- location and details of the proposed or existing OSF
- location of the proposed and/or existing buildings when applicable.
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:
- Address: “Proposed Lot (lot number) – [complete parent property address]” e.g. “Proposed Lot 1 – 147 Park Road, Woolloongabba”
- RPD: “Proposed Lot (lot number) cancelling [complete parent property RPD]” e.g. “Proposed Lot 1 cancelling Lot 1 on RP 112233.”
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.
Lodgement options
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
- by visiting Council
- by mail to Locked Bag 1 Fairfield Gardens, Fairfield QLD 4103.
Alterations to an existing building
This category includes permit work that is alterations or additions to existing plumbing and drainage in an existing:
- Class 1a Dwelling house
- Secondary dwelling (class 1a)
- Class 10a building (associated with a dwelling house or secondary dwelling).
Additionally, for all classes of building:
- Install wastewater treatment facility to existing – greywater or on-site sewage facility
- Replace on-site sewage facility plant or tank
- Install on-site sewage facility trenches to existing
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.
Alterations to dwelling, secondary dwelling and class 10a buildings
Application requirements
The following is required at lodgement:
- completed Form 1 – Permit work application for plumbing and drainage and onsite sewerage work (including online applications)
- existing and proposed floor plan for the relevant levels of the dwelling
- elevation plan (when building work is involved)
- site plan
- site classification report where applicable
- articulation design where applicable (for soil types H, E and P)
- payment of all relevant fees.
Additionally, if the work involves On-site Sewage Facility (OSF) installation, include:
- site plan showing:
- location and details of the proposed or any existing OSF
- location of the proposed and/or existing buildings when applicable.
Lodgement options
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
- by visiting Council
- by mail to Locked Bag 1 Fairfield Gardens, Fairfield QLD 4103.
Install wastewater treatment facility trenches to existing only
Application requirements
- Completed Form 1 – Permit application for plumbing and drainage and onsite sewerage work
- Site and soil report
- Articulation Design (for soil types H, E and P)
- Site plan showing:
- location and details of the proposed or existing OSF
- location of the proposed and/or existing buildings when applicable
Replace on-site sewage facility plant / tank only
Application requirements
- Completed Form 1 – Permit application for plumbing and drainage and onsite sewerage work
- Payment of all relevant fees.
Lodgement options
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
- by visiting Council
- by mail to Locked Bag 1 Fairfield Gardens, Fairfield QLD 4103.
Guide for relocating a dwelling
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 Installation other than dwelling
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.
Key information
Amending plans
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.
Staging an application
Applications previously lodged with Council may be broken up into smaller stages upon request. The following rules apply:
- only one request to stage an existing application of up to two new stages is allowed, i.e. one application may be staged into two new stages only
- all stages must not exceed the scope of the original application. No increase in fixtures or amendments are permitted
- a new commercial application must be lodged for each stage. The original application is superseded by the new stages
- a full set of the original hydraulic plans must be lodged for each stage with the works relating to other stages hashed out
- a staging fee is charged per stage application instead of the normal application and assessment fees
- staged applications are to be lodged via email
- assessment will not commence until all stages are lodged.
Assessment timeframe
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 express assessment options
Council offers the following options for an additional fee:
- three business days – applications involving less than 10 fixtures where a Development Application is not involved
- five business days – applications involving up to and including 250 fixtures.
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.
Permit term
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.
Performance based/alternate solution
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.
Calculating assessment fees
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.
Inspection fees
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.
Chargeable fixtures
Council charges for the following fixtures when calculating assessment and inspection fees:
- Autopsy table
- Bain-marie
- Basin
- Bath (foot, baby, shower)
- Bedpan sterilizer
- Bedpan washer/sterilizer
- Bidet, bidette
- Boiling water unit (includes under bench)
- Circular wash fountain
- Clothes washing machine
- Coffee machine
- Dental unit/chair
- Dishwashing machine
- Drinking fountain
- Floor waste gully without fixture connected
- Glass washing machine/glass cleaner
- Garbage grinder
- Ice maker
- Points capped for future use
- Potato peeler
- Sanitary napkin disposal unit
- Shower (single/multiple)
- Sink
- Sink/bar
- Sink cleaner
- Sink laboratory
- Sink (pot or utility)
- Sink/tea
- Slop hopper
- Trough (ablution)
- Trough (laundry)
- Tundish
- Urinal stall, or each 600mm length of slab
- Urinal - wall hung (includes waterless)
- Water closet pan (WC)
- Wok sink
Application requirements
The following is required at lodgement:
- completed Form 1 – Compliance assessment application for plumbing and drainage and onsite sewerage work (including online applications)
- hydraulic plans of the proposed work
- Urban Utilities Water Approval (when applicable)
- Site classification report
- Articulation Design (for soil types H, E and P)
- payment of all relevant fees.
Additionally, if the work involves On-site Sewage Facility (OSF) installation, include:
- site plan showing:
- location and details of the proposed or any existing OSF
- location of the proposed and/or existing buildings when applicable.
Lodgement options
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
- by visiting Council
- by mail to Locked Bag 1 Fairfield Gardens, Fairfield QLD 4103.
Other permit work declared as fast-track permit work by Council
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:
- Minor commercial installation (up to four fixtures, no in-ground drainage or trade waste)
- New pre-fabricated units (pods)
- Plumbed-in rainwater tank
- Drain seal-off
- Drain reconnection
- Drain works
Pre-fabricated units (pods)
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.
Minor commercial installation
Plans do not need to be lodged for plumbing and drainage works in a commercial premise that meet the following criteria:
- four fixtures or less
- no in-ground drainage
- does not involve trade waste.
The number of inspections is limited to four. Fees apply for additional inspections.
Plumbed-in rainwater tanks
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:
- drain seal-off
- drain reconnection
- drain works.
Applications may be lodged for one inspection. Fees apply for additional inspections.
Application requirements
- Completed Form 1 – Permit application for plumbing and drainage and onsite sewerage work
- Payment of all relevant fees
- When in-ground drainage is being installed, a site classification report is required. If the soil type is H, E or P a reticulation design is also required
Lodgement options
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
- by visiting Council
- by mail to Locked Bag 1 Fairfield Gardens, Fairfield QLD 4103.
Referral agency advice wastewater management
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.
Application requirements
- Completed request form
- Floor plan
- Site plan as described on the request form
On receipt of the request, a Plumbing Services team member will contact you to arrange fee payment.
Lodgement options
Applications and supporting documentation may be lodged in one of the following ways:
- by visiting Council
- mailing to Locked Bag 1 Fairfield Gardens, Fairfield QLD 4103.
