Building industry
Information on building regulations, registration, fees, enforcement and more.
Building surveyors
Information on regulations, registration, carrying out your role as a building surveyor and more.
Plumbing industry
Information on plumbing regulations, becoming registered or licensed, fees, enforcement and more.
Owner-builders
Information about applying for an owner-builder certificate of consent, including eligibility, training requirements and more.
Consumers
Information about building and plumbing matters for property owners, residents and renovators.
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Home renovation essentials
- Engaging a builder
- Engaging a plumber
- Appointing a building surveyor
- Ending the appointment...
- Planning and building permits
- Landscaping
- Plumbing compliance certificates
- Insurance for building and plumbing work
- Protecting adjoining properties
- Energy efficiency requirements
- At the end of your building project
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Safety guides
- Smoke alarms
- Bushfire protection
- Essential safety measures
- Carbon monoxide
- Wood heaters, solid fuel heaters, and flues
- Hot water safety
- Safety and plumbing products (WaterMark)
- Storm and flood information
- Minimising foundation movement
- Balconies, decks and balustrades
- Freestanding walls
- Termites
- Basketball rings
- Water ingress – balconies, decks and terraces
- Earthquake design and construction
Registration and Licensing
Information on becoming a registered building practitioner, or a registered or licensed plumber.
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Building practitioner registration
- Renewals and other requirements
- Building fees
- Building companies
- Mutual recognition for building practitioners
- National police check
- Fit and proper person – external administration
- Partnerships
- Automatic Mutual Recognition
- Online Exams – Building
- Why do I need to log in to VBA?
- Apply for registration online
Plumbing Resource Hub Landing Page
Plumbing Practitioner Resource Hub
Plumbing Practitioner Resource Hub
Welcome to the VBA Plumbing Practitioner Resource Hub
The VBA provides regulatory guidance that is clear and authoritative. At every opportunity, we aim to increase awareness of the building sector’s regulatory environment and help practitioners and industry navigate the system.
The VBA develops targeted education and guidance materials to better enable practitioners to navigate change in the building system and to promote compliance.
The education resources on this page are targeted towards plumbing practitioners. Building practitioners should head to the Building Practitioner Resource Hub.
Practitioner Resources
© 2023 Victorian Building Authority (VBA).
The VBA publishes a range of resources to inform practitioners and the community about relevant building and plumbing related legislation and standards for general guidance in respect to building or plumbing practice. These resources are owned by the VBA and may include content licensed to the VBA by third parties.
The VBA makes no warranties or representations whatsoever about the accuracy, reliability, suitability, completeness or authenticity of any information or material contained in this resource. Any use or reliance on such information is at a person’s own risk. The VBA accepts no liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage any person may suffer arising out of or in connection with the access or use of these resources (including any third party material included within these resources).
Need Additional Help?
Useful links
Australian Building Codes Board
The ABCB's role is to:
- Author, publish and maintain a consistent and contemporary NCC
- Administer Product Certification Schemes for building and plumbing products, CodeMark and WaterMark
- Improve the NCC to maintain its currency through initiatives such as quantifying performance requirements, improving readability and digitisation
- Research to improve the content of the NCC, such as fire safety, energy efficiency and plumbing
- Supporting materials to assist with understanding and clarification of the NCC.
To find out more about the ABCB, click the 'Learn More' button below.
Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme
The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme is Australia's urban water saving scheme. WELS reduces demand for high quality drinkable water by informing consumers about water efficiency at the point of sale.
To find out more about WELS scheme click the 'Learn More' button below.
Watermark Certification Scheme and Product Database
The WaterMark Certification Scheme is a mandatory scheme for plumbing and drainage products of a certain type.
WaterMark Certification ensures products are fit for purpose and appropriately authorised for use in plumbing and drainage installations.
Energy Safe Victoria
Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) is the State’s safety regulator for electricity, gas and pipelines. ESV are an independent government agency responsible for the safe generation, supply and use of electricity, gas and pipelines
To find out more about ESV, click the 'Learn More' button below.
Gas Technical Regulators Committee (GTRC) – Product Database of Certified Gas Appliances and Components
The purpose of the GTRC is to provide benefits to Australian and New Zealand Governments, industry and the public by:
- Promoting safety in all aspects of gas transportation, storage and use.
- Developing and maintaining a consistent regulatory environment and a consistent and common approach between jurisdictions to gas technical and safety activities.
- Benchmarking to identify best practices.
- Sharing information for the purpose of achieving effective and efficient safety and technical regulatory practice covering the gas industry.
- Providing a forum and discussion group to facilitate reform and harmonisation by implementing consistent approaches and providing a platform for direct peer to peer liaison.
To find out more about GTRC, click the 'Learn More' button below.
Environmental Protection Authority (On site Waste Water)
Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is Victoria’s environmental regulator.
The EPA is an independent statutory authority, established in 1971 under the Environment Protection Act 1970 and is currently undergoing the biggest transformation in our history. Our new act comes into effect on 1 July 2021.
The EPA also works to prevent and reduce the harmful effects of pollution and waste on Victorians and their environment, in addition to working with the community, industry and businesses.
To find out more about the EPA, click the 'Learn More' button below.
Department of Water, Environment, Land & Planning
DEWLP manage Victoria's groundwater, catchment and waterways, infrastructure, water saving and re-use projects, flood management, governance and water legislation, in partnership with a network of government agencies and water authorities.
To find out more about DWELP, click the 'Learn More' button below.