Plumbing and drainage fees 2015-16
This factsheet will assist you to determine which Brisbane City Council plumbing and drainage fees will apply to your application.
Fees listed include GST, where applicable. For staged developments, each development stage is classed as a separate plumbing application for fee purposes.
These fees apply to plumbing and drainage applications, requests for compliance assessment and matters under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA), Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 and the Standard Plumbing and Drainage Regulations 2003.
Getting started
If you need help preparing your application, or are unsure whether your proposal will meet the requirements of the relevant legislation, you can discuss your application with officers from Council’s Plumbing Services Group by calling Council on (07) 3403 8888. You can also visit and search for ‘plumbing and drainage’.
For business enquiries on what to include in your application, which application fees to pay and how the assessment process works, call Council’s business hotline 133 BNE (133 263). It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Plumbing and drainage fees
You will need to pay a fee when lodging a plumbing and drainage application. This includes applications for compliance assessment, inspections and concurrence agency requests. Fees for compliance assessment of hydraulic plans are calculated according to the number of plumbing fixtures and/or the amount of pipework in your project.
Inspection fees
For single detached dwellings, the inspection fee is paid with the assessment fee when the application is lodged. Where Council is assessing hydraulic plans, the inspection fee is calculated according to the number of plumbing fixtures and/or amount of pipework in your project and payable prior to the first inspection. These fees cover all inspections required during construction except where an inspection fails or work is not ready at the time of the inspection. In these circumstances, a re-inspection fee is applicable.
PlumbSMART
Council’s PlumbSMART process streamlines the approval of domestic class 1 plumbing applications. New domestic dwellings located on individual lots which have their own direct connections to Queensland Urban Utilities’ sewer and water supply networks are eligible to use this process. PlumbSMART cannot be used for properties that are connected by combined sanitary drains, community title schemes or have an onsite wastewater treatment system.
For more information about PlumbSMART, visit and search for ‘PlumbSMART’, or call Council on (07) 3403 8888.
Online lodgement
Council recommends all plumbing applications be submitted online as it is the fastest and easiest way to submit your application.
Plumbing and drainage fees
Single detached dwellings – sewered
Compliance assessment and inspections
Plumbing and drainage application (each application) / Hardcopy lodgement / $90.40Online lodgement / $51.00
Inspection of plumbing and drainage – new dwelling
OR / Each application / $740.00
Inspection of plumbing and drainage – additions and/or alterations to a single detached dwelling / Each application / $424.00
PlumbSmART approval and inspections
Self-assessment of a new single detached dwelling plumbing and drainage application (each application) / Hardcopy lodgement / $88.00Online lodgement / $49.00
Inspection of plumbing and drainage – new single detached dwelling / Each application / $740.00
Reinspection of defective or incomplete plumbing or drainage works for a single detached dwelling / Each / $95.00
Technical advice on site where no plumbing application has been lodged for a single detached dwelling / Each / $136.00
All other classes except single detached dwelling – sewered
Assessment of hydraulic plans
Compliance assessment of hydraulic plans for all other classes except a single detached dwelling (each application plus charge for each fixture or water meter) / Hardcopy lodgement / $275.00Online lodgement / $218.00
Each fixture or water meter (in addition to application fee where applicable) / Each application / $19.00
Fast track assessment – less than 10 fixtures, excluding assessments which attract a development application. The plan will be assessed within five working days of receipt of payment by Council, provided all necessary information is provided / In addition to application and fixture fees / $197.00
Fast track assessment – up to and including 50 fixtures. The plan will be assessed within 10 working days of receipt of payment by Council, provided all necessary information is provided / In addition to application and fixture fees / $394.00
Fast track assessment – more than 50 fixtures and up to and including 250 fixtures. The plan will be assessed within 10 working days of receipt of payment by Council, provided all necessary information is provided / In addition to application and fixture fees / $910.00
Re-submission of hydraulic plans – defects identified during assessment / Each design or information defect / $82.00
Staging an application for compliance assessment of plumbing and drainage for commercial properties / Online lodgement / $554.00
Amendment to hydraulic plans previously approved (each application plus charge for each fixture or water meter) / Hardcopy lodgement / $275.00
Online lodgement / $218.00
Each fixture or water meter / $19.00
Assessment of hydraulic plans
Sub-meter application assessment / Up to 10 sub-meters minimum charge / $212.00Plus each sub-meter greater than 10 / $29.60
Request for concurrence agency for onsite wastewater management / Each / $348.00
Inspections
Inspection of plumbing and drainage installations resulting from the approval of hydraulic plans for all other classes except a single detached dwelling / Each / $62.00Plus each fixture or water meter / $41.70
Minimum fee / $223.00
Inspection of house drain and water supply in relation to multiple dwelling sites (civil works only) / Minimum fee / $223.00
Per metre up to and including 100 m / $4.70
Over 100 m charged on a per inspection basis / $183.00
Reinspection of defective or incomplete plumbing or drainage works for all other classes except a single detached dwelling / Each / $160.00
Minor commercial
Inspection and approval of up to four fixtures for all other classes except a single detached dwelling not involving in-ground drainage or trade waste / Each / $528.00Other inspections – all classes
Special inspection / Each / $111.00After-hours inspection (for up to two hours) / Minimum fee / $222.00
Per hour after two hours / $111.00
Inspection of a ‘plumbed in’ rainwater tank installation / Each tank / $97.00
Onsite approvals – inspection only
Inspection of drainage repairs for a single detached dwelling or a Class 10 building (greater than three metres on a single dwelling), renewals, removals, the cleansing of any drains, drainage apparatus, sanitary fixtures or fittings, sealing of house drainage at point of connection to the sewer system and replacement of like-for-like septic trenches / Each / $185.00Backflow prevention devices
Backflow prevention devices may be required where there is potential for the potable water supply to become contaminated by the backflow of water. These devices must be registered and require annual inspections by a licensed plumber.
Annual administration fee / Each device / $60.00Assessment and approval of water supply designs in relation to the installation of an irrigation system / Each plan / $145.00
Greywater
Greywater systems enable reuse of water. Compliance assessment of these systems is performed to ensure the water is used appropriately and safely.
Compliance assessment of greywater diversion device application for a single detached dwelling / Each application / $70.00Compliance assessment of greywater treatment plant application for a single detached dwelling / Each application / $191.00
Inspection/audit of greywater system for a single detached dwelling / Each / $190.00
Compliance assessment of greywater diversion device application for all other classes except a single detached dwelling / Each application / $136.00
Compliance assessment of greywater treatment plant application for all other classes except a single detached dwelling / Each application / $412.00
Inspection/audit of greywater system for all other classes except a single detached dwelling / Each / $412.00
Note: Greywater fees are charged in addition to plumbing assessment and inspection fees. Where a greywater application is lodged in conjunction with a domestic application, the inspection of greywater system fee is waived
Onsite sewerage facilities
All installations of onsite sewerage facilities are subject to Council approval to ensure all relevant standards are met. Select the option below that best describes the proposed work.
Single detached dwellings
Assessment of completed design including inspections
New single detached dwelling / Each application / $1270.00Additions/alterations requiring a system upgrade (increasing number of bedrooms or adding a granny flat) / Each application / $954.00
Relocation of trenches or land application area (where an operational permit is in effect) / Each application / $419.00
Relocation of trenches or land application area (where no operational permit exists) / Each application / $715.00
Replacement of system only / Each application / $715.00
Request for septic tank design by Council (including inspections)
System design by Council (new dwelling or for additions/alterations where no operational permit exists) / Each design / $3013.00System design by Council (additions/alterations where an operational permit is in effect) / Each design / $1751.00
Onsite pre-design visit for notifiable work site inspection requests / Each / $293.00
All other classes except single detached dwelling
Scrutiny of commercial onsite sewage treatment plant plans submitted for Council approval / Each application (hardcopy lodgement) / $275.00Plus each fixture / $19.00
Inspection of plumbing and drainage installations for all other classes except a single detached dwelling / Each / $62.00
Plus each fixture or water meter / $41.70
Minimum / $223.00
Further information
For more information about plumbing and drainage assessment and compliance fees, visit and search for ‘plumbing and drainage’, call Council on (07) 3403 8888 or 133 BNE (133 263) for business enquiries.