The two lists side by side
| Queensland (QBCC guide) | Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| Shower head | Replace a shower head | Maintain, repair or replace a shower head |
| Taps | Replace a jumper valve or washer in a tap | Maintain or repair a tap, but not a thermostatic mixing tap |
| Toilet cistern | Repair or replace a drop valve washer, float valve washer or suction cup rubber | Replace a cistern washer |
| Water filter | Replace a domestic water filter cartridge | Replace a water filter cartridge |
| Blocked fixture | Not among the items we've confirmed | Clear a blocked fixture or waste pipe with a plunger |
| Drain grates and caps | Clean or maintain a ground-level grate over a trap; replace caps on ground-level inspection openings | Not on the list |
| Garden watering | Irrigation past a tap, isolating valve or backflow device | Not on the list |
| Digging | Unskilled tasks that go with the job, such as digging or backfilling a trench | Not on the list |
Queensland
The QBCC's DIY plumbing guide, published in 2021, calls the jobs on its list "unregulated" plumbing work. For those jobs, it says "You don't need to be licensed under the current plumbing laws to undertake unregulated plumbing work, nor do you need approval by the QBCC or local government or report it."
There's a catch: "You still need to ensure that the work still meets the minimum standards of work under the legislation and codes." If you replace a part, use one made for the job and fit it properly.
One more Queensland note, from Queensland Health: "Any adjustment to the thermostat settings should be done by a licensed electrician." That covers fiddling with the temperature on an electric hot water system.
Western Australia
Building and Energy's page on plumbing work in your home lists five jobs a homeowner may do. Beyond those, all water supply, sanitary and drainage plumbing "must be carried out by a licensed plumber or permit-holder."
WA also has a restricted plumbing permit that allows water heater replacement, but only where no pipe changes are needed. It's a permit for people who hold it, not a homeowner exemption.
Hiring matters too. Under regulation 10, knowingly engaging an unlicensed person to do plumbing work is an offence, with a penalty of $5,000.
Other states and territories
We haven't confirmed a homeowner list for Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT or the Northern Territory. Don't assume the Queensland or WA lists apply there. Before you start, check with the regulator:
Victoria: the Building and Plumbing Commission. NSW: Building Commission NSW and NSW Fair Trading. ACT: Access Canberra. South Australia, Tasmania and the NT: the state or territory plumbing licensing regulator.
Not on either list
Gas work of any kind, hot water systems, new or moved pipes, anything inside a wall or under a floor, and drains beyond the grate. None of these appear on either list as we've confirmed them. If a small job turns into one of these, stop and call a licensed plumber or gas fitter.
Before any small job
Find the stop tap
Know where your main water shut-off is, usually at the meter, before you undo anything. Many fixtures also have their own isolation valve nearby.
Take a photo first
Snap the parts before you take them apart. It's the easiest way to put them back the same way.
Take the old part to the shop
Washers, cartridges and filters come in many sizes. Matching the old one saves a second trip and a leaking fit.
Stop when it fights back
A fitting that won't move, a pipe that cracks or water you can't shut off means the job has outgrown the list. Turn the water off and call a plumber.
What we would do
Stick to the jobs on your state's list, and stop the moment a job grows: a seized fitting, a weeping joint or water you can't turn off. That's where small DIY jobs turn into big repairs. If your state has no confirmed list, ask the regulator before you start, or leave it to a licensed plumber who does that kind of job. We can find one for you.