A Certificate of Compliance (CoC) is a legal document that a licensed gasfitter must issue after completing prescribed gas work in New Zealand. It confirms that the work has been carried out to the required standard and complies with the relevant regulations — giving you, your insurer, and any future buyer of your home confidence that the gas installation is safe.
What Is a Certificate of Compliance?
Under the Gas Act 1992 and the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006, certain gas work is restricted work — meaning it can only be legally performed by a person licensed or certified by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB). Once that restricted work is complete, the gasfitter is required to issue a CoC to the property owner.
The CoC is not just a receipt or invoice — it is a formal declaration that:
- The work was carried out by a licensed gasfitter
- The installation complies with the Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010
- The relevant New Zealand standards (including NZS 5261, the standard for gas installation) have been met
- The system has been tested and is safe to use
When Must a Gasfitter Issue a CoC?
A CoC must be issued whenever a licensed gasfitter completes restricted gas work. This includes:
- Installing a new gas appliance (e.g. a gas hob, oven, heater, or hot water system)
- Replacing or relocating gas pipework inside or outside your home
- Connecting or disconnecting gas appliances from the supply
- Installing or altering a gas meter or regulator
- Commissioning a new gas installation in a new build or renovation
- Repairing gas pipework that forms part of the fixed installation
As a guide, if the work involves touching the gas pipework or making any connection to the gas supply, a CoC is almost certainly required. Your gasfitter should provide it automatically — you should not have to ask.
What Does the CoC Include?
A valid CoC will typically show:
| Detail | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Gasfitter's name | Must match their PGDB licence |
| Licence number | Verify at pgdb.co.nz |
| Date of work | When the work was completed |
| Description of work | What was installed or altered |
| Property address | Your address |
| Test results | Pressure test pass confirmation |
| Signature | Licensed gasfitter's signature |
Always check that the licence number on your CoC is valid by searching the PGDB register. This takes only a minute and gives you peace of mind.
Why Is the CoC So Important?
Insurance: Many home and contents insurers require evidence of a CoC if a gas-related claim is made. Without one, your claim could be declined.
Selling your home: Buyers and their solicitors increasingly ask for CoCs for all gas work. Missing paperwork can delay or complicate a sale.
Healthy Homes compliance: Landlords must ensure rental properties meet the Healthy Homes Standards, which include requirements around heating. Any gas heating installed in a rental must have a CoC.
Safety: Gas leaks and faulty installations can cause fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide poisoning. The CoC process — including mandatory pressure testing — is your assurance the system is safe.
What Work Can a Homeowner Do Themselves?
Very little when it comes to gas. Under NZ law, connecting, disconnecting, or altering any gas fitting is restricted work and must be done by a licensed gasfitter. This includes something as simple as swapping a gas hob.
What a homeowner can generally do:
- Turn the gas supply off at the isolation valve in an emergency
- Clean external surfaces of appliances (not internal components)
- Replace LPG cylinders on a portable barbecue (this is not a fixed installation)
If you smell gas, leave the building, avoid switches and flames, and call your gas supplier or 111 immediately. Do not attempt any repairs yourself.
For guidance on what constitutes restricted work, the PGDB website is the authoritative source.
How Long Should You Keep Your CoC?
Keep your CoC indefinitely, or at least for as long as you own the property. Store it with your other important home documents such as building consents and LIM reports. If you lose it, contact the gasfitter who did the work — they are required to retain records as well.
When to Call a Professional
Any time gas pipework, appliances, or fittings need to be installed, altered, repaired, or removed, you must engage a licensed gasfitter. Do not rely on a general handyperson or builder for this work — it is illegal for unlicensed people to carry out restricted gas work, and the consequences of getting it wrong can be fatal.
You can find qualified, licensed gasfitters in your area right here on tradedirectory.co.nz. Always ask to see their PGDB licence before work begins, and expect a CoC upon completion — it's your legal right to receive one.
Sources & Further Reading
- Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) — licence verification and restricted work guidance
- MBIE Building Performance — NZ Building Code and compliance information
- Tenancy Services — Healthy Homes — heating and rental property requirements
- WorkSafe NZ — gas safety and hazard information
- BRANZ — building research and best practice guidance
Certifying Plumber
