Licensing
Western Australia’s system for regulating plumbing work ensures that only suitably qualified people who hold plumbers licenses granted by the Plumbers Licensing Board are legally entitled to carry out plumbing work.
Free information sessions for plumbers
Free information sessions are held for licensed plumbing contractors and tradespersons. These sessions will help to clarify plumbers' obligations under the Regulations, as well as provide an opportunity for you to meet other licensed plumbers and talk to the plumbing inspectors.
Further information on the 2025 sessions is available.
More information on licensing and renewals please see the link below.
Self-certification
In keeping with the national trend to place greater accountability on industry members, self-certification forms the basis of Western Australia's regulatory framework. This means that licensed plumbing contractors are responsible for all plumbing work they perform for a period of six years from the time the work is completed. They must certify that the work is complete and complies with all the relevant regulations and standards.
Minor plumbing work
Minor plumbing work is the testing, maintenance, repair or replacement of existing water supply plumbing, sanitary plumbing or drainage plumbing.
Therefore, the pipe, fitting, fixture or apparatus to be worked on is already installed in place when a licensed plumber arrives at the property. Some examples of minor plumbing work include:
Water supply
- Cold and heated water pipe fittings repairs and replacements (like-for-like);
- Tap repairs and replacements (like-for-like); and
- Water heater valve repairs and replacements (like-for-like).
Sanitary
- Sanitary pipe and fittings repairs and replacements (like-for-like);
- Sanitary fixture repairs and replacements (like-for-like); and
- Clearing of blockages in sanitary fixtures and pipework.
Drainage
- Drainage pipe and fittings repairs and replacements (like-for-like); and
- Clearing of blockages in drainage plumbing systems.
- Replacement of inspection shaft or gully mounds.
Note: Replacing a water heater or testable backflow prevention device are the two exceptions as they automatically default to major plumbing work in all cases.
For information on recording minor plumbing work, please see the factsheet below.
Reporting minor plumbing work fact sheet
Other inspections
Site inspections can occur proactively without notice, because of a drainage inspection notification submitted by a licensed plumbing contractor or in response to information from other sources such as local government building approvals and Water Corporation applications.
Recording minor plumbing work completed
Licensed plumbing contractors are required to maintain a record of all minor plumbing work they complete.
It is the responsibility of the licensed plumbing contractor to maintain this record in a format approved by the Plumbers Licensing Board. The record must be retained for at least six years from the date the work is completed.
The Board has developed a policy setting out the prescribed format for recording minor plumbing work. This includes the minimum information that must be recorded. Penalties may apply if the correct procedures are not followed.
Building and Energy has developed an optional template to assist with recording minor plumbing work, please see the link below.
Recording minor plumbing work template
Major plumbing work
Major plumbing work, when it is not classed as minor work, includes the installation, alteration, extension and/or replacement of:
- water supply plumbing; and
- sanitary and/or drainage plumbing.
This includes such work as:
- installation, alteration, or extension of drainage plumbing
- sewer conversions
- new or replacement water heaters
- new and additional sanitary fixtures
- new or replacement testable backflow prevention devices
Plumbing eNotice
There are four types of notices:
- Notice of Intention (NOI)
- Notify Drainage Work Completed
- Certificate of Compliance (COC)
- Emergency NOI/COC
All major plumbing work requires the submission of:
- a notice of intention at least 24 hours before the commencement of the work (except for emergency work); and
- a corresponding certificate of compliance within five working days of completing the work.
For emergency work the notice of intention and the certificate of compliance can be submitted at the same time within five working days of completing work.
For more information on using and registering for eNotice please see the button below.
Drainage Plumbing Diagrams
A drainage plumbing diagram, otherwise known as a constructed diagram, is a diagrammatic representation of a property’s drainage plumbing.
A licensed plumbing contractor who installs, alters, or extends drainage plumbing is required to submit a drainage plumbing diagram with the relevant certificate of compliance.
Search for a drainage plumbing diagram
Drainage plumbing diagrams are regularly used by homeowners, licensed plumbing contractors and others to determine the layout of drainage plumbing on a property. Knowing the layout of drainage plumbing can assist in:
- identifying where additional connections to existing drainage plumbing may be made
- ensuring that new buildings or extensions do not interfere with existing drainage plumbing
- ensuring that any excavation works do not disturb the drainage plumbing
- the repair of drainage pipework; and
- clearing blocked drains.
Where the property is not connected to main sewerage
Up until 14 December 2016, it was not a requirement for licensed plumbing contractors to submit drainage plumbing diagrams to sewerage service provider(s) for drainage plumbing work that occurred on a property not connected to main sewerage (e.g. where the property is connected to a septic tank or aerobic treatment unit).
In this scenario, the relevant local government authority is best placed to provide you with information on the possible existence of a drainage plumbing diagram for that property.
Where the property is connected to a main sewer operated by a sewerage service provider other than the Water Corporation
Building and Energy has only obtained historical drainage plumbing diagrams from the Water Corporation. In areas serviced by other sewerage service providers, such as the City of
Kalgoorlie-Boulder, any drainage plumbing diagrams relating to work completed prior to 14 December 2016 remains the ownership of the relevant sewerage service provider who should be contacted for further assistance. Information about sewerage service providers is available at
For further information please see:
- Frequently Asked Questions - drainage plumbing diagrams
- Drainage plumbing diagrams: Guidance notes.
- Drainage plumbing diagrams template
If you have any further queries, please contact Building and Energy on 08 6251 1301.
Plumbing performance solutions
Where a licensed plumbing contractor is choosing to include a performance solution, there are additional steps to follow. These steps are outlined in the below guidance note.
Click on the button below to download appendix A guidance note for installing plumbing and drainage performance solutions in WA.
Appendices to the guidance note:
- Appendix B – Compliance with the NCC
- Appendix C – Development of performance solutions
- Appendix D – Case study for a performance solution
- Appendix F – Flow chart for plumbing or drainage performance solution installations
Alternative solutions
An alternative solution is a plumbing or drainage solution that complies with the performance requirements of the Plumbing Code of Australia by means other than satisfying a deemed-to-satisfy provision. The notice of intention for any plumbing work that includes an alternative solution should be lodged at least five working days prior to any work commencing.
An additional fee is payable when lodging a notice of intention for plumbing work including an alternative solution. A certificate of compliance is also required within five working days of the work being completed.
Application to modify or set aside plumbing standards
Under Regulation 54 of the Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations 2000, the Plumbers’ Licensing Board may:
- declare that a specified plumbing standard does not apply to specified plumbing work or specified plumbing; or
- modify in a specified way a plumbing standard that applies to specified plumbing work or specified plumbing.
The Board can only consider making such a declaration after it has received a written application from another person using the modification or set aside plumbing standards application form.
A declaration to modify or set aside plumbing standards can only be made to the Board if it is satisfied that the declaration would not result in an increased risk to people, property, or the environment. The declaration must also be in the public interest or be consistent with the purpose of any other written law or Commonwealth law.
For further information please click on the link to the guidance note below:
To lodge an application to modify or set aside plumbing standards please click on the link below to download the application form: The application form and information required to obtain payment of the scheduled fee, should be emailed to plumberscompliance@demirs.wa.gov.au |
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