How long is an electrical COC valid in South Africa?

By the EZ COC team. Published 1 October 2026. 5 min read.

According to ECA(SA), an electrical COC is valid for two years when it is used for a property transfer. Otherwise it stays valid for the life of the installation, unless the installation is altered, in which case a supplementary certificate is needed. Sources vary on the details, so confirm with your conveyancer.

Two years for transfer versus the life of the installation

There are two ideas to keep apart. One is how old a certificate can be when a property changes hands. The other is how long the certificate describes the installation as compliant.

ECA(SA) states that a COC is valid for two years for property-transfer purposes, and otherwise for the life of the installation unless it is altered. You can read their wording in how long an electrical certificate of compliance is valid for.

So a certificate that is three years old is not automatically worthless, but a buyer's conveyancer may ask for a fresh one if the sale is going through. If you are selling, our article on the COC when selling a house covers who normally pays and when to book.

What invalidates a COC

A certificate describes the installation as it was on the day it was inspected and tested. Once that installation changes, the certificate no longer describes what is on the wall.

Things that typically raise the question include:

• Adding a new distribution board or sub-board.
• Adding circuits, such as for a stove, geyser, pool pump or garage.
• Installing a solar, inverter or backup power system.
• Damage, tampering or unapproved work by someone unregistered.

We are not listing these as a legal test. They are the common situations where you should ask your registered electrician whether the existing certificate still covers what is installed.

Supplementary certificates after alterations

When an installation is altered, ECA(SA) says the alteration needs a supplementary CoC. The supplementary certificate covers the new or changed work, and the original continues to cover the rest.

This is why electricians keep old certificates, test reports and photos together. When a customer adds a circuit five years later, the original record shows what was there before. Our piece on how to store electrical COCs goes into what to keep.

Why sources disagree

Searching online, you will find the two year rule attributed to different regulation numbers, and some pages simplify it to "a COC lasts two years" with no mention of the life-of-installation point. We could not reconcile those versions, so we give no regulation number here.

The primary text is the Electrical Installation Regulations 2009 under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, available on SAFLII. If the exact wording matters to your transaction, read it there, or ask the ECB or ECA(SA) directly.

Rentals are murkier still. Sources conflict on whether a COC is legally required to let a property, and we will not assert either position. SAPAC sets out one view for landlords, agents and tenants. Treat it as one view, not the last word.

What conveyancers ask for

In practice the conveyancer wants a certificate they can attach to the transfer file, from a registered person, dated within the window they work to. Requirements differ between firms, so ask what they accept and what age is acceptable before you spend money.

If you are the electrician, being able to produce a customer's certificate quickly is a real service. A past customer calls two years later because the buyer needs paperwork, and the difference between a five minute reply and a lost afternoon is whether you can find the file.

Keeping proof ready

Keep the certificate, the test report and the photos of the installation together, labelled with the customer, the address and the COC number. If you need to prove when the work was done and what it looked like, that is the record you will reach for.

EZ COC is built for that filing step. You upload the certificate PDF or image, add site photos each with a section and description, and search later by customer, address or COC number. It does not issue or register certificates, and it does not track expiry dates for you.

General information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the regulations and your registered electrician.