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On-site plumbing and drainage compliance and inspections
This document outlines who performs the functions of the plumbing regulator in NSW.
Under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2011 NSW Fair Trading is the plumbing regulator in New South Wales. The Plumbing Code of Australia is the technical standard for compliance throughout NSW.
It is the responsibility of the plumbing regulator in each area to set requirements for inspections of on-site plumbing and drainage. Fair Trading’s area of operation includes all areas in which properties are provided with services (either drinking water, recycled water or a sewerage service) by Sydney Water Corporation or Hunter Water Corporation.
This area of operation stretches from Gerringong in the south (the Illawarra), to Newcastle, Port Stephens and Dungog in the north (the Hunter), and west to Mount Victoria (Blue Mountains).
The function of the plumbing regulator has been delegated by Fair Trading to local councils, county councils, or other qualified bodies. The delegation of the function has been accepted by local and county councils across NSW, with a small number of exceptions where the council declined the delegation.
Below are two tables identifying the local authority for plumbing regulator functions, including conducting inspections, throughout NSW by local government area.
Please Note:
- Onsite plumbing and drainage work does not include stormwater, fire suppression; work on network utility assets or roof plumbing.
- If you are a plumber or drainer in regional NSW you should continue to contact your local council regarding:
- inspection fees o what are the mandatory inspections
- how paper work is obtained and submitted
Local Government Areas within Fair Trading’s Area of Operations
(Greater Sydney Metro, Wollongong/Illawarra, Blue Mountains, Newcastle/Hunter)
Local Government Area | Service Provided By | Plumbing and Drainage Inspections By |
|---|---|---|
Bayside | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
| Blacktown | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Blue Mountains | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Burwood | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Camden | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Campbelltown | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Canada Bay | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Canterbury-Bankstown | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Cessnock | Hunter Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Cumberland | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Dungog | Hunter Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Fairfield | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Georges River | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Hawkesbury | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Hornsby | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Hunters Hill | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Inner West | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Kiama | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Ku-ring-gai | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Lane Cove | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Lake Macquarie | Hunter Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Liverpool | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Maitland | Hunter Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Mosman | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Newcastle | Hunter Water | NSW Fair Trading |
North Sydney | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Northern Beaches | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading Not required (declined by council) |
Parramatta | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Penrith | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Port Stephens | Hunter Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Randwick | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Ryde City | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Strathfield | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Shellharbour | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Sutherland | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
The Hills | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
City of Sydney | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Waverley | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Willoughby | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Wingecarribee | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Wollondilly | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Wollongong | Sydney Water | NSW Fair Trading |
Woollahra | Sydney Water only | NSW Fair Trading |
Local Government areas outside of Fair Trading’s Area of Operations
Note: In relation to any plumbing and/or drainage work beyond the property boundary in these areas you should contact the local network utility or service supplier e.g.:
- Local Council
- Central Tablelands Water Council
- Goldenfields Water County Council
- Rous County Council
- Riverina Water County Council
It is always recommended that you also contact the relevant council/county council to ensure all inspection requirements have been identified, see table below.
Regional Local Government Area: | Plumbing and Drainage Inspection requirements set by: |
|---|---|
Albury | Albury City Council |
Armidale Regional | Armidale Regional Council |
Ballina | Ballina Shire Council |
Balranald | Balranald Shire Council |
Bathurst | Bathurst Regional Council |
Bega Valley | Bega Valley Shire Council |
Bellingen | Bellingen Shire Council |
Berrigan | Berrigan Shire Council |
Bland | Bland Shire Council |
Blayney | Blayney Shire Council |
Bogan | To be advised |
Bourke | Bourke Shire Council |
Brewarrina | Brewarrina Shire Council |
Broken Hill | Essential Water |
Byron | Byron Shire Council |
Cabonne | Cabonne Council |
Carrathool | Carrathool Shire Council |
Central Darling | Central Darling Shire Council |
Central Coast | Central Coast Council |
Cessnock | Cessnock City Council |
Clarence Valley | Clarence Valley Council |
Cobar | Cobar Shire Council |
Coffs Harbour | Coffs Harbour City Council |
Coolamon | Coolamon Shire Council |
Coonamble | Coonamble Shire Council |
Cootamundra Gundagai | Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council |
Cowra | Cowra Shire Council |
Dubbo Regional | Dubbo Regional Council |
Edward River | Edward River Council |
Eurobodalla | Eurobodalla Shire Council |
Federation | Federation Council – Drainage Inspections Riverina Water – Water Service Inspections |
Forbes | Forbes Shire Council |
Gilgandra | Gilgandra Shire Council |
Glen Innes Severn | Glen Innes Severn Council |
Goulburn Mulwaree | Goulburn Mulwaree Council |
Greater Hume | Greater Hume Shire Council - Drainage Inspections |
Griffith | Griffith City Council |
Gunnedah | Gunnedah Shire Council |
Gwydir | Gwydir Shire Council |
Port Macquarie-Hastings | Port Macquarie-Hastings Council |
Hay | To be advised |
Hilltops | Hilltops Council |
Inverell | Inverell Shire Council |
Junee | Junee Shire Council |
Kempsey | Kempsey Shire Council |
Kiama | The Council of the Municipality of Kiama |
Kosciuszko National Park | National Parks and Wildlife Service - Kosciuszko National Park |
Kyogle | Kyogle Council |
Lachlan | Lachlan Shire Council |
Lake Macquarie | Lake Macquarie City Council |
Leeton | Leeton Shire Council |
Lismore | Lismore City Council |
Lithgow | City of Lithgow Council |
Liverpool Plains | Liverpool Plains Shire Council |
Lockhart | Lockhart Shire Council – Drainage Inspections Riverina Water County Council – Water Service Inspections |
Maitland | Maitland City Council |
Mid-Coast | Mid-Coast Council |
Mid-Western | Mid-Western Regional Council |
Moree Plains | Moree Plains Shire Council |
Murray River | Murray River Council |
Murrumbidgee | Murrumbidgee Council |
Muswellbrook | Muswellbrook Shire Council |
Nambucca | Nambucca Shire Council |
Narrabri | Narrabri Shire Council |
Narrandera | Narrandera Shire Council |
Narromine | Narromine Shire Council |
Oberon | Oberon Council |
Orange City | Orange City Council |
Parkes | Parkes Shire Council |
Queanbeyan-Palerang | Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council |
Richmond Valley | Richmond Valley Council |
Shellharbour City | Shellharbour City Council |
Shoalhaven City | Shoalhaven City Council |
| Singleton | Singleton Council |
Snowy Monaro | Snowy Monaro Regional Council |
Snowy Valleys | Snowy Valleys Council |
Tamworth | Tamworth Regional Council |
Temora | Temora Shire Council |
Tenterfield | Tenterfield Shire Council |
Tweed | Tweed Shire Council |
| Upper Hunter | Upper Hunter Shire Council |
Upper Lachlan | Upper Lachlan Shire Council |
Uralla | Uralla Shire Council |
Wagga Wagga City | Wagga Wagga City Council – Drainage Inspections |
Walcha | Walcha Council |
Walgett | Walgett Shire Council |
Warren | Warren Shire Council |
Warrumbungle | Warrumbungle Shire Council |
Weddin | Weddin Shire Council |
Wentworth | Wentworth Shire Council |
Yass Valley | Yass Valley Council |