Homeowners and self-certification for plumbing and drainlaying

Last updated: 7 September 2026

If your plumbing or drainlaying work needs a building consent, you can speed up the process by choosing to use an endorsed plumber or drainlayer to self-certify (sign off) eligible work.

Learn how self-certification works, what it means for you, and the steps to take before, during and after your project.

Your choice as a homeowner

You can choose to either:

use an endorsed plumber or drainlayer to self-certify all or some of your eligible plumbing or drainlaying work
have your building consent authority (BCA), usually your local council, inspect your plumbing and drainlaying work as usual.

Benefits of using an endorsed plumber or drainlayer

No BCA inspections for eligible work.
Time and cost savings, as BCA inspections and inspection fees are not required.

Most new residential builds require about four BCA inspections for plumbing and drainlaying work.

Using an endorsed plumber or drainlayer

If you choose to use an endorsed plumber or drainlayer, here are a few key steps:

Before you engage a plumber or drainlayer

Check whether the work you want done can be self-certified. You can do this by checking our website or with an endorsed plumber or drainlayer:
Check what work can be self-certified
Use the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board's public register to find an endorsed plumber or drainlayer, or check whether they are endorsed:
Search the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board’s public register

You can read about the standards required to become endorsed on the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board website

Before building work starts

Before you apply for building consent, tell your designer, builder, or whoever is managing your building consent application that you plan to use an endorsed plumber or drainlayer.
On the building consent application:
- list the work proposed to be self-certified
- provide a description of the work you want self-certified
- provide the name of the endorsed plumber or drainlayer, if known
- provide an explanation of how the work will be done, including whether the endorsed plumber or drainlayer will either do the work themselves, help with it, or supervise.
Let your BCA know the name of the endorsed plumber or drainlayer (if you have not already provided this in the building consent application).

Find out more about building consent applications and self-certification

When building work is completed

Endorsed plumbers and drainlayers must issue a certificate of compliance and supporting documents. These show the work complies with the building consent without the need for a BCA inspection.
Within 10 working days of completing the work, these must be provided to the:
- homeowner
- BCA
- Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board.
Apply for a code compliance certificate from your BCA – include the certificate of compliance and supporting documents.
Keep the code compliance certificate issued by the BCA.

Find out more about code compliance certificates

What the BCA does

The BCA:

will keep a copy of the certificate of compliance as part of its records for the property
will check that the required supporting documents have been provided with the certificate of compliance
must accept the certificate of compliance and supporting documents as evidence that the self-certified work complies with the building consent.

Find out more about certificates of compliance

What to do if there is a problem with the work

If you discover a problem with your self-certified plumbing or drainlaying work, there are options available to help you get it fixed.

Get help on the Building Performance website

You can find more information about your rights, consumer protections and the options available to resolve problems:

Raise concerns with the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board

If you have concerns about an endorsed plumber or drainlayer, their work, or a certificate of compliance, contact the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board (the Board).

The Board can:

investigate complaints
take disciplinary action if standards are not met (for example, misuse of self-certification or failing to provide certificates).

The Board cannot order repairs or provide compensation.

Contact the Board – pgdb.co.nz

Raise concerns with your BCA

If your concerns relate to decisions made by your BCA, including building consents or code compliance certificates, contact your BCA directly.