When Do You Need a Gas Compliance Certificate in NSW?

You need a gas compliance certificate in NSW whenever gasfitting work is done on your installation, installing or replacing a gas appliance, running or altering a gas line, or connecting a new gas hot water unit or cooktop. In NSW only the licensed gas fitter who did the work can issue it, and they must do so within 5 business days of finishing. It’s the official proof the work meets the standard.

Here’s what it is, when it applies, and who’s responsible for it.

What is a gas compliance certificate?

A gas compliance certificate is the document a licensed gas fitter completes to confirm that gasfitting work was carried out safely and to the national standard, AS/NZS 5601.1. In Sydney and across NSW, it’s your evidence that the job was done properly and legally.

In NSW there are actually two related certificates. A certificate of compliance is required when the gas installation is connected to a gas network, that’s mains natural gas or reticulated LPG. A certificate of inspection applies to installations that aren’t network-connected, such as bottled LPG. The gas fitter chooses the correct one for your setup.

This is a real legal document, not a marketing brochure or a generic invoice. It records what was done, who did it, and that it passed testing.

Source: NSW Government, Gas standards and notes for gasfitters, retrieved 2026-08-26 (nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/compliance-and-regulation/gasfitters/gas-standards-and-notes).

When do you actually need one?

You need a certificate any time gasfitting work is performed on your installation. The common triggers we see in the Hills District are:

• Installing or replacing a gas appliance, cooktop, oven, gas hot water unit, or heater
• Installing, extending, or altering a gas line, see our gas line installation page
• Connecting a new gas point for a renovation or a new kitchen
• Reconnecting or commissioning gas at a property

If a gas fitter has touched the gas installation, a certificate follows. It isn’t an optional extra you ask for, under NSW rules the gas fitter is required to issue one for the work.

Who issues the certificate?

Only the licensed gas fitter who carried out the work can issue the certificate. That’s a NSW requirement, it can’t be signed off by a third party, a builder, or the homeowner, and it can’t be issued by someone who didn’t do the job.

This is exactly why all gas work in NSW must be done by a licensed gas fitter in the first place. It’s the law, not a recommendation. At The Plumbing Paramedics we hold a NSW Fair Trading gas fitting licence (310989C) alongside our plumbing licence, so the same team that does your gas work issues your certificate.

Source: NSW Government, Gas standards and notes for gasfitters, retrieved 2026-08-26 (nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/compliance-and-regulation/gasfitters/gas-standards-and-notes).

How and when is it lodged?

Timing is set by NSW rules. After completing gasfitting work, the gas fitter must test the installation for defects and submit the certificate within 5 business days.

How it’s submitted changed recently. From 1 March 2026, certificates of compliance and inspection must be lodged through the BCNSW eCert portal. Emailed or posted PDFs are no longer accepted. For non-networked (bottled LPG) work, the gas fitter also attaches a compliance plate to the installation, gives you a copy, and keeps one on record.

You don’t have to manage any of this yourself, it’s the gas fitter’s responsibility. But it’s worth knowing it should happen, so you can ask for your copy.

What happens if work is done without one?

Gasfitting done without the proper licence and certificate is a real problem, not a paperwork technicality. Unlicensed or uncertified gas work can void your home insurance and appliance warranties, and it can create genuine safety risks, gas leaks, carbon monoxide, and faulty connections aren’t things to gamble on.

If you ever suspect a leak, or you can smell gas near an appliance, don’t touch igniters or switches, leave the area and call your gas supplier’s emergency line or 000. Get certified work, keep the certificate, and you’ve got proof the job was done right if you ever sell, claim, or get audited.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do you need a gas compliance certificate in NSW?

You need one whenever gasfitting work is carried out on your gas installation in NSW, installing or replacing a gas appliance, running or altering a gas line, or connecting a new gas point such as a cooktop or gas hot water unit. The licensed gas fitter who does the work is required to issue the certificate; it isn’t something you have to request as an add-on. There are two types: a certificate of compliance for network-connected gas (mains natural gas or reticulated LPG), and a certificate of inspection for non-networked installations like bottled LPG. The gas fitter picks the right one for your setup. If a licensed gas fitter has worked on your gas, a certificate should follow within 5 business days of the job being finished.

Who can issue a gas compliance certificate?

Only the licensed gas fitter who actually carried out the work can issue the certificate in NSW. It can’t be signed off by a builder, a homeowner, or any third party who didn’t do the job. This is tied to the basic rule that all gas work in NSW must be done by a licensed gas fitter, it’s the law, not a recommendation, because gas carries real safety risk. When you hire a licensed gas fitter, issuing the correct certificate is part of their legal obligation, not an optional extra. At The Plumbing Paramedics we hold a NSW Fair Trading gas fitting licence (310989C), so the same team that completes your gas work issues your certificate. Always make sure whoever does your gas work is licensed and provides you a copy of the certificate.

How long does a gas fitter have to provide the certificate?

Under NSW rules, the gas fitter must test the installation for defects and submit the certificate within 5 business days of completing the gasfitting work. For non-networked installations using bottled LPG, the gas fitter also attaches a compliance plate to the installation, gives the owner a copy of the certificate, and keeps a record. From 1 March 2026, certificates must be lodged through the BCNSW eCert portal, emailed or posted PDF copies are no longer accepted. As the property owner, you don’t manage the lodgement yourself; it’s the gas fitter’s responsibility. It’s still worth asking for your copy once the work is done, so you have proof the job met the standard if you ever sell the property or make an insurance claim.

Do I need a gas compliance certificate to sell my house?

There isn’t a single blanket rule that every NSW home sale requires a gas certificate on file, but in practice it matters a great deal. If gasfitting work has been done on the property, the certificate is your proof that the work was legal, safe, and compliant, and buyers, conveyancers, and insurers increasingly ask for it. If you’ve had a gas appliance installed or a gas line altered and you don’t have the certificate, that can hold up a sale or raise questions during the contract stage. The safest position is to keep certificates for any gas work done while you owned the home. If you’re unsure what’s been done, a licensed gas fitter can inspect the installation and advise. For your specific situation, check with your conveyancer or solicitor as well.

Does replacing a gas cooktop or gas hot water unit need a certificate?

Yes. Installing or replacing a gas appliance, including a cooktop, oven, gas heater, or gas hot water unit, is gasfitting work, so a licensed gas fitter must do it and issue a compliance certificate afterwards. Swapping a gas appliance isn’t a job a homeowner or a general handyman can legally do in NSW, even if the new unit looks like a straight replacement, because the gas connection has to be tested and certified to the standard. Doing it without a licensed gas fitter can void your insurance and the appliance warranty, and creates a genuine safety risk. When we replace a gas cooktop or gas hot water system, the certificate is part of the job, you’re covered from the moment the work is signed off. We’ll always provide your copy.

How much does a gas compliance certificate cost?

The certificate itself isn’t usually a separate product you buy, it’s issued as part of the gasfitting work by the licensed gas fitter who does the job. So the real cost is the gas work, not the paperwork. Pricing depends on the job: replacing a single appliance is at the lower end, while running new gas lines, relocating a connection, or commissioning a larger installation costs more. Access, the appliance type, and how much pipework is involved all drive the figure. We don’t publish fixed prices because no two gas jobs are identical, but we’ll give you a free quote on your specific work, with the certificate included in the scope. If someone offers a certificate without doing or properly inspecting the work, be cautious, that’s not how it’s meant to work.

Need certified gas work done right?

If you’re putting in a new gas appliance, altering a gas line, or you just want to be sure existing work was certified, talk to a licensed gas fitter. We hold the NSW Fair Trading gas fitting licence, do the work to AS/NZS 5601.1, and provide your certificate as part of the job.

Call The Plumbing Paramedics on 0430 054 007 for a free quote. You can also read more on our gas compliance certificate and gas fitter pages.