Available 24/7Available 24/7Published: November 05, 2026
A quick overview before you dive in:
Can I do my own electrical work in NSW? No, not if it's electrical wiring work. NSW law says only a licensed electrician, or someone working under a licensed electrician's direct supervision, can do it, and that applies to homeowners and to small jobs too. Plugging in appliances and other everyday tasks aren't wiring work, but installing, repairing or changing anything in the fixed wiring is.
This guide comes from Impulse Electrical Enterprise, a Sydney electrician based in Strathfield. We're licensed and insured, and our director, Matthew Neil, supervises every job. It's general information about the rules, not legal advice.
Section 14 of the Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) says an individual must not do any electrical wiring work unless they hold a contractor licence or supervisor certificate that covers that work, or they work under the supervision and directions of someone who does. The NSW Government puts it simply: you must have an electrical licence before doing any electrical wiring work in NSW, regardless of the cost or type of work.
There's no exception for working on your own home, and no exception for small jobs.
NSW law defines electrical wiring work as the actual physical work of installing, repairing, altering, removing or adding to an electrical installation. An electrical installation is the fixed wiring, fittings and equipment at a property, inside or outside, that carry and control electricity: the switchboard, the cables in the walls and ceiling, power points, light switches, light fittings and anything else wired in.
Appliances and other equipment you plug into a power point aren't part of the electrical installation, so using them isn't wiring work. In everyday terms, things you can do yourself include:
If a job means opening up a power point, switch, light fitting or the switchboard, or touching the fixed wiring, it's wiring work and it needs a licensed electrician.
If someone has had an electric shock, call triple zero (000) and don't touch them while they could still be in contact with the electricity. If there's smoke or fire, get everyone out and call triple zero (000). Our guide on what to do in an electrical emergency covers the first steps to take.
Faulty wiring can give someone a fatal shock or start a fire, sometimes long after the work was done. A licensed electrician tests the work before it's switched on and certifies it. Whenever an electrician installs, repairs, adds to or alters part of your electrical installation, even a like for like power point swap, they must submit a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW), which gives you a record that the work was tested and meets NSW requirements.
So yes, DIY electrical wiring work is illegal in NSW. Doing it without the right licence is an offence under section 14 of the Home Building Act. The maximum penalty is 200 penalty units for an individual, which is $22,000 at the current NSW value of $110 a penalty unit, and 1,000 penalty units ($110,000) for a corporation.
Before anyone starts electrical work at your home, ask for their licence number and check it with Service NSW, making sure the licence is current and covers electrical wiring work. Our NSW Contractor Licence number is 389893C.
No. Replacing a power point, even like for like, is electrical wiring work and needs a licensed electrician, who must also submit a CCEW for it.
No. In NSW, a hardwired ceiling fan must be installed by a licensed electrician.
No. Replacing a light fitting means disconnecting and reconnecting the fixed wiring, which is electrical wiring work.
Only if they hold the right electrical licence. Ask for their licence number and check it with Service NSW before they start.
Tell us what you'd like done and send a photo if you can. Call us on 0481 228 836 or request a free quote.
Founder and Director