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Do I need a licensed plumber, or can I do it myself?

The short answer

Almost all plumbing work in Australia is licensed. The homeowner exemptions are narrow, differ by state, and generally cover only minor maintenance like changing a tap washer.

TradieAnswers editorial · written in-house and sourced to the authorities listed below

Checked against 5 published sources, listed in full at the end of this page. How we source this

Plumbing is regulated more tightly than most people assume, and for a reason that is not obvious: plumbing work can contaminate the drinking water supply beyond your own property. That is why the licensing net is drawn wide and why the exemptions are so narrow.

Licensed work

  • Anything connected to the water supply, including installing or relocating taps, toilets, basins and appliances.
  • All drainage and sanitary plumbing.
  • All gas fitting, which is a further licence class again.
  • Hot water system installation and replacement.
  • Roof plumbing, including gutters and downpipes in most states.234

Typically permitted for a homeowner

  • Replacing a tap washer or a jumper valve.
  • Clearing a blockage with a plunger or a drain snake you can operate from a fixture.
  • Replacing a shower head or a flexible hose that connects by a fitting rather than being plumbed in.

Even that short list varies. Some states permit slightly more, some slightly less, and the safest assumption is that anything beyond swapping a washer needs checking against your own regulator.

The certificate matters

Licensed plumbing work generates a compliance certificate in most states. It is the document that proves the work met the plumbing code, and it is what a buyer's conveyancer may ask for later. Ask for it, and keep it with the house papers.

Related questions

Can I install my own dishwasher?
Connecting a dishwasher to an existing dedicated tap and drain point is often within homeowner scope; creating a new connection to the water supply or drainage is licensed plumbing work. It differs by state, so check your regulator.

Sources

Every source below was fetched and its response recorded on the date shown. Where a government site blocks automated clients, that is noted rather than reported as a successful check.

  1. National Construction Code · Australian Building Codes BoardChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
  2. Building and Plumbing Commission · Building and Plumbing Commission VictoriaChecked 2026-08-10 · live, but blocks automated clients so the specific page could not be confirmed
  3. NSW Fair Trading · NSW Fair TradingChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
  4. Building and Energy · Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (WA)Checked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
  5. Standards Australia · Standards AustraliaChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK

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