Check if you need planning and building approval to install a rainwater tank. Find information for building certifiers.
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Before you start your rainwater tank project, you should:
Generally, there is no need to obtain a development approval from Council for a rainwater tank.
If your rainwater tank does not trigger the requirements for development approval from us, you may still require a building approval and advice from an accredited building certifier.
You will require plumbing approval for internal connections.
Development, other than for a house, in the Bushfire overlay area in Brisbane City Plan 2014 is subject to requirements for Bushfire overlay code.
Dwelling houses within the Ferny Grove and Upper Kedron neighbourhood planning area are checked according to section D of the code. Additionally, some conditions might prompt evaluation based on the State Planning Policy (SPP).
If a property is being evaluated based on the Bushfire overlay or SPP for Natural Hazards, it may need to have its own water supply if there isn't a regular water system available.
Properties with no access to reticulated water supply and enough water pressure, must meet minimum requirements for on-site water storage.
Water supply can be in the form of a separate rainwater tank or reserve section as part of the main water supply tank.
The rainwater tank must have:
If your proposed water tank will be part of a dwelling house, it must comply with the locational requirements under City Plan:
You may need to lodge a development application for planning approval if the water tank doesn’t comply with the locational requirements.
You’ll need building approval for a rainwater tank, if the tank is:
Contact a licensed building certifier to arrange building approval for your proposed rainwater tank.
Your building certifier can also seek alternative provisions, such as the setback from the front, side or rear boundary, by lodging a request for a referral response.
You may need Council plumbing approval for internal connections, including:
These works must be carried out by a licensed plumber.
Rainwater tanks connected internally are required to:
Connections from the rainwater tank to outlets must be installed by a licensed plumber.
They will ensure your connections to the toilet or cold water outlet in the laundry, can switch over to town water if the tank runs dry.
No cross connections from the tank and town water pipes into the home, unless there is a backflow prevention device. This is vital to prevent contamination of town water.
Find out more about backflow prevention.
A trickle feed top-up system adds town water to your tank when rain levels are low.
Manual or automatic switching devices are used to divert the internal connection between the rainwater tank and town water supply. This is activated when the water level in the tank falls below an acceptable level. The switch is found at the junction of the town water and rainwater tank supply lines and located away from the tank.
This dedicated connection is used for internal fixtures for your home, with no top up into the tank. When there is no tank water available, you must swap the water supply over to town water supply line.
If your proposed rainwater tank project isn’t in a residential zone, contact Council on 07 3403 8888 for advice.
If planning approval is required, you’ll need to lodge a development application.
Follow our step-by-step guide to prepare and lodge a development application.
Once we’ve received your development application, we‘ll check it:
A fee quote will then be issued for payment. Council uses a points system to calculate development application fees, which can vary depending on your project.
Properly made applications proceed through an assessment process in set stages.
If your application is not properly made, you’ll receive an action notice and have 20 days to comply.
You must let Council know that the action notice has been complied with. We’ll consider whether the action notice has been fulfilled and issue a Confirmation Notice if satisfied that the application is properly made.
If you’re unsure, request information and advice.
You can check the status of your development application on our development and search tracking tool, Development.i.
Look up your development application by number or location and select 'details'. The status is under 'progress'.
Under the Planning Act 2016, Council must hold records of building construction approvals and certification information. These documents will be kept for a specified period of time and made available for inspection.
A detailed list of required lodgement materials is outlined in Planning Regulation 2017 and s86 of the Building Act 1975.
You can lodge building certification documents online for a fee of $72.30 (valid from 1 July 2024).
Sign in to the Services Brisbane for Business portal to lodge your building certification documents.
You can also lodge building documents at any Customer Centre. Phone Council’s Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263) to ask about the fees for lodging building documents in person.
Yes, you may need planning and building approval before installing a rainwater tank on your property. It depends on your property’s location under Brisbane City Plan 2014 and the dimensions of the rainwater tank.
You may also seek Council plumbing approval if you’re connecting the tank into your home or supplying the tank with town water supply back-up. Works must be carried out by a licensed plumber.
Find out about rainwater tank approvals.
