Find important information on Brisbane City Council's application and assessment process for plumbing and drainage work.
This category includes permit work that is for:
This category also applies when new plumbing and drainage is being installed in an existing class 10a building that does not currently contain any plumbing and drainage.
One application must be lodged for each class 1a dwelling house, or class 1a secondary dwelling, that is the subject of the proposed plumbing and drainage work. One new class 10a building can be included in an application with a new class 1a dwelling house or new class 1a secondary dwelling.
Applications for class 10a buildings that are not associated with a dwelling house or secondary dwelling (e.g. shed on school grounds, temporary site amenities) cannot be lodged under this application category.
When hardcopy plans are lodged for assessment, three full sets are required with the application.
For plumbing assessment, Council deems a dwelling to be a secondary dwelling if it is not under the same roof as the primary dwelling. Connecting structures such as awnings, covered walk-ways, patios roofs and similar structures are not considered to be the same roof as the primary dwelling.
The application is to clearly indicate the scope of work proposed and for which a permit is being sought. The scope of works is indicated by:
The plumbing and drainage work carried out must not differ from the scope of works for which the permit was issued.
Applications will be assessed within 10 business days unless further information is requested by Council. If an Information Request is issued to the applicant, the assessment timeframe pauses and does not resume until a final response is received by Council.
Applications are assessed in order of receipt by Council.
The permit is valid for up to four years from the date it is issued. An extension of the permit term may be requested by lodging a Form 2 and the required fee. An application to extend the term of the permit must be made at least 10 business days prior to the end of the term. If the permit expires before the final certificate is issued, a new application must be lodged and approved.
The relevant inspection fee must accompany the application at lodgement.
The following is required at the time of lodgement:
Additionally, if the work involves On-site Sewage Facility (OSF) installation, include:
If the plumbing works will be happening at a property that is being reconfigured, please use the ‘proposed lot’ to identify the location of the works. This can be done by setting out the address and Real Property Description (RPD) on your documents as per the below examples:
Identifying the precise location of the proposed works is an important part of application assessment and including this information with your application at lodgement will help reduce processing times.
Online lodgement is the easiest and cheapest option (note: you will need to sign in/sign up to use our online lodgement). Additional fees apply for hardcopy lodgement.
Applications and supporting documentation may be lodged in one of the following ways:
This category includes permit work that is alterations or additions to existing plumbing and drainage in an existing:
Additionally, for all classes of building:
Alterations to dwelling houses may be performed under the Notifiable Work scheme if they have their own direct connection to sewer (not on a combined drain) or, where the dwelling is connected to an On-site Sewage Facility (OSF), the work does not involve the facility.
Where alterations to a dwelling house with an on-site sewage facility (OSF) involve the addition of one or more bedrooms, the Planning Regulation 2017 requires a request for Referral agency advice be lodged with Council. This should be done before lodging the plumbing application.
Not including the required information or supporting documentation with the application will delay assessment.
The following is required at lodgement:
Additionally, if the work involves On-site Sewage Facility (OSF) installation, include:
Online lodgement is the easiest and cheapest option (note: you will need to sign in/sign up to use our online lodgement). Additional fees apply for hardcopy lodgement.
Applications and supporting documentation may be lodged in one of the following ways:
Online lodgement is the easiest and cheapest option (note: you will need to sign in/sign up to use our online lodgement). Additional fees apply for hardcopy lodgement.
Applications and supporting documentation may be lodged in one of the following ways:
The table below outlines the type of application to be lodged.
Activity | Application required |
---|---|
Removal dwelling relocated onto vacant land that has no previous association with the dwelling | Lodge an application for a new dwelling |
Existing dwelling relocated on the same lot with no changes to the internal plumbing and drainage | Lodge an application for a Drain Reconnection |
Existing dwelling relocated on the same lot plus alterations to plumbing and drainage | Lodge an application for Alterations to dwelling house |
Permit work involving buildings that do not meet Council’s definition of a dwelling house require the lodgement of plans unless included under Council's Fast-track declaration for other permit work.
When hardcopy plans are lodged for assessment, three full sets are required with the application.
For specific Brisbane City Council requirements for preparing hydraulic plans contact Plumbing Services Group on 3403 8888.
Applicants wishing to make amendments to plans currently under assessment (no permit has been issued) may either withdraw the current application and lodge a new application or, wait until the permit has been issued and lodge a Form 2 with the amended plans and applicable application and assessment fees.
Amendment applications and plans are to be lodged via email.
Applications previously lodged with Council may be broken up into smaller stages upon request. The following rules apply:
Applications will be assessed within 10 business days unless further information is requested by Council. If an Information Request is issued to the applicant, the assessment timeframe is paused and will not resume until a final response is received by Council.
Council offers the following options for an additional fee:
Express applications must be lodged online and include all required documents and information. Applications that do not comply with Council’s hydraulic design requirements or that are not considered properly made under the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019 will be assessed within the legislated timeframe.
The permit is valid for up to four years from the date it is issued. An extension of the permit term may be requested by lodging a Form 2 and the required fee. An application to extend the term of the permit must be made at least 10 business days prior to the end of the term. If the permit expires before the final certificate is issued, a new application must be lodged and approved.
Where a performance based or alternate solution is included in the plans lodged for assessment, the Performance based/Alternate Solution Submission form is also to be completed and submitted.
In addition to the application and assessment fees, there is a charge per fixture or water meter depending on the nature of the work plus a charge for each testable backflow prevention device in the design. Where no fixtures, meters or devices are involved, only the application and assessment fees are required.
Prior to issuing the approved plans Council calculates the applicable inspection fee for the current financial year and records the fee on the plans. The inspection fee is recalculated each financial year until it is paid. The inspection fee must be paid prior to any inspections being requested.
Council charges for the following fixtures when calculating assessment and inspection fees:
The following is required at lodgement:
Additionally, if the work involves On-site Sewage Facility (OSF) installation, include:
Online lodgement is the easiest and cheapest option (note: you will need to sign in/sign up to use our online lodgement). Additional fees apply for hardcopy lodgement.
Applications and supporting documentation may be lodged in one of the following ways:
Council has declared certain types of permit work to be fast-track work. Following lodgement of an application, a permit will be issued within two business days to the email address provided by the applicant. Inspections may be booked following receipt of the permit.
The following permit work has been declared as Fast-track permit work:
Pre-fabricated units (pods) that contain plumbing and drainage and that do not have Watermark approval must be inspected during construction at the factory. The application must identify each pod (e.g. serial number) to be inspected.
Applications may be lodged for the inspection of a maximum of four pods at a time.
Plans do not need to be lodged for plumbing and drainage works in a commercial premise that meet the following criteria:
The number of inspections is limited to four. Fees apply for additional inspections.
Applications may be lodged to connect up to four rainwater tanks to internal fixtures. Only one inspection is performed. Fees apply for additional inspections.
Other work includes:
Applications may be lodged for one inspection. Fees apply for additional inspections.
Online lodgement is the easiest and cheapest option (note: you will need to sign in/sign up to use our online lodgement). Additional fees apply for hardcopy lodgement.
Applications and supporting documentation may be lodged in one of the following ways:
If you plan to carry out building work involving adding one or more bedrooms to a class 1 building connected to an on-site sewerage facility and you wish to retain the existing facility, a Referral agency advice for on-site wastewater management form must first be lodged with Council (Planning Regulation 2017 - Schedule 9 table 11).
Council will advise whether the facility (including the land application area) has sufficient capacity to handle the potential increase in wastewater.
On receipt of the request, a Plumbing Services team member will contact you to arrange fee payment.
Applications and supporting documentation may be lodged in one of the following ways: