QLD Compliance Checker — Does Your Job Need a Form 4 or Form 1?

By Shelton Allenberg · QBCC Licensed Plumber & Gas Fitter · 2026-07-10

Why Compliance Classification Matters

Every licensed plumber in Queensland knows the sinking feeling: you're about to start a job and you're not 100% sure whether it needs a Form 4 notification to the QBCC, a Form 1 permit application to the local council, or nothing at all. The consequences of getting it wrong are serious:

• Performing Permit Work without a permit: Maximum penalty $13,345 for individuals (20 penalty units) under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 s.85
• Failing to notify for Notifiable Work: Maximum penalty $6,672 (10 penalty units) under s.86
• Insurance implications: Work done without proper approvals may void your public liability cover
• Defect notices: Council inspectors can issue rectification orders on non-compliant work

The legislation isn't always intuitive. For example, extending sanitary drainage at an existing Class 1 dwelling is Notifiable Work (Form 4), but the exact same work at a Class 2-9 building is Permit Work (Form 1). The distinction matters because the approval process, timeframes, and paperwork are completely different.

The Four Categories Under the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019

1. Unregulated Work (Schedule 3)

Anyone can do this work — no licence required. It covers only very specific tasks:

• Replacing a tap washer, jumper valve, or shower head
• Replacing a water filter cartridge
• Replacing toilet cistern washers
• Installing garden irrigation downstream of a tap/backflow device

2. Minor Work (Schedule 2)

Requires a licensed plumber but NO form submission. Covers:

• Unblocking drains
• Repairing a broken or damaged pipe (repair only, not replacement)
• Like-for-like replacement of a fitting/fixture at the same location with no pipework alteration
• Installing a simple apparatus (but NOT a TMV, testable backflow device, or water heater)
• Greywater diversion devices
• Repairing/replacing existing fire hydrants and hose reels

3. Notifiable Work — Form 4 to QBCC (Schedule 1 Part 2)

This is where most confusion lives. Notifiable Work only applies to existing buildings (or extensions to existing Class 1). The 12 categories include:

• Extending or altering water supply pipes at an existing building
• Extending or altering sanitary plumbing at an existing building
• Sanitary drainage at an existing Class 1 or 10 only
• Installing a water heater at an existing building
• Installing a testable backflow prevention device
• Installing a TMV or tempering valve
• On-site sewerage work at an existing Class 1 building
• Stormwater work at an existing Class 1 or 10 building

For Notifiable Work, you lodge a Form 4 with the QBCC before starting work. There's no approval wait — you notify and proceed. You must also lodge a Form 7 Compliance Certificate within 10 business days of completing the work.

4. Permit Work — Form 1 to Council (Schedule 1 Part 1)

The most regulated category. Permit Work covers:

• All plumbing and drainage in new buildings
• Sanitary drainage at Class 2-9 buildings (even existing ones)
• New fire services (not extensions to existing)
• Work that doesn't fit into any other category
• Trade waste connections

For Permit Work, you submit a Form 1 application to the local council and must wait for approval before starting. The council has 20 business days to decide. After completion, you lodge a Form 7 and the council arranges an inspection.

How Our Free QLD Compliance Checker Works

We built the QLD Compliance Checker to eliminate the guesswork. It works two ways:

Option 1: Describe Your Work (AI-Powered)

Type a plain-English description of your job — for example, "Replacing an existing hot water system with a new heat pump unit at a residential property in Coomera" — and the AI matches it to the correct compliance category. It considers:

• The type of work (water supply, drainage, gas, backflow, etc.)
• Whether the building is new or existing
• The building class (residential, commercial, multi-unit)
• Whether trade waste is involved
• Your specific council area

Option 2: Select Work Type (Manual)

If you already know the category, select from a structured list of work types grouped by trade. The checker instantly returns the compliance outcome, required forms, next steps, and your council's contact details for lodgement.

What You Get From the Checker

For every check, the tool returns:

• Compliance outcome: Notifiable (Form 4), Permit (Form 1), Minor Work, or Unregulated
• Required forms: Which forms to lodge, and when
• Step-by-step next actions: Exactly what to do, in order
• Council contact details: Phone number and online lodgement link for your specific council
• Trade waste requirements: If applicable, the water authority contact and approval process
• Legislation references: The exact schedule, section, and regulation that applies

Common Scenarios That Trip Plumbers Up

Hot Water System Replacement

Replacing a hot water system at an existing residential property is Notifiable Work (Form 4 to QBCC). Many plumbers assume it's Minor Work because it's a "like-for-like replacement" — but the regulation specifically excludes water heaters from the Minor Work category.

Backflow Device Installation

Installing a testable backflow prevention device (RPZD, DCVA) is always Notifiable Work, regardless of building class. After installation, you also need to lodge a Form 9 with the council for the device to be registered in the backflow register.

New Bathroom in Existing House

Adding a new bathroom to an existing Class 1 dwelling involves extending water supply AND sanitary plumbing — both are Notifiable Work. But if the drainage connects to an existing Class 2-9 building's system, the drainage component becomes Permit Work.

Commercial Fit-Out

A new café fit-out in an existing commercial building (Class 5-6) with new drainage is Permit Work (Form 1 to Council). If it also involves trade waste (grease trap, food waste), you'll need a separate Trade Waste Approval from the water authority (Urban Utilities, Unity Water, etc.).

Try It Now — It's Free

The QLD Compliance Checker is completely free to use — no signup required. It covers all 12 SEQ councils and the full range of plumbing, drainage, gas, and stormwater work types under the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019.

For plumbers who want the full compliance toolkit — digital Form 7 and Form 9 lodgement, council inspection bookings, AI standards reference, and complete job management — start your free 21-day TradeDesk trial.

This article is general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify compliance requirements with your local council and the QBCC before commencing work. Legislation references are current as of July 2026.