New Zealand’s self-certification scheme for plumbing and drainlaying is expected to go live later in 2026. Once operational, it will allow endorsed certifying plumbers and drainlayers to self-certify eligible work instead of having that work inspected by a Building Consent Authority (BCA). Self-certification could reduce inspection delays and make scheduling more convenient. But the responsibility that comes with it is real.
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Once operational, the voluntary scheme will allow endorsed certifying plumbers and drainlayers to certify that eligible work complies with the building consent without a standard BCA inspection.
Think of it as the same framework gasfitters have operated under for the past 13 years. Plumbers and drainlayers are expected to gain a similar self-certification option later in 2026.
"We have advocated strongly for self-certification for years and have worked closely with the Minister to ensure it will deliver the cost and time-saving benefits intended." - Greg Wallace, Master Plumbers Chief Executive
The scheme is administered by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB). The Board ran a webinar on 18 May 2026 covering the eligibility criteria, endorsement process, and documentation requirements. It’s worth watching if you're getting ready to apply.
Self-certification webinar 2 - 18 May 2026
Not every plumber and drainlayer will be able to apply for self-certification. Eligibility is tightly controlled. To self-certify, you'll need to:
Once endorsed, your name will appear on the PGDB's public register so clients can verify you're authorised to self-certify.
If you're not yet at certifying class, this scheme won't be available to you. The work will still go through the standard BCA inspection process.
You will only be able to certify eligible work you carried out, assisted with or supervised in accordance with the PGDB’s requirements. The PGDB will publish more detail on supervision requirements later in 2026.
The scheme will cover low-risk, routine plumbing and drainlaying work on everyday buildings, the kind of jobs most certifying plumbers and drainlayers do regularly.
You will be able to self-certify sanitary plumbing work if it's on a qualifying building (see below) and follows standard Building Code compliance pathways, what the regulations call an acceptable solution or verification method.
You won't be able to self-certify sanitary plumbing work that:
The same qualifying building and compliance pathway rules apply. One key difference: the shared wall and fire separation exclusions don't apply to drainlaying, only to sanitary plumbing.
Septic tanks, water tanks, greywater systems, solar hot water, and irrigation can all be self-certified, even if there's no standard compliance pathway for that specific system design. The on-site system exception covers both plumbing and drainlaying.
Three storeys or under, and not an apartment block. This will include eligible work on residential, commercial and industrial buildings up to three storeys, excluding apartment blocks.
One thing that doesn't change: building consent is still required for the project. What self-certification replaces is the inspection of the plumbing and drainlaying component, not the consent itself.
If a client chooses to use self-certification (and it's their choice, not yours to impose), here's how will work:
If an amendment or minor variation causes work to fall outside the scope of self-certification, standard BCA inspections apply. If a client changes their mind and wants BCA inspection instead, it's the building consent applicant's responsibility to file an amendment to the consent.
The Certificate of Compliance is a prescribed form set by the PGDB. It's not just a signature; it's a formal record that you're standing behind the work. The regulations specify exactly what must be included.
The jobs where self-certification works smoothly are the ones where your records are tight from the start; photos taken as you go, test results logged on the day, notes made before you leave the site.
This is the part worth sitting with before you apply for endorsement. Under the standard process, the BCA inspects relevant work and considers the available evidence before deciding whether to issue a Code Compliance Certificate. Under self-certification, you will sign off on it. You are liable for the work you certify. If it doesn't comply with the Building Code:
Your endorsement can also be removed. This isn't a reason to avoid the scheme; it's a reason to go in with your eyes open, your insurance reviewed, and your paperwork in order.
The short answer is: No. And the PGDB has flagged that there's genuine confusion here. They're two separate schemes with different legal pathways:
Different rules, different responsibilities.
The PGDB will confirm when applications open and publish instructions explaining how eligible practitioners can apply. Once applications open, follow the PGDB’s application guidance. Approved practitioners will appear on the public register, and endorsements will need to be renewed every three years.
Potentially, faster job turnaround. If you're doing routine work that currently sits in a queue waiting for a BCA inspection, self-certification could remove that bottleneck. You’ll be able to complete eligible work, issue the required certification and move the job forward without waiting for a standard BCA inspection.
That's good for your clients. It's good for your scheduling. And it's good for your cash flow because faster job completion means faster invoicing.
But the admin side matters. You'll need to issue a Certificate of Compliance within 10 working days, with supporting evidence. That means your job records, including photos, test results, and as-built notes, need to be captured as you go, not reconstructed after the fact.
If you're still running jobs on paper or trying to remember what you did on a job three weeks ago, that's going to be harder to manage. Having your job records in one place — photos, notes, and documents attached to each job — makes the compliance side of self-certification a lot more straightforward.
Tradify lets you run your plumbing business with every job, quote, invoice, and document in one place, so when you need to pull together a Certificate of Compliance, the evidence is already there.
The self-certification scheme is a genuine win for the plumbing and drainlaying trade. It gives experienced, licensed practitioners more autonomy, reduces consent delays for clients, and aligns plumbers and drainlayers with the framework gasfitters have had for over a decade.
But the sign-off is yours. The documentation is yours. The liability, if something goes wrong, sits with you.
Before the scheme launches, check the latest PGDB guidance, review your insurance and get your job records in order.
Start a 14-day free trial. No credit card required. No pressure. Or jump on one of our weekly 30-min live demos as we show you Tradify in action.