Brisbane City Council gathers its fault-reporting forms on one page, and road maintenance and safety hazards are among the topics it names. Which form to use, and who ends up doing the repair, depends on what is damaged and whose road it is. This guide follows the official pages as they read on 9 November 2026 and flags where the state government, not Council, is the contact.
Work out whose road it is
Not every road you drive in Brisbane is a Council road. The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is responsible for building, maintaining and operating transport infrastructure across Queensland, and that includes the state road network. Its regional roads page says a road lookup service will tell you who is responsible for a particular road, and it notes that some roads are managed by local councils. Council’s driveway permit page shows the same split from the property side: land next to a state-controlled road needs TMR permission for access approval, temporary lane closures and traffic management permits. That page also sends readers to QLD Traffic to check the ownership of a road.
If the damage is on a state-controlled road, the TMR page says it can be reported over the phone or through an online form. The QLDTraffic contact page adds that its phone service lets callers speak to an operator to report an incident, hazard, pothole, signal fault or streetlight outage on a major Queensland road.
Reporting a pothole or road damage to Council
Council’s pothole form is built around road damage that affects the appearance, structure or safety of the road, and it names ruts, cracks and edge failure as examples. Council says it uses what you submit to assess the urgency and location of the hazard.
The form asks for details about the issue, such as the type of problem and whether traffic is swerving to avoid the hazard. You are also asked to say whether it is a public safety concern. For the location, Council wants the street number and name, plus suburb and postcode. Photos are optional, as are your contact details.
There is a trade-off in leaving your details off. An anonymous report gets no reference number, and you cannot follow it up. Signing up to MyServices Brisbane lets you view, track and manage your service requests.
Reporting a footpath problem
Footpaths have their own form. It covers breaks, cracks or obstructions, and it also takes reports of an uneven surface, protruding tree roots, or rubbish and debris. Unlike the pothole form, it requires at least one photo.
Council asks that urgent problems and public safety issues be reported by contacting Council directly instead of using the form. Its examples include trip hazards, glass or metal on a footpath and a sudden change in footpath level. The same list covers vehicles parked on or across a footpath, and problems with structures on a footpath such as benches and lights.
One responsibility sits with property owners. Under the Public Land and Council Assets Local Law 2014, owners must build and maintain their driveways, and that includes the section that crosses the footpath.
What happens after you report
For potholes, Council says an urgent request is investigated within 24 hours and a non-urgent one within 7 working days. If repairs are needed, they are scheduled according to the nature and urgency of the issue and the extent of the damage, and wet weather may delay them. Council prioritises potholes by their location and their impact on public safety.
Footpath requests follow a similar logic. Council says it always prioritises the issues that pose the biggest safety risks. The work may be an initial treatment such as concrete grinding or an asphalt fillet to make the path safe, or the replacement of part of the footpath. In some cases another organisation, such as Queensland Urban Utilities or Telstra, is responsible for the works, and Council says it will contact that party on your behalf.
When to phone instead
At 9 November 2026, Council’s contact page says you can reach Council 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 07 3403 8888. The page lists traffic light problems and public safety concerns among the urgent issues to phone about.
Other forms worth knowing about
Council’s list under roads, footpaths and bikeways goes beyond potholes and footpaths. It includes forms for missing, damaged or faded traffic signs, kerb and road gutter damage, rubbish or debris on the road, and bikeway maintenance. Stormwater drain problems have a separate form.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to give my name when reporting a pothole to Brisbane City Council?
No. Contact details are optional, but an anonymous report gets no reference number and cannot be followed up by the reporter.
How quickly does Council say it will look at a reported pothole?
Council says urgent requests are investigated within 24 hours and non-urgent issues within 7 working days, and that wet weather may delay repairs.
How can I tell if a road is state-controlled?
The Department of Transport and Main Roads says a road lookup service shows who is responsible for a road, and Council’s driveway permit page points to QLD Traffic to check road ownership.
Is a photo needed to report a footpath problem?
Yes, the footpath form requires at least one photo. Photos are optional on the pothole form.
