There are four set types of plumbing works:
A local government permit is required for all plumbing and drainage work which is not included in the schedules of notifiable work, minor work or unregulated work in accordance with the Plumbing and Drainage Act.
It is important to not only know what type of work you require to be carried out but also what paperwork and/or permits are required for that work to be carried out, including in some cases where it is mandatory that copies of these forms be provided to yourself as the property owner. By ensuring that your preferred contractor completes and submits the appropriate documentation can save you time, money and potential problems.
For further information please contact your preferred contractor directly or Council's Plumbing Compliance team on 1300 883 699.
As a property owner it is imperative that you protect yourself and your biggest investment being your property. To do this it is important to ensure the right people with the right qualifications and experience are performing your plumbing work.
By engaging a licensed plumber and/or drainer you minimise unnecessary risks to your family's health and safety as well as potentially having to incur unnecessary costs down the track.
Speak to your nominated Plumber to ensure they hold a current licence. You can check if a plumber or drainer holds a current licence simply by contacting the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) via Plumbing and Drainage Licensee Register or Finding a licensed contractor.
Work that can be done by an unlicensed person
Below is a list of the unregulated work that can be performed by an unlicensed person, all other plumbing and drainage work must be done by an appropriately licensed person.
- Replacing a shower head or domestic water filter cartridge
- Replacing a jumper valve or washer in a tap
- Repairing or replacing a drop valve washer, float valve washer or suction cup rubber in a toilet cistern
- Replacing caps to ground level inspection openings on a sanitary drain
- Cleaning or maintaining a ground level grate for a trap on a sanitary drain
- Installing or maintaining an irrigation or lawn watering system downstream from a tap, isolating valve or backflow prevention device on the supply pipe for the watering system
- Repairing or maintaining an irrigation system for the disposal or effluent from a greywater use facility or on-site sewage facility
- Fire protection work for testing plumbing carried out by a holder of a fire protection occupational licence or another QBCC licence
- Incidental unskilled tasks (e.g. excavating or backfilling a trench).
For further information please contact the QBCC or Council's Plumbing Compliance team on 1300 883 699.
Buying & Selling a Property
When you are looking at buying a new property, paperwork and searches may not be very high on your to-do list. However, they are very important in ensuring you have a full understanding of the house’s history and any defects, which in the long term could save you money and stress.
A Plumbing Compliance Search will give you piece of mind by conducting a search of Councils plumbing records for the property, including approval details, dates of inspections where applicable and outstanding compliance issues. These searches can be requested by both the property owner and any potential buyer with a signed Contract of Sale (fees & charges apply).
For further information on what this search will provide or how to lodge a request please contact your nominated Solicitor or Council's Plumbing Compliance team on 1300 883 699.
Permit work is more complex in nature than other types of plumbing and drainage work and has a higher risk of failure. This work must always be checked.
Before starting a job you need to get a permit from local government. The local government will then:
- assess the application, the hydraulic plans, specifications and any other supporting documentation; and
- inspect the work once it's complete to ensure that it complies with the approval and the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018.
You must have an appropriate QBCC plumbing and/or drainage contractor license to contract out for this type of work.
Examples of permit work include:
- construction of a new building or structure of any National Construction Code, Building Code of Australia classification/s;
- work that is commonly known as 'trade waste' that will involve or is likely to involve discharge of a prohibited substances into a regulated sewer including via an on-site waste disposal system;
- any drainage work for a building or structure served by a combined drain
- work that involves a dual reticulated water supply provided by a water service provider
- work that involves an alternative solution under any of these codes, the National Construction Code Plumbing Code of Australia, Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code or the Queensland Development Code as may be applicable.
Notifiable work is a category of plumbing and drainage work which allows a plumber or drainer to perform the work without a local government permit or mandatory inspections. It includes most work performed in existing homes and limited work on commercial buildings.
When a plumber and drainer (or relevant person) performs notifiable work, they must register Notifiable Work (Form 4/4A) to the QBCC within 10 business days of the completed work and pay the relevant fee.
A relevant person is:
- If work is being done for or by a public sector entity – the public sector entity
- The person who supervises the carrying out of, or directs another person to carry out the work
- The licensee who carries out the work.
If there are multiple licensees, one licensee (as the responsible person for the work) can register the notifiable work (form 4/4A) on behalf of the other licensees. You can list as many people as necessary in the 'licensed person who did the work' section so the details of all licensees involved are recorded.
You can register notifiable work (form 4/4A) with the QBCC both electronically or manually. For more information on how to register notifiable work see Register notifiable work (form 4/4A). If the work is being done for or by a public sector entity see Notifiable work for Public Sector Entities for more information.
The QBCC can audit licensees to investigate whether they have been complying with the requirements of notifiable work.
Find out what happens during an approved audit program and view a list of the most common mistakes with tips to help you get things right the first time.
Minor work must be performed by a QBCC licensee but doesn’t need to be approved by the local government or reported to QBCC.
Minor work includes:
- unblocking sanitary plumbing or sanitary drainage
- repairing a broken or damaged pipe
- maintaining or repairing an apparatus
- installing, replacing or removing an apparatus, other than:
- a dual check valve with atmospheric port;
- a temperature control device;
- a testable backflow prevention device; or
- a water heater
- maintaining, repairing, replacing or removing a fitting or fixture
- maintaining or repairing a greywater use facility or an on-site sewage facility, other than repairing or maintaining an irrigation system for the disposal of effluent from the facility
- installing a greywater diversion device
- maintaining, repairing or replacing a fire hydrant or fire hose reel, unless schedule 3, section 2 applies to the work
- sealing a supply pipe downstream from the water meter for a class 1 or 10 building or structure
- installing, removing or replacing an automatic switching device for a rainwater tank.
Anyone can do unregulated work. You don’t need to be licensed nor do you need approval by QBCC or local government or report it.
If you aren't a QBCC licensee and want to carry out unregulated plumbing work, you must still meet the minimum standards of work under the legislation and codes.
Unregulated work includes:
- replacing a shower head or domestic water filter cartridge
- replacing a jumper valve or washer in a tap
- repairing or replacing a drop valve washer, float valve washer or suction cup rubber in a toilet cistern
- replacing caps to ground level inspection openings on a sanitary drain
- cleaning or maintaining a ground level grate for a trap on a sanitary drain
- installing or maintaining an irrigation or lawn watering system downstream from a tap, isolating valve or
- backflow prevention device on the supply pipe for the watering system
- repairing or maintaining an irrigation system for the disposal of effluent from a greywater use facility or on-site sewage facility
- fire protection work for testing plumbing carried out by a holder of a fire protection occupational license or another QBCC license
- incidental unskilled tasks (e.g. excavating or backfilling a trench).
Public sector entities
If you are a public sector entity, you can get the work assessed by a qualified and experienced person or apply to local government.
For more information, please visit Queensland Building and Construction Commission.