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 Industry Updates
Plumbing Industry Updates
This page provides information about updates to the AS/NZS Standards, Regulations, Plumbing Code of Australia and Legislation to help the Plumbing Industry and Plumbing Practitioners keep up to date with changes that may affect how they perform Plumbing work.
AS/NZS Standards
[AS/NZS 3500.1] Plumbing and Drainage Part 1: Water Services
The amendments to AS/NZS 3500.1 (2018) published as AS/NZS 3500.1 Plumbing and Drainage Part 1: Water Services is effective as of 29 June 2018.
This update was published by the VBA December 2018
View Update [AS/NZS 3500.2] Plumbing and Drainage Part 2: Sanitary Plumbing and Drainage
The amendments to AS/NZS 3500.2 (2018) published as AS/NZS 3500.2 Plumbing and Drainage Part 2: Sanitary Plumbing and Drainage is effective as of 29 June 2018.
This update was published by the VBA December 2018
View Update [AS/NZS 3500.3] Plumbing and Drainage Part 3: Stormwater Drainage
The amendments to AS/NZS 3500.3 (2018) published as AS/NZS 3500.3 Plumbing and Drainage Part 3: Stormwater Drainage is effective as of 29 June 2018.
This update was published by the VBA December 2018
View Update [AS/NZS 3500.4] Plumbing and Drainage Part 4: Heated Water Services
The amendments to AS/NZS 3500.4 (2018) published as AS/NZS 3500.4 Plumbing and Drainage Part 4: Heated Water Services is effective as of 29 June 2018.
This update was published by the VBA December 2018
View Update [AS/NZS 5601.1] Gas Installations Part 1: General installations
The amendments to AS/NZS 5601.1 (2013) published as AS/NZS 5601.1 Gas installations Part 1: General installations was published on 01 October 2020. Gasfitters are required to comply with the requirements of Amendment 4 to AS/NZS 5601.1 as of 1 October 2021.
This update was jointly published by ESV & the VBA November 2020
View Update [AS/NZS 5601.2] Gas Installations Part 2: LP Gas (LPG) installations in caravans and boats for non-propulsive purposes
The amendments to AS/NZS 5601.2 (2020) published as AS/NZS 5601.2: 2020 Gas Installations Part 2: LP Gas (LPG) installations in caravans and boats for non-propulsive purposes was published on 01 October 2020. The requirements of this standard will apply from 1 April 2021, except for changes relating to cylinder quick-connect devices which will apply from 1 October 2021.
This update was jointly published by ESV & the VBA November 2020
View Update Legislative Updates
Professional Engineers Registration Scheme
Introduction of the Professional Engineers Registration Act 2019
On 1 July 2021, the Professional Engineers Registration Act 2019 (PER Act) comes into effect. The PER Act introduces a new engineering registration scheme that will be co-regulatory, led by the Business Licensing Authority (BLA), supported by Consumers Affairs Victoria (CAV) and the Victorian Building Authority (VBA).
Engineers who provide professional engineering services in the areas of structural, civil, electrical, mechanical, and fire safety engineering must register with the BLA as a professional engineer, unless they work under direct supervision or only in accordance with a prescriptive standard.
Professional engineering services in the building industry
From 1 July 2021, engineers who provide professional engineering services to the building industry must hold the following with the BLA:
- registration as a professional engineer.
- endorsement of their registration to work in the building industry.
The role of an endorsed building engineer will include the existing functions and obligations under the Building Act 1993 (the BA Act), along with more broadly providing professional engineering services.
The VBA will continue to undertake:
- fit and proper person reviews for those applying to be an endorsed building engineer and those seeking to renew their endorsed building engineer registrations.
- disciplinary functions for endorsed building engineers.