What Changed in WA Plumbing Rules in 2026?
From 1 May 2026, Western Australia adopted the Plumbing Code of Australia 2025 (PCA 2025), replacing PCA 2022. The change also adopted the 2025 editions of AS/NZS 3500 Parts 1, 2 and 4, covering water services, sanitary plumbing and drainage, and heated water services.
That sounds technical, but for most Perth homeowners, the main point is simple: the standards that apply to regulated plumbing work have been updated.
You do not need to know every clause in the Plumbing Code. What matters is understanding what has changed, what applies to your home and when you need a licensed plumber.
What Does the 2026 Update Mean for Homeowners?
The 2026 changes mainly affect the way regulated plumbing work is designed and installed.
For homeowners, a few things are worth keeping in mind:
- Most water supply, sanitary and drainage plumbing work must be carried out by a licensed plumber or permit-holder.
- You can check whether a plumber holds a current licence through WA’s Online Licence Search.
- For major plumbing work, the licensed contractor must provide a certificate of compliance within five working days of completing the work.
- The updated standards may affect how certain new, replacement or modified plumbing work is carried out.
So while you do not need to become a plumbing standards expert, it is useful to know what rules your plumber is working to.
1. WA Has Moved to PCA 2025
The main regulatory change is the move from PCA 2022 to PCA 2025 on 1 May 2026. The Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations 2000 use the PCA as the primary standard for regulated plumbing work in WA.
The WA-specific changes that were previously contained in the regulations are now included in Schedule 11 of PCA 2025.
Importantly, the WA regulations only call up the PCA in relation to regulated water supply, sanitary and drainage plumbing work. Not every part of the PCA is automatically treated as regulated plumbing work.
2. The AS/NZS 3500 Standards Have Also Been Updated
PCA 2025 now adopts the 2025 editions of:
- AS/NZS 3500.1 — Water services
- AS/NZS 3500.2 — Sanitary plumbing and drainage
- AS/NZS 3500.4 — Heated water services
Building and Energy says the updated standards include new technical requirements, changes to existing provisions, and editorial changes using plainer language.
Some of the changes relate to plumbing components homeowners may come across during repairs or replacements. For example, the updated standards include new provisions for certain flexible hose assemblies and for isolating valves on flexible hoses connected to mixer taps and cisterns.
These are technical installation requirements, so the important thing for a homeowner is not memorising them, but knowing that the current standards need to be considered when applicable plumbing work is carried out.
3. There Are Also Updates to Sanitary and Drainage Requirements
The updated AS/NZS 3500.2 standard includes changes to sanitary plumbing and drainage.
Some examples include:
Waterless urinals
New provisions address pipe diameter and grades to allow for the build-up of struvite, which can cause blockages.
Unit developments
The previous note allowing a single overflow relief gully in certain unit developments has been removed. The updated provision requires an overflow relief gully with the specified separation, or a reflux valve, for each individual unit.
These are specific technical requirements and will not affect every household. They are examples of the broader changes introduced with the 2025 standards.
4. Lead-Free Plumbing Rules Have a Longer Transition
Lead-free plumbing has also been a source of confusion.
From 1 May 2026, manufacturers of applicable WaterMark-certified copper alloy products covered by the requirements can only produce lead-free products where required by the National Construction Code. However, existing WaterMark-certified copper alloy products that are in contact with drinking water can continue to be installed until 30 April 2028 under the extended transition arrangements.
From 1 May 2028, new water supply plumbing work in contact with drinking water must use WaterMark-certified lead-free products, and products installed or replaced in existing systems must meet the applicable lead-free requirements.
The PCA defines lead-free as having a weighted average lead content of no more than 0.25% for the relevant plumbing product or material in contact with drinking water.
So, the current position is not that all relevant products suddenly had to be lead-free from 1 May 2026. The transition for existing products runs until 30 April 2028.
5. What About Plumbing Work Started Before 1 May 2026?
There is also a transition provision for plumbing work that was already underway.
The Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Amendment Regulations 2026 provide that plumbing work that commenced before 1 May 2026 but had not been completed by that date remains subject to the plumbing standards that were in force when the work commenced.
This is mainly relevant to projects that crossed the changeover date.
What Plumbing Work Can a Homeowner Do?
WA’s current homeowner guidance allows certain basic plumbing tasks to be carried out by a homeowner or occupier.
These include:
- maintaining, repairing or replacing a shower head
- maintaining or repairing a tap, other than a thermostatic mixing tap
- replacing a cistern washer
- replacing a water filter cartridge
- clearing a blocked fixture or waste pipe using a plunger
Apart from these listed tasks, water supply, sanitary and drainage plumbing work must be carried out by a licensed plumber or permit-holder.
WA also recommends checking that the person carrying out the work holds the appropriate licence or permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When did the new WA plumbing standards take effect?
The updated plumbing requirements took effect on 1 May 2026, when PCA 2025 replaced PCA 2022 and the 2025 editions of AS/NZS 3500 Parts 1, 2 and 4 were adopted.
2. Are lead-free plumbing products mandatory in WA from 2026?
Not fully. Existing applicable WaterMark-certified copper alloy products in contact with drinking water can continue to be installed until 30 April 2028 under the extended transition. The applicable lead-free requirements take effect from 1 May 2028.
3. Can homeowners do their own plumbing work in WA?
Only certain basic tasks are permitted, including some tap and shower-head work, cistern washer and water-filter cartridge replacement, and clearing a blocked fixture or waste pipe with a plunger. Other water supply, sanitary and drainage plumbing work must be carried out by a licensed plumber or permit-holder.
4. Do I receive a certificate after plumbing work?
For major plumbing work involving the installation of new fixtures, new drainage installations or replacement water heaters, the licensed plumbing contractor must provide a certificate of compliance within five working days of completing the work.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 update does not mean Perth homeowners need to become experts in plumbing standards. The important part is knowing when licensed plumbing work is required, understanding what is being changed and keeping the documentation provided when the work is completed.
At Perth Local Plumbing & Gas, we assess the plumbing work required, explain what needs attention and provide clear pricing before agreed work begins. The work is then carried out in line with the standards and requirements that apply to the job.
The approach is simple: understand the work, explain it clearly and get it done properly.
