How to Fill Out Form 7 in QLD — Step by Step Guide (2026)

By Shelton Allenberg · QBCC Licensed Plumber & Gas Fitter (Lic. 15371578) · Gold Coast, QLD · Published 2026-06-19

What is Form 7?

Form 7 is the Compliance Certificate for Plumbing and Drainage Work required under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 in Queensland. Every licensed plumber who completes regulated plumbing or drainage work must lodge a Form 7 with their local council — it's your legal declaration that the work complies with the relevant Australian standards and the Queensland Plumbing Code.

Failing to lodge a Form 7 (or lodging it late) can result in fines, compliance notices, and issues for your customer down the track — particularly when they try to sell their property or get insurance claims approved.

When Do You Need to Lodge Form 7?

You must lodge a Form 7 for any notifiable work under the Plumbing and Drainage Act. This includes:

• New plumbing or drainage installations
• Alterations to existing plumbing or drainage systems
• Disconnection of plumbing or drainage (e.g., demolition)
• Installation or replacement of hot water systems
• Backflow prevention device installation (also requires Form 9)
• Stormwater connections and drainage work
• Greywater treatment systems

Important: You must lodge the Form 7 within 10 business days of completing the work. Late lodgement can attract penalties.

What You'll Need Before Starting

Before you sit down to fill out Form 7, gather the following information:

• Your QBCC licence number — your current plumbing licence details
• Property address — the full street address where work was performed
• Lot and plan number — from the property title (your customer or council can provide this)
• Owner details — name and contact details of the property owner
• Description of work — what was installed, altered, or disconnected
• Relevant standards — which sections of AS/NZS 3500 or AS/NZS 5601 apply
• Council details — which local council has jurisdiction
• Completion date — the date the work was finished

Step-by-Step: Filling Out Form 7

Section 1: Plumber Details

Enter your full legal name, QBCC licence number, business name (if applicable), ABN, phone number, and email address. This must match your current QBCC registration exactly — any discrepancies can cause the form to be rejected.

Section 2: Property Details

Enter the full property address where the work was performed, including the lot number and plan number. If you're unsure of the lot/plan, you can look it up on the Queensland Globe mapping tool or ask your customer for their rates notice.

Section 3: Owner Details

Enter the property owner's name and contact details. If the work was requested by a tenant or builder, you still need the owner's details here — not the person who hired you.

Section 4: Description of Work

Describe the plumbing or drainage work that was completed. Be specific — don't just write "plumbing work." Good examples:

• "Installed new 50mm copper hot water system (Rheem Stellar 330275) with tempering valve to bathroom and kitchen"
• "Replaced existing 100mm PVC sewer line from house to boundary trap — 12 linear metres"
• "Installed RPZ backflow prevention device (Watts 009) to existing commercial kitchen supply"

Section 5: Type of Work

Select the category that applies: new installation, alteration, disconnection, or maintenance requiring compliance. Most jobs will be either "new installation" or "alteration to existing."

Section 6: Compliance Declaration

This is where you declare that the work complies with the relevant standards. You'll need to reference the specific parts of the standards that apply:

• AS/NZS 3500.1 — Water services
• AS/NZS 3500.2 — Sanitary plumbing and drainage
• AS/NZS 3500.3 — Stormwater drainage
• AS/NZS 3500.4 — Heated water services
• AS/NZS 5601.1 — Gas installations (general)
• AS/NZS 5601.2 — Gas installations (LP Gas in caravans and boats)

Section 7: Signature and Date

Sign the form (or apply your digital signature) and enter the date of completion. The signatory must be the licensed plumber who performed or directly supervised the work.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong lot/plan number — always double-check against the property title
• Vague work descriptions — "fixed pipes" won't cut it; be specific about what was done
• Late lodgement — you have 10 business days; set a reminder
• Mismatched licence details — make sure your name and number match your QBCC card exactly
• Missing owner details — even if a builder hired you, the property owner goes on the form
• Not keeping a copy — always retain a copy for your records (minimum 5 years)

How to Lodge Form 7

Form 7 can be lodged with your local council in several ways:

• Online portal — most SEQ councils now accept digital lodgement through their online systems
• Email — some councils accept scanned/signed forms via email
• In person — drop it at the council office (least efficient)
• Via TradeDesk — TradeDesk lets you generate, complete, and lodge Form 7 digitally from your phone. The form auto-fills your licence details, calculates the correct council, and keeps a copy in your records automatically.

Which Councils Accept Digital Lodgement?

TradeDesk currently supports digital Form 7 generation for 12 SEQ councils including Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Logan City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Redland City Council, Sunshine Coast Council, Ipswich City Council, and more.

Tips for Faster Form 7 Completion

1. Template your common jobs — if you do a lot of hot water replacements, save a template description
2. Photograph the lot/plan number from the meter box or rates notice when you arrive on site
3. Complete it on the day — don't let forms pile up; do it while the details are fresh
4. Use digital tools — apps like TradeDesk auto-fill your details and calculate lodgement deadlines
5. Set calendar reminders — 10 business days goes fast when you're busy

Summary

Form 7 is a non-negotiable part of running a compliant plumbing business in Queensland. While it can feel like paperwork for paperwork's sake, it protects you, your customer, and your licence. The key is to build it into your workflow so it becomes automatic — not something you scramble to do at the end of the month.

TradeDesk was built to make this process painless. Generate Form 7 from your phone on-site, auto-fill your details, and keep council-ready records without the admin headache. Start your free 21-day trial and see how much time you save.