Why it's worth having
It's your proof that licensed work was done to the rules, and that the regulator has a record of it. Keep it with your house papers. It can matter when you sell, when you make an insurance claim, or when another plumber works on the same system later.
It isn't a warranty. A certificate says the work met the rules when it was done; the warranty is the plumber's promise about the work and parts afterwards. Get both in writing.
The rules we've confirmed, by state
| What you should get | When | |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | A Certificate of Compliance at the end. A Notice of Work goes in first, except for emergency and minor works, and drainage work needs a Sewer Service Diagram | Lodged at completion or before the final inspection, with a copy to whoever arranged the work |
| Victoria | A compliance certificate from a licensed plumber. Registered plumbers can't issue one | Check with the Building and Plumbing Commission |
| Queensland | Notifiable work registered with the QBCC on Form 4 or 4A | Registered within 10 business days of the invoice; your copy within 20 business days of registering |
| Western Australia | A certificate of compliance for major work. Minor work needs a record only | Within 5 working days of finishing |
| South Australia | An electronic certificate of compliance (eCOC) for plumbing work | To you within 7 days of completing the work |
| Tasmania | Not confirmed by us | Check with the Tasmanian plumbing regulator |
| ACT | Not confirmed by us | Check with Access Canberra |
| Northern Territory | Not confirmed by us | Check with the NT plumbing regulator |
NSW
A Notice of Work "is a form that outlines plumbing and drainage work to be carried out", and it goes in before the job starts. It isn't needed for emergency work or minor works such as "replacing tap ware, replacing existing hot water systems, and bathroom renovations where fixture locations are unchanged".
At the end, the Certificate of Compliance "confirms the work complies with the Act, Regulation, Plumbing Code of Australia". The plumber or drainer lodges it with Building Commission NSW through MyInspections in metropolitan areas, or with the local council regulator elsewhere, and must "Provide a copy to the person that has arranged the work".
Queensland
Queensland calls it notifiable work. "The relevant person", the licensee or supervising contractor, registers it with the QBCC on Form 4 or 4A. The clock starts with the invoice, which is one more reason to ask for an itemised invoice when the job is finished.
Western Australia
For major work, the licensed contractor or permit holder gives notice at least 24 hours before starting, and lodges a certificate of compliance with the Board within 5 working days of finishing, with a copy to the owner or occupier. Building and Energy puts it plainly for homeowners: the contractor "must give you a certificate of compliance within five working days of completing the work."
Minor work is different. Repairing or replacing existing pipework, or repairing a water heater, needs a record but no certificate. Installing or replacing a water heater or a backflow device is not minor work, so those jobs do come with a certificate.
South Australia
South Australian plumbers must issue an eCOC when they've done plumbing work on a property, and it has to reach the customer within 7 days. The work covered includes installing or replacing a water heater, sanitary plumbing and drainage, and work on backflow devices.
Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT
In Victoria, we've confirmed one rule: only licensed plumbers can issue compliance certificates. Victorian plumbers are registered or licensed class by class, so if your job needs a certificate, check the plumber is licensed, not just registered, for that class. For which jobs need one and how fast, ask the Building and Plumbing Commission.
We haven't confirmed the certificate rules for Tasmania, the ACT or the Northern Territory. Ask the plumber what they'll lodge and when, and check with the regulator if the answer is vague.
When it arrives, check
- It's for your address.
- The work described matches the work done.
- The plumber's name and licence number are on it, and match the register.
- It's dated, and arrived within the time your state allows.
- Where it was lodged with a regulator, you have any reference number.
Ask before the job starts
- Does this job need a certificate, or a registration, in this state?
- Who lodges it, and when will I get my copy?
- Is the person doing the work licensed to issue it?
- Is lodging it included in the quote?
- Does the job need an inspection before it's signed off?
What we would do
Raise the certificate when you accept the quote, so it's part of the job rather than an afterthought. File the copy with your house papers the day it arrives. If it hasn't come within the time your state allows, chase the plumber first, then the regulator. A plumber who does the job properly will have it on its way before you need to ask.