CERTIFICATES AND RECORDS
What is a PIC number and how to get one in Victoria
A PIC number is the consent reference a water authority gives you before you connect to or work on their sewer or water assets. On below-ground drainage and connection work you often need it in hand before you start, not after. Here is the plain version.
What a PIC number is
A PIC number is the reference a water authority issues when it consents to a proposed connection to, or work on, its sewer or water assets. It ties the consent to a specific property and a specific scope of work. The exact name varies by authority, often Point of Inspection and Connection or Point of Connection, but the role is the same: the authority's record that it has approved what you are about to do to its network.
Why it is needed before you dig
The sewer and water mains are the water authority's assets, not the property owner's. Connecting to them, or doing below-ground drainage that ties into them, needs the authority's consent first. For below-ground and connection work that consent, and the PIC number that comes with it, is generally required before the work, because once it is in the ground and covered it cannot be inspected. Starting without it is how a job gets stopped or pulled back up.
How to apply
- Identify the water authority that covers the property; areas are split between different authorities.
- Lodge the connection or PIC application with that authority for the specific property and scope of work.
- Provide the plan and details the authority asks for so they can locate their asset and assess the connection.
- Wait for consent and the PIC number to be issued before you start below-ground work.
- Check the current application requirements with the authority, as they differ between authorities.
Lead time varies, so apply early
There is no single turnaround that applies across Victoria. Each water authority runs its own process, and the time depends on the type of work and how complete your application is. The practical rule is to lodge early rather than assume a number of weeks. Booking the dig before the PIC number is in hand is a common way to lose a day on site.
Keeping the PIC with the job
The PIC number is part of the paper trail for a connection job: it shows the authority consented before you connected to its asset. Keeping the PIC reference, the consent, and dated photos of the work together, against the same job, is what lets you show the connection was approved if it is ever queried. Elemetric keeps that with the job.
Common questions
What does PIC stand for?
Depending on the authority, PIC stands for Point of Inspection and Connection, or Point of Connection. It is the reference the water authority issues when it consents to your proposed connection or below-ground work on its assets. Use the term the authority covering your area uses.
How long does a PIC application take?
It varies by water authority, and by the type and complexity of the work, so do not bank on a fixed turnaround. Lodge early, before you are due on site, and check the current requirements with the authority that covers the property.
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Download on the App Store →General information for licensed tradespeople, not legal or regulatory advice. The licensed plumber remains solely responsible for compliance. Refer to the current AS/NZS 3500 standards and the Building and Plumbing Commission (formerly the VBA) for authoritative requirements.