for local government elections fact sheet (PDF, 258KB)