In Queensland, there are four categories of plumbing and drainage work, which range from requiring no notifications or approvals, to requiring local council assessment and inspection. These include:

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1. Permit work

2. Notifiable work

3. Minor work

4. Unregulated work

 

As qualified licensed plumbers and drainers, we are proud to follow the rules and regulations of the industry, ensuring all lodgements and applications are filed with the appropriate authorities in a timely manner. We have provided below some information to help you understand what lodgements and applications we are typically responsible for.

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Permit work

 

Permit work is any plumbing and drainage work that is not classified as notifiable work, minor work or unregulated work. Permit work must be performed by a licensed plumber or drainer, requires council assessment and approval prior to plumbing and drainage work commencing and must be inspected by a council plumbing inspector. Plumbing and drainage work that typically requires a plumbing permit includes:

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• Construction of a new building or structure

• Connecting plumbing and drainage to a shed or garage where there is no existing fixtures

• Installing water and drainage to a new relocatable home (e.g., tiny homes and dongas)

• Replacing an existing on-site sewerage treatment plant with a new one

• Installing or relocating disposal trenches for an on-site sewerage facility (i.e., septic system)

• Work that will involve or is likely to involve discharge of prohibited substances into a regulated sewer (e.g., trade waste)

• Drainage work for a building or structure served by a combined drain

• Installing a new fire service system.

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When you engage a licensed plumber or drainer to undertake permit work:

 

• A Form 1 - Permit work application for plumbing, drainage and on-site sewerage work is required to be submitted with the local council for their approval, prior to any work commencing. This form can be submitted by either the plumber or drainer, or can be submitted on their behalf (for example, by your building contractor)

• A Form 7 - Notification of Responsible Person is required to be submitted to the local council by the plumber or drainer, which notifies the council of the plumber or drainer that is responsible for the work.

• Each stage of work is required to be inspected by a local council plumbing inspector before the work is concealed. Stages include drainage, in-ground water, water rough in, sanitary plumbing and final fit off, as examples.

• A Final Inspection Certificate will be issued once the plumbing and drainage work passes final inspection, a copy of which is to be provided to the builder. 

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Notifiable work

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The 'notifiable work' system was introduced to make it cheaper and quicker to complete most routine plumbing work. The majority of plumbing and drainage work at existing residential homes is categorised as notifiable work.  Notifiable work must be performed by a licensed plumber or drainer, but unlike permit work, does not require permits or mandatory inspections by local council.

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Notifiable work typically includes:

 

• Kitchen and bathroom renovations

• Installation or replacement of hot water systems, toilets, showers and sinks

• Alteration of pipe work. 

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When the work is completed, the licensed plumber or drainer is required to submit a Form 4 - Notifiable Work to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) and must provide a copy to the property owner. 

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Refer to the QBCC's website for further details in respect of what is notifiable work. 

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Minor work

 

Minor work must be undertaken by a licensed plumber or drainer but does not need to be approved by the local council or reported to QBCC.

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Minor works typically includes:

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• Replacing an existing basin, toilet suite or cistern with another

• Replacing a kitchen, basin or shower tap

• Repairing a broken or damaged pipe (without extending, altering, replacing or removing the pipe)

• Replacing a pump

• Clearing a blocked drain

• Installing a water saving device

• Testing a backflow prevention device.

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Unregulated work

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Unregulated work does not require a licensed plumber or drainer, or council / QBCC notification or approval.

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Unregulated work typically includes:

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• Replacing a shower head 

• Replacing a 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.