Can I do my own electrical work in NSW?

Answers (1)

1. LE

   LokalMatch EditorialLokalMatch editorial

   Answered 24 September 2026

   You are not allowed to. Any electrical wiring work in New South Wales must be done by, or under the supervision of, a licensed electrician — and unlike most building rules, that one has no dollar threshold underneath it.

   The licence is only half of what you are paying for. Electricians must give Building Commission NSW a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work showing the work has been tested and complies with the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2018. The person who carries out the electrical test has to submit it as soon as practical and no later than seven days after the test.

   There are on-the-spot fines of up to 1,000 dollars for each occasion a certificate is not supplied, which tells you how seriously the certificate is taken by the people enforcing it.

   For you, the certificate is proof. It is what your insurer will look for after a fire, what a conveyancer may ask for at sale, and the only document that says the work in your walls was ever tested by someone qualified to test it. Ask for your copy when the job is done, not a year later.

Answers come from pros and are reviewed by LokalMatch before they’re published. They’re general information — for regulated or safety-critical work, have a licensed professional assess your situation.

Sources

Where the facts on this page come from.

1. 1

   Electrical compliance requirements — NSW Government (accessed 24 September 2026)