Self-certification schemes for builders, plumbers and drainlayers

The two voluntary schemes are expected to:

• allow BCAs to focus on higher-risk work
• speed up the building consenting process for building work in New Zealand by reducing inspection delays.

Self-certification scheme for plumbers and drainlayers

On 18 November 2025, a Bill to establish a voluntary self-certification scheme for plumbers and drainlayers passed its first reading in Parliament. The Bill’s purpose is to speed up the building consenting process for building work in New Zealand. 

Building and Construction Sector (Self-certification by Plumbers and Drainlayers) Amendment Bill

The scheme will allow trusted plumbers and drainlayers to carry out certain work without BCA inspections. Regulations will define which types of plumbing and drainlaying work can be self-certified.

Consumers can choose to use the traditional building consent inspection process or have an endorsed plumber or drainlayer self-certify their work.

How the plumbers and drainlayers scheme will work

• The voluntary self-certification scheme for plumbers and drainlayers is expected to commence later in 2026.
• The scheme will be restricted to defined self-certifiable plumbing and drainlaying work.

Plumbers, Gasfitter and Drainlayers Board

• The Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board will be responsible for the implementation and operation of the scheme.
• The Board will set minimum standards for an endorsement, which will allow those plumbers and drainlayers to self-certify their work. These minimum standards will include:
  • technical competencies, which could include having the highest ‘certifying’ class of licence and further certification and inspection competencies
  • ability to meet potential civil liability, which will likely include insurance
  • business and administrative practices, which could include quality assurance and recordkeeping.
• Plumbers and drainlayers endorsed by the Board will have their names and endorsements published by the Board on the existing public register of professionals: Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board Register
• The Board will also have disciplinary and enforcement powers if things go wrong.

Plumbers and drainlayers

• Plumbers and drainlayers who choose to join the scheme and self-certify will need to meet the minimum standards to be endorsed by the Board.
• Once self-certified work is complete, an endorsed plumber or drainlayer must submit a Certificate of Compliance within 10 working days. The Certificate of Compliance will:
  • confirm the work complies with the building consent
  • include evidence such as testing results, photos and as-built designs
  • be included in the Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) application to the BCA.

Building consent authorities (BCAs)

• BCAs will check that:
  • a description of the self-certifying work and the intent to use an endorsed plumber or drainlayer is included in the building consent application, and
  • the work qualifies for self-certification and continue to check that the plans comply with the Building Code – they will not inspect self-certifiable plumbing or drainlaying work.
• BCAs must accept the Certificate of Compliance from the self-certifying plumber or drainlayer as evidence that the plumbing and drainlaying work complies with the building consent.

Homeowners

• As part of a building consent application, homeowners will need to state which work is meant to be self-certified and their intent to use a self-certifying plumber or drainlayer.
• Homeowners do not need to know who the self-certifying plumber or drainlayer is from the building consent application.

For more self-certification information, please visit: Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board

Self-certification scheme for residential builders

On 14 April 2025, Cabinet agreed to amend the Building Act 2004 to allow for the introduction of a voluntary self-certification scheme for building companies that design and build entire residential dwellings.  

The self-certification scheme aims to provide a quicker, lower cost consenting pathway by allowing trusted residential builders to sign off their own work.

Building companies who choose to join the scheme will need to meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria. Detailed eligibility criteria will be defined in regulations.

How the residential self-certification scheme will work

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)

MBIE will manage:

• the entire voluntary residential building self-certification scheme
• the register of residential building companies in the scheme who can self-certify their work
• regular audits of companies registered for self-certification
• the development of robust eligibility criteria for entry into the scheme, which would assess a trusted residential building company’s:
  • good reputation for professional conduct
  • adequate means to cover their liability for self-certified work if something goes wrong
  • robust systems and quality assurance processes, to ensure these companies can consistently deliver Building Code compliant houses.

Residential building companies

• Residential building companies who want to join the self-certification scheme will need to meet MBIE’s eligibility criteria to become registered.
• Once registered, a residential building company will submit a simplified building consent application to their local BCA, confirming that they will be self-certifying the build.
• When the work is complete, the self-certifying building company submits a project completion certificate for the build to the BCA.
• Residential building companies registered for the scheme will be regularly audited by MBIE to maintain their registration.

BCAs

BCAs will check that:

• the residential building company is on MBIE’s residential building self-certification scheme register, and
• building work in their plans and specifications complies with the scope of their registration.

BCAs will not be required to check for Building Code compliance or perform inspections on self-certified building work.

BCAs must accept a project completion certificate from the self-certifying building company as evidence that the building work complies with the building consent.

Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs)

The requirement for LBPs to carry out restricted building work (where applicable) will continue to apply. Other work (for example, electrical and plumbing) must still be done by appropriately authorised/licensed persons where applicable.

Managing self-certifying risks

All building work in Aotearoa New Zealand must comply with the Building Code, even if it is exempt from a building consent. This will include any building work covered by self-certifying builders, plumbers or drainlayers.

Consumer protection

Consumer protections for residential building work under the Building Act 2004 will apply to self-certification of simple residential homes by registered building companies. This includes:

• a 12-month defect repair period
• a 10-year implied warranty period
• pre-contract disclosure requirements
• requirements for written contracts for building work over $30,000.

Find out about consumer protection for homeowners:

• Consumer protection measures for homeowners
• Consumer protection checklist [PDF 59KB]
• Due diligence
• Pre-build and written contracts
• During the build
• After the build
• Resolving problems
• Consumer protection resources

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If you have any questions or enquiries, please email building@mbie.govt.nz