The Latest from the QBCC: As Constructed Drainage Plans, Audit Program, Digital Plumbing Forms

Here are some updates from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC):

New Fact Sheet Makes As-Constructed Drainage Plans Easier to Understand

To make life a little easier for licensed plumbers, we’ve launched a new fact sheet that breaks down everything you need to know about preparing and submitting as-constructed drainage plans.

If you're working on renovations, alterations, or additions to an existing building, these plans are essential. They help identify the location, depth, sizing, and connections of the sanitary drainage system. These are all critical details for getting the job done right and staying compliant.

And if your notifiable work involves changes to the sanitary drainage, remember you must attach an as-constructed plan with your Form 4.

The new fact sheet covers:

• when an as-constructed diagram is required
• what information needs to be included
• a clear example to guide your documentation.

It’s designed to help you meet your obligations with confidence and produce high-quality plans that meet QBCC standards.

New Fact Sheet

QBCC’s 2025–26 Audit Program: What You Need to Know

We’ve rolled out our notifiable work audit program for 2025–26, and it’s all about keeping plumbing standards high and safeguarding the public.

As part of this initiative, the QBCC will be conducting random audits of contracting licensees across Queensland, especially in areas where Form 4/4A registrations are low.

These audits help ensure that plumbing work is properly recorded and can be inspected if needed. Which means, making it easier to identify and fix any issues early – because prevention is better than cure.

To help you stay on top of things, the QBCC website has some handy tools and resources on notifiable work, an interactive checker to see if your job needs a Form 4, and tips on lodging Form 4/4A correctly.

If you're selected for an audit, you’ll be asked to provide recent invoices. To make the process smooth, make sure your invoices:

• are clear to read (e.g. not blurry)
• include details about the work being done
• include the correct site address and building reference (if applicable).

Once your documents are in, a member of the QBCC audit team will review them and get in touch if they need anything else.

We know that most plumbers are doing the right thing, but even one case of someone cutting corners is one too many, especially in an industry facing a skills shortage.

This is why our role goes beyond enforcement. Through notifiable work audits, licensing and ongoing education, we’re here to help licensees stay informed, supported, and stay on track, while working to stamp out dodgy practices, which includes unlicensed contracting.

When unlicensed contractors take on work, it undermines the training, invested time and resources, that licensed plumbers put in, to do things the right way, taking food off the table of those who have done the hard yards. This is why we’ve made it easier to raise concerns or report wrongdoing – anonymously – through our updated complaints form.

And while we will do our best to act on the information provided anonymously through this process, our investigations team may need to reach out to ask for additional information, some of which may be identifiable. Notwithstanding this, we will do our utmost to maintain strict confidentiality throughout the process.

This is one of the ways we’re showing our commitment to taking feedback on board and looking for ways to improve how we support the industry.

It’s part of our ongoing effort to maintain the reputation of the plumbing profession, make it easier to do business with us and ensure that licensees feel heard, respected and backed.

Have something to report? Submit your complaint below: 

Submit a complaint

Plumbing Forms Go Digital

We’ve just launched a suite of digital forms for plumbing on myQBCC. It’s a step forward in digitising our services - and delivering faster, more reliable outcomes for you.