Does Queensland require a CCEW for LED mirror install?
Yes — in Queensland, all electrical work requires a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) issued by the licensed electrical contractor. This applies to LED mirror installation — both hardwire and plug-in GPO installation. The CCEW must be provided to the owner within 5 business days of completing the work, must be retained by the property owner, and is required for building inspection sign-off in Queensland. The licensing body in Queensland is the Electrical Safety Office (ESO).
What the CCEW is
The CCEW (Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work) is the Queensland equivalent of Victoria’s CES and NSW’s COC. It is a legally required document under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld) and the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 (Qld). The CCEW is issued by the licensed electrical contractor who performed the work and certifies that the installation meets the requirements of AS/NZS 3000 and Queensland electrical safety legislation.
The CCEW identifies: the property address, the nature of the electrical work performed, the licensed contractor’s details and licence number, the date the work was completed, and the contractor’s declaration of compliance. For bathroom mirror installations, the relevant work description on the CCEW would reference the installation of the power supply circuit or GPO for the mirror, and confirmation of RCD protection.
Who issues the CCEW in Queensland
The CCEW is issued by the licensed electrical contractor — the business entity holding a Queensland electrical contractor licence. The individual electrician performing the work must hold a current electrical work licence (EWL) issued under the Electrical Safety Act. In Queensland, an electrical contractor licence and an individual electrical work licence are separate — the contractor (business) holds one, the individual worker holds the other.
The Electrical Safety Office (ESO) maintains the register of licensed contractors and individual licence holders. The contractor’s licence number must appear on the CCEW. For builders engaging electrical contractors in Queensland, verify the licence on the ESO online register before commencing work. An unlicensed contractor cannot issue a CCEW, and work performed by an unlicensed contractor is not legally compliant regardless of its physical quality.
Timeframe for receiving the CCEW
The electrical contractor must provide the CCEW to the owner or their agent within 5 business days of completing the work. For construction projects, “the owner” is typically the builder or developer. The CCEW should be requested from the electrician at the time of booking the work — confirm the timeline for CCEW delivery as part of the engagement. Do not assume it will arrive without following up.
For multi-unit developments in Queensland, the CCEW requirement applies to each individual dwelling. A CCEW for common area electrical work does not cover the individual unit bathrooms. The project manager should maintain a CCEW register — one row per unit — and confirm each CCEW has been received before the unit is signed off for handover.
CCEW and building inspection in Queensland
For Queensland building inspections — final inspection before certificate of occupancy — the building certifier requires evidence of electrical compliance for the installation. The CCEW is the primary compliance document for electrical work. Building certifiers in Queensland may also request the product compliance documentation for luminaires — the RCM certificate and IP44 test report for LED mirrors. VUELUXE compliance documentation is available for trade account holders on request.
For bathroom renovations in Queensland (not new builds), the CCEW may also be relevant to council approvals. Some renovations require a development application (DA) or plumbing approval in addition to electrical compliance. Check the local council requirements for the specific renovation scope — electrical compliance via the CCEW is one component, not the only approval that may apply.
Retaining the CCEW
The Queensland Electrical Safety Regulation requires the property owner to retain the CCEW. Under Queensland legislation, CCEWs should be retained for the life of the installation — that is, until the electrical work is removed or substantially modified. For a property sale, the existence of CCEWs for previous electrical work is a relevant disclosure item. A property with a history of electrical renovations and no CCEWs on file has an undocumented compliance history.
For homeowners in Queensland, file the CCEW with the property’s maintenance records or with the title documents. For builders and developers, include the CCEW in the handover documentation package provided to the purchaser or strata body at settlement.
Failure to issue or obtain a CCEW
Under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld), failure by an electrical contractor to issue a CCEW is an offence. The contractor can be issued an infringement notice by the ESO. For the property owner or builder, the absence of a CCEW for completed electrical work creates a compliance gap that can affect building inspections, insurance, and property sale. If a contractor has not issued a CCEW within 5 business days, contact the contractor in writing requesting it. If the contractor does not respond, report to the ESO.
For electrician licensing requirements across all Australian states and territories, visit the electrician requirements page. For the full compliance overview including compliance documentation types by state, visit the compliance hub. For Queensland-specific builder and trade resources, visit the QLD hub.