Changes to plumbing processes by local government

Local governments may tailor the application of the plumbing and drainage laws to meet the needs of their communities. They can do this by making various declarations by resolution.

This may mean that your applications for permits may be fast-tracked, or that certain types of work can be exempt from inspection due to remote locations.

Fast-track work declaration

Local governments can make a fast-track work declaration that transfers standard application work to the fast-track application process.

Work that can't be fast-tracked includes:

• combined sanitary drainage, or a water supply system or drainage system installed as part of a community title scheme
• trade waste connections
• on-site sewage facilities.

Read the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019, section 39(1) for details.

Local governments must make sure that information about the declaration is made publicly available online and at a public office.

Find out more about permit application time frames.

Participating local governments—fast-track work declaration

The following local governments have passed fast-track work declarations:

• Brisbane City Council – 11 June 2019 (Item G/852/2018-19)
• Moreton Bay Regional Council – 9 December 2020 (Item no. 4.6)

Fast-track opt-out declaration

Local governments may make a fast-track opt-out declaration. This means all permit applications are assessed under the standard application process, even if the work could be fast-tracked under normal circumstances.

This ensures that local governments are working within their capacity and resources. They may opt back into the fast-track model at a later date and by resolution.

Read the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019, section 40(1) for details.

Local governments must make sure that information about the declaration is made publicly available online and at a public office.

Participating local governments

The following local governments have passed fast-track opt-out declarations:

• Banana Shire Council – 22 May 2019 (Item no. 10.2.4) (DOC, 2MB)
• Charters Towers Regional Council – 17 July 2019 (Item no. 11.2) (PDF, 22MB)
• Isaac Regional Council – 25 June 2019 (Item no. 9.3)
• Lockyer Valley Regional Council – 12 June 2019 (Item no. 11.2) (PDF, 17.2MB)
• Mackay Regional Council – 26 June 2019 (Item no. 11.4) (PDF, 11.1MB)
• Toowoomba Regional Council – 20 June 2019 (Item no. 6.1/02).

Remote area and eligible work declaration

Smaller, regional local governments listed in Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019, schedule 7 can make a remote area declaration that nominates remote parts of their areas where permit work won't be inspected due to the area's remoteness from the local government's public office.

The local government must:

• review the work and ensure that it isn't likely to adversely affect public health or safety, or the environment
• make sure that information about the declaration is made publicly available online and at public office.

Read the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019, section 71 for more details.

We have not received notification of any declaration passed under this section.

Participating local governments

There are currently no declarations passed under this section.

Compliance notice process

Once the local government passes the declaration, you can submit a Form 6—Remote area compliance notice (PDF, 142KB).

For eligible plumbing and drainage in a declared remote area, you must give this form to the local government within 10 business days of the work being operational and fit for use.

The notice must certify that the work is compliant, operational and fit for use.

You can authorise a suitably qualified person to prepare and send the form on your behalf. The local government must deliver its decision on the notice within 5 business days after receiving it.

If the local government accepts the compliance notice, they must issue a final inspection certificate for the plumbing or drainage work within 2 business days.

Read the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019, section 72 and section 73 for more details.