Disputes occur when two or more parties disagree with a decision or course of action. The Sustainable Planning Act 2009 ( 2.6 MB) outlines several options to assist with finding a resolution for disputes relating to building, development or plumbing including:

• free alternative dispute resolution (through the Planning and Environment Court)
• deemed refusal arrangements
• Planning and Environment Court
• Building and Development Dispute Resolution Committees.

Disputes relating to the Building Act 1975 ( 1.1 MB) and the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 ( 772 KB) are resolved through the Building and Development Dispute Resolution Committees. There are several types of appeals/declarations relating to plumbing and building including:

• plumbing and drainage appeals
• infrastructure charges appeals
• development application and approval appeals
• compliance assessment appeals
• enforcement notice appeals
• building appeals
• declarations with respect to development applications, acknowledgement notices, compliance assessment process and development approvals under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009.

The Registrar, Building and Development Dispute Resolution Committees, is unable to provide advice for matters appealed to the Planning and Environment Court.

The types of disputes that the Building and Development Dispute Resolution Committees deal with are outlined in the legislation. For issues not outlined in the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 or the Building Act 1975, other sources are available including the:

• Building Services Authority
• Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Who's affected by this legislation?

• Queensland's building and construction industry including BSA licensees
• Building professionals including building certifiers, engineers and planners
• General community
• Peak bodies including Queensland Master Builders Association and the Housing Industry Association
• Local councils

Current laws and regulations

• Building Act 1975 ( 1 MB)
  Queensland's building legislation
• Building Regulation 2006 ( 478 KB)
  Building regulations related to the Queensland Building Act 1975

Current Codes and Standards

• Queensland Development Code
  Queensland's building standards framework which extends the scope of the Building Code of Australia
• Building certification system in Queensland
  Find out about the improved Queensland building certification system
• Termite management standards
  Background and changes to the termite management systems laws under the Building Code of Australia

Visit Queensland legislation to access repealed or previous reprint editions of legislation.

Who's affected by this legislation

Queensland plumbers and drainers, builders, developers, councils, community title managers, water service providers and householders.

Current laws and regulations

• Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code ( 310 KB)
  Published 1 April 2011
• Plumbing and Drainage Act 2002 ( 772 KB)
  Queensland law governing plumbing and drainage, the licensing of plumbers and drainers, on-site sewerage facilities, and other matters
• Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2003 ( 356 KB)
  Details the types of plumbing and drainage licences and the type of work a licensed person can do.
• Standard Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2003 ( 536 KB)
  Details specific laws to ensure plumbing and drainage work is compliant.
• Summary of recent changes to laws
  Find out more about recent changes to plumbing laws which commenced 1 January 2008

Draft laws and legislation

There are currently no related draft laws or legislation.

Superseded codes

• Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code ( 254 KB)
  Published 19 January 2011
• Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code ( 253 KB)
  Published 21 April 2010
• Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code ( 270 KB)
  Published 3 February 2010
• Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code ( 400 KB)
  Published 17 June 2009
• Superseded Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code ( 252 KB)
  Puiblished 3 February 2009
• Superseded Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code ( 325 KB)
  This standard commenced on 3 November 2008 and replaces the previous version published on 1 January 2008
• Superseded Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code ( 242 KB)
  The code sets the framework which consolidates specific Queensland plumbing and drainage standards into a single document. This standard commenced on 1 January 2008 and replaces the previous version published on 1 March 2006
• Previous version of the Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater (QPW) Code ( 303 KB)
  This version of the QPW Code was published on 1 March 2006 and replaced the On-Site Sewerage Code published in November 2003

The department coordinates the review of laws and codes affecting the building and development industries in Queensland.

• The department is undertaking a review of its existing regulation to identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary and excessive legislative requirements, and streamline administrative and procurement processes. Read about the department’s abridged regulatory simplification plan.