Do I Need a Licensed Plumber in WA?

Look, the short answer is yes. Here in WA they don't mess around with plumbing regs — if whatever you need done goes anywhere near your drinking water, your sewer, drains, or anything gas related, it has to be a licensed person doing it. Building and Energy and the Plumbers Licensing Board both back this up, and once you've seen what a dodgy water connection or a self-installed gas cooktop actually looks like, you get why. It's not just untidy, it's against the law, and your insurance company won't be happy about it either. Plus you're putting your family in actual danger.

What legally requires a licensed plumber?

In Western Australia, pretty much anything beyond the most basic maintenance has to be done by someone holding a licence. We're talking about:

• Any work on drinking (scheme) water supplied by the Water Corporation — installing, altering or repairing pipes and connections

• Sewerage and drainage work, including connecting and clearing drains beyond a simple plunge

• Installing or replacing fixtures like toilets, hot water systems, taps and mixers where it involves the water supply

• Hot water system installation — electric, gas, solar or heat pump

• Backflow prevention and rainwater connections to the mains

Public health is the whole reason behind it. When someone stuffs up work on your drinking water, that can contaminate what comes out of your taps. Drainage that's connected wrong leaks sewage. Licensing is there to make sure the person swinging the wrench actually knows the standards they need to meet.

Gas work: always a licensed gas fitter

With gas, the rules are even tighter. Every single gas fitting job in WA — whether it's installing, altering, repairing or connecting gas appliances and lines — needs a licensed gas fitter. No exceptions for small jobs. Natural gas, which ATCO supplies across Perth, and LPG are both explosive, and when appliances don't burn right they produce carbon monoxide. One wrong move can mean a fire, an explosion or someone getting poisoned.

That applies to hooking up a gas cooktop, fitting a gas hot water system, running new gas lines, and all gas plumbing and fitting work. If you ever catch a whiff of gas, don't go hunting for the source yourself — check our gas leak safety guide and ring a licensed gas fitter.

What can I legally do myself?

You're limited to very basic maintenance that doesn't go anywhere near your water supply, drainage or gas. Depending on the specifics, you're generally looking at things like:

• Replacing a tap washer or a shower head

• Clearing a simple blockage with a plunger

• Changing a toilet seat

Anything beyond that — new pipework, a hot water unit, shifting a fixture around, or any gas work whatsoever — you need a licensed professional. If you're standing there wondering whether a particular job crosses the line, the safest bet is to assume it does. Costs nothing to ring a plumber and ask.

And let's be upfront about something — "it's only a small job" isn't an exception that exists anywhere in the law. The rules look at the type of work, not how big or small it is. If it touches drinking water, drainage or gas, you need a licence for it. A tiny mistake on a drinking-water connection can contaminate your supply just as badly as a massive one, and a small gas error is every bit as dangerous. That's precisely why the licensing system is set up the way it is.

The risks of unlicensed work

Going with an unlicensed "handyman" or having a go yourself might seem cheaper upfront, but it can end up costing way more:

• It's illegal. Unlicensed plumbing and gas work can attract penalties under WA law.

• Your insurance may not pay out. If a leak, flood or fire is traced to unlicensed work, your insurer can refuse the claim.

• Safety. Gas mistakes risk explosion and carbon monoxide; water mistakes risk contamination, flooding and damage.

• No compliance and no warranty. Licensed work comes with a compliance certificate and consumer protections. Unlicensed work has neither.

• Problems at resale. Non-compliant work can be flagged in inspections and become your problem when you sell.

What about renters and landlords?

The licensing rules don't care who owns the place — they apply regardless. But it's usually the landlord or their agent who has to sort out getting repairs done. Renters, if something goes wrong with the plumbing or gas, report it to your property manager. Don't try to fix it yourself or call someone in off your own bat. Landlords are generally responsible for keeping the property's plumbing in working order and making sure a licensed professional does the work. For landlords specifically, getting licensed tradespeople in isn't just the right thing to do — it protects you legally if a tenant ever gets hurt by faulty work, and it keeps your insurance from being voided.

How to check a plumber's licence in WA

Verifying that a plumber or gas fitter is actually licensed is pretty straightforward:

• Ask for their licence details. A legitimate professional will happily provide them.

• Check with Building and Energy. WA's Building and Energy (Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety) maintains licence registers you can search to confirm a plumber or gas fitter is current.

• Confirm the right licence for the job. A plumbing licence and a gas fitting licence are separate — make sure they hold the one that covers your work.

• Get everything in writing, including a quote and, on completion, the relevant compliance paperwork.

We've put together a guide on choosing a plumber that covers what else to look for beyond just the licence.

The bottom line

For pretty much any plumbing job — and definitely every gas job — in WA, you need a licensed professional. It keeps you legal, keeps your insurance valid, and keeps your household safe. The few dollars you might save going unlicensed rarely survive the first problem that crops up. When you use a licensed Canning Vale plumber, you get compliant work, proper paperwork and genuine peace of mind.

Not sure if your job needs a licensed plumber? Call our licensed Canning Vale plumbers and just ask — we'll tell you straight.

Frequently asked questions