STORMWATER DRAINAGE
Legal point of discharge: how to find it in Victoria
The legal point of discharge, or LPOD, is the point the council nominates for a property's stormwater to lawfully discharge to. You confirm it before you design or build any stormwater work, not after.
What an LPOD is
The legal point of discharge is the point the relevant council nominates as the place a property's stormwater may lawfully be discharged. It might be the kerb and channel out the front, a council stormwater pit, an easement drain across the property, or a legal connection into the underground drainage system. The point is that the council, not the plumber, decides where the water is allowed to go.
Why you confirm it first
The building regulations require stormwater to be drained to a lawful point of discharge. If you set the levels and lay the drain before you have the LPOD confirmed, you are guessing, and a guess that lands on the wrong outlet means digging it up. Confirm the point, then design the falls and the connection back from it.
How to request it from the council
You request the LPOD from the relevant council for that property, usually through a written application or an online request. The council issues a report or plan that nominates the point and often shows levels and the connection detail. Keep that report with the job, because it is the document that proves where you were told to discharge.
What to record
Hold the council's LPOD report, a photo of the discharge point as built, and the connection back to it. If the discharge point is ever questioned, the council report plus the as-built shot is what shows you drained to the nominated point. Elemetric keeps that with the job.
Common questions
What is a legal point of discharge?
It is the point the relevant council nominates for a property's stormwater to lawfully discharge to. It might be a kerb and channel, a council pit, an easement drain, or a legal connection to the underground drainage system. You discharge to that point and no other.
How do I get the legal point of discharge?
You request it from the relevant council, usually as a written application or online request for the property. The council issues a report or plan nominating the point, and that report is what you design and build to.
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Download on the App Store →General information for licensed tradespeople, not legal or regulatory advice. The licensed plumber remains solely responsible for compliance. Refer to the current AS/NZS 3500 standards and the Building and Plumbing Commission (formerly the VBA) for authoritative requirements.