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
Information Sheets
Plumbing Information Sheets
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 information set out in the VBA’s resources is for general information purposes and guidance only. It is a reader’s responsibility to obtain independent advice in respect of the application of legislation, a technical instruction or industry standard relevant to their circumstances. A person’s use of the VBA’s resources is not a substitute for obtaining independent advice.
While we have made every attempt to ensure our resources contain correct information at the date of publication, the VBA makes no warranty or representation that its resources are error free. The VBA will not be liable for any loss or damage a person may suffer arising out of or in connection with the access and use of the VBA’s resources.
We're currently in the process of transforming our resources to better meet the needs of Building and Plumbing practitioners. We've been carefully reviewing our Information Sheets which are in the process of being merged with the relevant Plumbing Practice Notes, formerly known as Technical Solution Sheets and other resources and updating them to improve readability and accessibility.
As we continue to improve our resources, a number of Information Sheets are still currently being reviewed and will be merged with the relevant Practice Note soon.
Information categories
Changes to Mechanical Services and Refrigerated Air-conditioning work
This information sheet outlines the Victorian regulatory requirements for Mechanical Services work and Refrigerated Air-conditioning work, following changes introduced by the Plumbing Regulations 2018.
View Information Sheet Handheld sprays and water points adjacent to water closets
This information sheet outlines the requirements for all new water points installed adjacent to a water closet (and not connected to a sanitary fixture) must be protected by a high hazard backflow prevention device, as per Schedule 2 of the Plumbing Regulations 2018.
View Information Sheet Regulatory requirements for the laying of sanitary drains under buildings
This information sheet outlines the amended requirements for the laying of sanitary drains under buildings.
These changes came into effect on 18 November 2018, as part of the Plumbing Regulations 2018.
View Information Sheet Regulatory requirements for the off-site construction of plumbing systems
This information sheet provides guidance on the regulatory requirements applicable to the construction of plumbing systems in off-site locations, i.e. a location different to where the plumbing system is to be installed and commissioned.
View Information Sheet Reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19: A guide for contractors and trades
This information sheet provides guidance for contractors and trades required to work on sites that may be occupied by people who either have a confirmed case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) or are self-isolating due to suspected exposure. This guidance is based on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidelines for the Building and Construction Industry (Revision 3).
View Information Sheet