Plumbing licence Queensland: QBCC classes, Form 4 and Form 7

What it is

A plumbing licence in Queensland is the legal authority to do plumbing, drainage or gasfitting work for another person. The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) issues the licences and the Department of Energy and Public Works oversees the policy side through the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (QLD). Queensland runs a clear three-tier scheme of unrestricted licence, restricted licence and trainee, with separate endorsements for gasfitting under the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 (Qld).

The legislation behind it

The Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (QLD) and the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019 sit at the centre of plumbing law in Queensland. They define regulated work, set the licensing requirements and create the Form 4 and Form 7 paperwork. The Building Act 1975 (QLD) is the parent statute for building work generally, and the Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code applies on top of AS/NZS 3500.

The QBCC administers licences and complaints. Local government plumbing inspectors do most of the on-site inspections of notifiable work. The split sometimes catches builders out: the QBCC handles the licence, but it is the council that signs off the inspection.

Licence classes and scope

The QBCC issues several plumbing-related licence classes. The main ones for residential work are:

Plumber (unrestricted)

Full scope of regulated plumbing work, including water supply, sanitary plumbing and on-site sewerage where authorised.

Drainer (unrestricted)

Sanitary drainage, stormwater drainage and connection to the sewer main. Often held alongside plumbing but can be held separately.

Gas work licence

Issued under petroleum and gas legislation, not the Plumbing and Drainage Act. Covers natural gas and LPG installation, connection and testing.

Restricted licences

Cover a narrower scope, such as fire protection, irrigation or solar hot water. Useful where a specialist trade only needs to do one slice of plumbing work.

Trainees and provisional licences

Allow on-tools work under supervision while a person completes a Certificate III in Plumbing and the required on-site hours.

A separate Occupational licence and a Contractor licence exist. Occupational lets you do the work. Contractor lets you trade as a business, hold contracts and sub-contract to others. Builders engaging plumbing trades on a residential site should be checking both.

Form 4 and Form 7

Queensland's compliance paperwork is the single thing builders most often get wrong on a project.

A Form 4 Notifiable Work Notice is given to council before or after certain types of plumbing work. The 2019 reforms expanded notifiable work to include most residential plumbing and drainage that does not need a permit. The plumber lodges the Form 4 with the local government, pays the fee and the council can inspect if it chooses.

A Form 7 is a Compliance Certificate. The licensee issues it after compliance assessable work to confirm the work meets the Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code, AS/NZS 3500 and the Plumbing Code of Australia. The Form 7 goes to the local government and a copy goes to the owner.

A Form 9 Inspection Certificate is issued by a local government plumbing inspector after an inspection of compliance assessable work and is often paired with the Form 7.

What this means on a residential build

Three practical points for builders:

First, ask for the QBCC licence number on the first invoice and check it on the public register. The licence must be in the correct class and active. A drainer is not a plumber.

Second, do not let a job close without the Form 4 and Form 7 paperwork in the project file. The local government will not issue a final inspection on the build if the plumbing paperwork is missing.

Third, gasfitting is its own licence. A plumber without a gas work authority cannot connect a gas hot water unit or a cooktop. The penalties for unlicensed gas work are higher than for unlicensed plumbing.

Renewals and complaints

Licences are renewed annually. The QBCC's audit and complaints team can suspend a licence for defective work or unpaid debts. Builders should keep a check on the public register because a sub-contractor's licence can change status mid-project without notice.