Council assesses all regulated plumbing and drainage work under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018. Projects that incorporate water supply work, sanitary plumbing and drainage work are assessable under this Act which enables Council to ensure the work is carried out to protect public health and provide protection to Council's infrastructure.
Unless plumbing and drainage work is prescribed as unregulated notifiable work or minor work under the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019, it is Regulated Work and requires plumbing and drainage approval.
Regulated and minor work is to be carried out by a licensed plumber and/or drainer and in most cases they will apply for the required approvals.
Plumbing Approval Process
All plumbing work in Queensland is regulated by the State Government's Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019. Plumbing works are categorised as:
Homeowners may fix minor plumbing maintenance issues without requiring a licensed tradesperson or council plumbing approval. All other plumbing works must be undertaken by an appropriately qualified and licensed tradesperson.
Some alterations and additions to existing dwellings and commercial buildings may be done under notifiable work, commonly known as Form 4 works (Form 4a - Notifiable work for a public sector entity). All new buildings will require compliance assessment.
If you are conducting a development, you may require other approvals and permits, such as planning approvals, building approvals or siting variations.
Building work over, or adjacent to any Council service (sewer, stormwater or reticulated water system) may require additional provisions to protect the infrastructure.
Please seek advice from Council before any development works including plumbing work commences.
For more information please Contact Council.
Plumbing Frequently Asked Questions
Using an appropriately qualified plumber or drainer is the most effective and simplest way of ensuring that plumbing work complies with regulations, minimising unnecessary risk to your family's health and safety. Rectifying defective or non-compliant work can be far more expensive than the original cost.
Unregulated plumbing and drainage work does not require a licensed plumber or council approval or notification. This includes:
Sanitary plumbing and sanitary drainage
Cleaning or maintaining ground level grates to traps on sanitary drains
Replacing caps to ground level inspection openings on sanitary drains
Maintaining an above or below ground irrigation system for the disposal of effluent from an on-site sewerage facility.
Water plumbing
Installing or maintaining an irrigation or lawn watering system downstream from an isolating valve, tap or backflow prevention device on the supply pipe for the irrigation or lawn watering system
Replacing a jumper valve or washer in a tap
Changing a shower head
Replacing a toilet cistern drop valve washer, float valve washer or suction cup rubber.
All other plumbing and drainage works need to be carried out by a licensed plumber.
A plumbing permit/approval can be issued within 10 business days for onsite sewage works. Approvals for sewered sites can be fast-tracked to 2 business days after all required information/documentation is supplied.
If additional information is required, a request will be issued within 2 business days from accepting the approval application.
Drainage Plans may be available for inspection and purchase from the Southern Downs Regional Council by
contacting Council.
Drainage plans may display the Council's sewer line and the sanitary lines from the building to the connection point at the sewer or onsite treatment system. The location of the plumbing fixtures within the building will also be displayed on the plan. Drainage plans are either drawn by Council, or drawn by a professional and submitted to Council.
Not all properties will have an up to date plan for a variety of reasons, eg:
- If the property is a vacant block of land no house connection point may exist. For a stub/sewer location please contact Council.
- It is possible that there is not a house connection point for your property, as the work may never have been regulated by Council.
- Plans may be lodged with QBCC for notifiable work; copies that Council hold may not be up to date or reflect changes made post November 2012.
Yes, however internal fixtures supplied from a rain water tank must have a continuous supply of water.
Council does not impose any restrictions on which type of hot water system a homeowner can choose to install.
Council imposes no mandatory requirements to install energy efficient hot water systems such as gas, solar or heat pumps in new homes and existing houses located in a gas reticulated area. Homeowners can choose a hot water system that best suits their circumstances.