Electrical Certificate of Compliance in SA: What It Is and When You Get One

An electrical certificate of compliance is the paperwork that proves electrical work in your home was done by a licensed electrician, tested and left safe. In South Australia it is an electronic certificate, usually called an eCoC, and by law it must be issued after most electrical, gas and plumbing work. Many people only think about it when they sell a house or make an insurance claim, so it is worth understanding what you should receive and when.

This guide covers what the certificate is, which jobs need one, the timeframes in SA, gas compliance certificates, and what to do if a tradie doesn’t send it. Everything here is based on the SA Government’s guidance on certificates of compliance.

What is an electrical certificate of compliance?

It is a legal record of the work, issued by the tradesperson when the job is finished. According to the SA Government, after an electrical, gas or plumbing tradesperson completes work on your property, they must issue you with an eCoC. The certificate confirms that:

• the tradesperson is correctly licensed
• the completed work has been tested
• the work is safe
• the work meets the Australian Standards
• the contractor has told you about any existing safety concerns.

The tradesperson and any contractor involved in the work must both sign off on it. eCoCs are emailed to you, and if you don’t have email the tradesperson must print it for you.

When do you get a certificate of compliance in SA?

You should receive the eCoC once the job is complete, within these timeframes:

Type of work	Who issues it	When you should receive it
Electrical	Licensed electrician	Within 30 days of completion
Gas fitting	Licensed gas fitter	Within 30 days of completion
Plumbing	Licensed plumber	Within 7 days of completion

If the timeframe has passed and you haven’t received anything, check your junk mail folder first, then contact the tradesperson.

Which electrical jobs need a certificate of compliance?

Electricians must give you an eCoC for most of their work, including electrical tests and checks. Typical jobs that come with a certificate include:

• Switchboard upgrades and new circuits
• Safety switches and smoke alarm installation
• New power points and lighting
• Split system electrical connections
• EV charger installation
• Rewiring and fault repairs

Minor maintenance, such as replacing light globes, doesn’t need a certificate. If in doubt, ask the electrician at the quoting stage whether the job will come with an eCoC.

Certificates matter because safety rules change over time. For example, the SA Government says safety switches for power points and lighting circuits must be installed by law in new homes and buildings where circuits are added or altered. The certificate is the record that the work met the rules that applied when it was done.

What is a gas compliance certificate?

A gas compliance certificate is the gas fitter’s eCoC. In SA, gas fitters must issue one for:

• work on gas pipes
• installing or replacing appliances, such as hot water units and stove tops
• converting to an alternative gas, for example from LPG to natural gas.

Certificates aren’t required for repairs or maintenance on an existing appliance. If you are replacing a gas hot water system or adding a gas cooktop, expect a certificate. Our gas fitting page explains how to send an enquiry for that work.

Which plumbing jobs need a certificate?

Plumbers must issue a plumbing eCoC for work on pipework and fixtures from the mains water supply or sewer, sanitary plumbing and drainage, installing or replacing a water heater, work on a backflow prevention device, and installing an alternative water service.

Certificates aren’t required for changing tap washers, clearing blocked drains, installing domestic tapware or installing stormwater systems. Hot water replacements always come with one, which is worth knowing if you are pricing a new system. See hot water system replacement cost for more.

Why does the certificate of compliance matter?

It protects you in three practical ways.

1. Insurance. The SA Government warns that without an eCoC, insurance companies could refuse claims if the related works cause a fire or damage.
2. Selling or renting. Buyers, building inspectors and property managers may ask for records of electrical and gas work, especially switchboards and hot water systems.
3. Future work. The next electrician or plumber can see what was done, when and by whom.

Keep every certificate with your property records, alongside the quote and invoice. A simple email folder named for the property works well.

What doesn’t a certificate of compliance cover?

A certificate covers the work the tradesperson did on that job. It is not a safety report on the whole house. This catches people out when buying an older home.

For example, if an electrician adds one power point in a 1950s house, the eCoC covers that power point and its circuit. It doesn’t certify the rest of the wiring, the switchboard or the smoke alarms. The same goes for a plumber replacing a hot water unit: the certificate covers the new heater and its connections, not the drains or old pipes elsewhere on the property.

If you want a picture of the whole installation, ask for an inspection and written report instead. Common reasons Adelaide owners do this include:

• buying an older villa, cottage or post-war home with original wiring
• planning a renovation and wanting to know the switchboard’s capacity first
• noticing safety switches tripping, flickering lights or warm power points
• preparing a property for tenants.

An inspection report and a certificate do different jobs. The report tells you what is there and what needs attention. Each piece of repair work then comes with its own certificate. When you send an enquiry, say clearly whether you want a report, a repair, or both, so the tradie can quote the right thing. If tripping is your concern, our guide to why a safety switch keeps tripping explains the usual causes.

How do you check the tradesperson is licensed?

Use the Consumer and Business Services public register. CBS lets you search to find a licence holder or check whether a person or company is licensed to do the work, including plumbers, electricians and gas fitters. Checking before work starts is quick and avoids problems later, because only a licensed tradesperson can issue a valid certificate.

Signs that something is wrong:

• The tradesperson says a certificate “isn’t needed” for a switchboard, new circuit or gas appliance.
• They offer a lower price for work “without paperwork”.
• They can’t give you a licence number to check.
• Weeks pass after the job and nothing arrives.

What should you do if you didn’t receive a certificate?

Ask first, in writing, and give the tradesperson a reasonable chance to send it. Delays happen. If they refuse to provide an eCoC, the SA Government says to contact the Office of the Technical Regulator. Don’t try to get someone else to “sign off” another person’s work. Any new work should be quoted and certified by the tradesperson who does it.

When should you call a licensed tradie?

Call a licensed electrician, gas fitter or plumber when:

• You need electrical, gas or plumbing work that will require a certificate.
• You have bought a home and can’t find records for an obviously newer switchboard or gas appliance, and want it checked.
• You suspect earlier work was done without a licence.
• An insurer, buyer or property manager has asked for an inspection.

If you smell gas, leave the area, avoid switches and flames, and call Australian Gas Networks on 1800 427 532 from outside. For electrical work, start with our Adelaide electrician page, or read about switchboard upgrade cost if your board is the issue.

Getting it sorted

Send one enquiry through our contact page or call 08 6800 6079. We pass it to one local tradie, who calls you back within 24–48 hours, quotes before any work starts and issues the certificate the job requires.