New electrical safety requirements for granny flats
Recent amendments to the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 have changed what electrical workers must do when issuing certification for prescribed electrical work (PEW) on granny flats (non-consented small stand-alone dwellings).
The granny flats building consent exemption commenced on 15 January 2026.
A new granny flat can now be built without a building consent if:
- it is a single-storey, standalone dwelling
- it is no bigger than 70 square metres
- it has a simple design and meets the Building Code
- all exemption conditions are met
- the work is done or supervised by licensed building professionals (LBPs, plumbers, drainlayers, gasfitters, electrical workers), as it is restricted building work.
More information about the granny flats building consent exemption:
Granny flats exemption: Guidance and resources(external link) — Building Performance
What the exemption means for electrical workers
If a granny flat is built under this exemption, the rules for issuing electrical certification are slightly different from usual.
The Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 have been updated so that when PEW is carried out on a non consented small stand alone dwelling, electrical workers must now provide copies of the Certificate of Compliance (CoC) and the Electrical Safety Certificate (ESC) to both:
- the person who contracted the work (if they are readily available); and
- the owner of the dwelling.
This requirement applies only to PEW on non consented small stand alone dwellings. For all other work, the standard rule still applies: CoCs and ESCs only need to be given to the person who contracted the work, with the owner or occupier receiving them where the contracting person cannot be contacted, or if they request them.
The usual timeframes for providing CoCs and ESCs have not changed.