Arrange your Brisbane plumbing job
In short
Find a plumber who handles your type of job and can attend your Brisbane suburb. Check the contracting business and the person doing the work through the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). For planned work, compare written quotes for the same scope, including parts, attendance charges and any approvals. If the fault may be in the public water or sewer network, check with Urban Utilities first.
Step 1
Describe what you can see
Give your suburb, the affected fixture and when the problem started. Say whether it is getting worse and whether water or sewage is escaping. Describe the symptoms rather than guessing which pipe or part needs replacing.
Include access details that affect the visit: stairs, a locked side gate, parking, an under-house work area or apartment access arrangements. Ask whether the plumber attends your address and handles this kind of work.
Details for a useful plumbing brief
| Job | What to include |
|---|---|
| Leaking tap | Which tap, where it leaks, a photo and whether you want repair or replacement. |
| Hot-water fault | Unit type and model, a photo of its label, symptoms and whether all taps are affected. |
| Blocked drain | Which sinks, toilets or outdoor drains are affected, any overflow and previous blockages. |
| New or moved fixtures | Existing layout, proposed changes, plans if available and preferred fittings. |
Step 2
Check who should handle the fault
Urban Utilities uses the water meter and sewer connection point to distinguish private plumbing from its network. Property owners are generally responsible for their pipes and fittings up to those points, which can be outside the property boundary. A leak on the road side of the meter should be reported to Urban Utilities; if the location is unclear, ask them for guidance.
For a rental or apartment, contact the property manager or body corporate to establish who can authorise the work. If there is active flooding or a sewage overflow, seek urgent professional advice and confirm the attendance charge and arrival time. Keep people away from sewage and electrical hazards.
Step 3
Check the business and the plumber
Ask for the legal name and licence number of the business supplying the quote. Search the QBCC licensee register and match the name, current status, licence class and conditions to the proposed work. A business name or positive review alone does not establish the right licence.
QBCC also has an occupational plumber and drainer register for the people who perform the work. Check the person attending, or ask the business to identify them before work starts. If a hot-water job includes electrical or gas work, ask who will carry out those parts and how their relevant licences will be checked.
Step 4
Compare the proposed work and total price
For a planned repair or installation, give each plumber the same brief. Ask for a written scope and price covering labour, parts, attendance, disposal and GST where applicable. Where diagnosis is needed first, agree its cost and how further repairs will be authorised.
For a blocked drain, ask whether the proposal covers clearing it, inspecting its condition or both. For hot-water replacement, compare the named unit, removal of the old unit and any electrical or gas work. These are different jobs even when the quoted totals look similar.
Step 5
Confirm approvals and completion records
For a property in the Brisbane City Council area, ask the plumber whether the work requires a Council permit or is notifiable work. Notifiable work is work the licensed plumber must report to QBCC after completion using Form 4. Council's guidance distinguishes these categories from minor and unregulated work; the requirements depend on the actual scope.
Ask who will arrange any permit, notification and inspection, whether the cost is included and what records you will receive. If your address is in another council area, use that council's guidance. Keep the accepted quote, approved changes, invoice and relevant completion records together.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 6 October 2026
- QBCC: lists and registers
Separate searches for contractor licences and occupational plumbers and drainers.
- QBCC: checking the record of a licensee
Official steps for matching the contracting entity, licence class, status and conditions.
- QBCC: seeking and comparing quotes
Queensland guidance on comparing scope, costs, payment terms and timing.
- Urban Utilities: a leak on your property
Private pipe and utility responsibilities, including connection points outside property boundaries.
- Brisbane City Council: plumbing and drainage
Permit and notification guidance for properties in the Brisbane City Council area.
