If you have recently had electrical work done on your Dunedin or Otago property, your electrician should have provided you with a Certificate of Compliance, commonly referred to as a COC. If you are not sure what it is, where to keep it, or why it matters, you are not alone. Most homeowners receive this document without much explanation and file it away without a second thought.
This guide from A1 Electrical explains exactly what a COC is, when you are entitled to one, what it covers, and why holding onto it is genuinely important for your property.
What Is an Electrical Certificate of Compliance?
An electrical Certificate of Compliance is a formal, legally required document issued by a licensed electrician in New Zealand. It confirms that prescribed electrical work has been completed in accordance with the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 and the AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules, and that the installation has been tested and found to meet New Zealand’s electrical safety standards.
The COC is issued by the electrician who carried out the work and is required to be provided to the property owner. The electrician also retains a copy as part of their own legal records. The document includes the nature of the work performed, the date of completion, the address of the property, and the electrician’s name and EWRB registration number.
When Is a COC Required?
Under New Zealand law, a COC must be issued for any prescribed fixed electrical work that is categorised as general or high risk. This broadly covers any work involving new electrical installations or significant alterations to an existing system. Common examples include:
- Installing new wiring or circuits
- Fitting new power points or light fittings
- Upgrading or replacing a switchboard
- Installing a heat pump or air conditioning system
- Adding a subboard or dedicated circuit for an EV charger
- Any electrical work carried out as part of a renovation or new build
A COC is not required for low-risk maintenance work such as replacing an existing light fitting or swapping out a socket outlet for a like-for-like replacement. The distinction matters because many homeowners assume maintenance work generates a COC when it does not, and vice versa.
Who Can Issue a COC?
Only a registered and licensed electrician approved by the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) can issue a valid Certificate of Compliance. Trainees and apprentices working under supervision cannot sign off a COC independently. The responsibility and legal accountability sit with the licensed individual.
This is one of the most important reasons to always use a qualified, registered electrician for any prescribed electrical work on your property. An unlicensed person cannot issue a valid COC, which means the work is effectively undocumented, unverified, and potentially illegal.
Why Does Your COC Matter?
Insurance
Most insurance policies require evidence that electrical work was carried out by a licensed electrician. In the event of an electrical fault leading to a fire or other damage, your insurer may request COCs for relevant work carried out on the property. Without them, a claim could be complicated or declined. Keeping your COCs on file protects your insurance position.
Property Sales
When selling a property, solicitors and prospective buyers are entitled to request COCs for electrical work carried out during your ownership. Buyers use them to verify that the electrical system is safe and that the work was done properly. Not being able to produce a COC for significant electrical work can raise questions during due diligence and potentially affect a sale.
Legal Protection
Your COC is a legal record that the work was completed to the required standard at the time it was carried out. If a dispute ever arises regarding electrical work on your property, the COC provides documented evidence of compliance. The EWRB recommends retaining COCs for as long as the relevant installation is in place, and at minimum for seven years.
Safety Assurance
Beyond the administrative and legal dimensions, the COC represents genuine safety assurance. The testing and inspection process that precedes its issue confirms that the installation poses no immediate risk of electric shock, fire, or other hazard. For homeowners of older properties where electrical histories can be complex, each COC provides a point-in-time record of a safe, compliant installation.
What If I Cannot Find My COC?
If you have had electrical work done on your property but cannot locate the COC, your first step is to contact the electrician who did the work. They are legally required to retain a copy and should be able to provide a duplicate. If the company no longer exists or you are unable to identify who carried out the work, contacting the EWRB can help you trace the registered electrician who performed the installation, which may assist in obtaining a record.
If you are purchasing a property and COCs for electrical work are not available, this is worth flagging with your solicitor. It may be appropriate to commission an electrical inspection before settlement to give you confidence in the current state of the installation.
A1 Electrical Issues COCs for All Prescribed Work
When you engage A1 Electrical for any prescribed electrical work, you receive a Certificate of Compliance as a matter of course. We are EWRB-licensed Master Electricians and take our compliance obligations seriously on every job, large or small.
Every COC we issue is backed by our commitment to work that meets current AS/NZS 3000 standards and our own comprehensive quality checks. You should never have to ask twice.
