Victorian Gas Rules 2026: What Homeowners and Renters Need To Know

Quick answer: Victorian gas rules 2026

**Victorian gas rules 2026** are part of the state's staged shift away from fossil gas in homes and buildings. Existing households are not being told to remove existing gas cooktops, but new builds, end-of-life gas hot water replacement and rental efficiency standards are changing from 2027.

What changed recently?

Victoria's Gas Substitution Roadmap was updated in July 2026. It confirms the policy direction: energy efficiency, electrification and renewable gases for uses that are harder to electrify.

The practical household rules are staged. Some new gas connection restrictions already began in 2024. New building electrification and rental minimum standards begin from 2027.

[FACT CHECK: Victorian Gas Substitution Roadmap page last updated 10 July 2026.]

New homes and gas connections

Since 1 January 2024, Victoria has restricted new reticulated natural gas connections for many new dwellings, apartment buildings and residential subdivisions requiring planning permits.

Planning guidance says this applies to new planning permit applications lodged on or after 1 January 2024 for affected residential development. It does not generally apply to existing homes, renovations or extensions to existing homes, or applications lodged before the start date.

The rule targets reticulated natural gas. Victorian guidance says it does not apply to bottled or reticulated LPG.

New all-electric building rules from 2027

From 1 January 2027, Victorian Government guidance says all new homes and most new commercial buildings must be built all-electric. Industrial and agricultural buildings are treated differently.

For ordinary households, this means new-build planning should assume electric cooking, heating, hot water and appliances unless an exemption or separate category applies.

Existing owner-occupiers

Existing homeowners are not required to remove every gas appliance at once.

The key rule starts on 1 March 2027. If a gas hot water appliance breaks and cannot be repaired, it must be replaced with an electric alternative, subject to exemptions.

Victorian guidance says there is no requirement for existing homeowners to upgrade gas space heating or stovetop gas cooking to electric, although the government encourages electrification to reduce bills and emissions.

Renters and rental providers

Rental homes are affected by new minimum energy efficiency standards from 2027.

From 1 March 2027, when a hot water or heating appliance breaks and cannot be repaired, rental providers must replace it with specified efficient electric alternatives. From the same date, at the start of a new lease, rental homes must include efficient cooling in the living area and 4-star showerheads.

Further rental standards phase in later, including ceiling insulation from 1 March 2027 where triggered, draughtproofing from 1 July 2027 at the start of a new lease, and efficient electric cooling in the living area in all rental properties by 1 July 2030.

Consumer Affairs Victoria says the rental standards cover heating, cooling, hot water, showerheads, ceiling insulation and draughtproofing.

What does not change immediately

Existing gas cooktops can remain in existing homes. Existing gas space heating can also remain unless a specific replacement trigger applies to the property type and circumstances.

Existing commercial buildings are not required to electrify under the household-focused rules described here.

Exemptions may apply where compliance is impractical or costly. Households should check the latest Victorian Government guidance before making a major appliance decision.

What homeowners should do now

If you own a Victorian home, make a simple appliance plan:

• list each gas appliance;
• record its age and condition;
• check whether hot water is near end of life;
• ask an electrician about switchboard capacity;
• check VEU and Solar Homes support;
• compare gas supply charges if only one appliance remains;
• time upgrades around renovations where possible.

The aim is to avoid emergency replacement decisions.

What renters should do now

Renters should report failing heating, cooling or hot water early and keep written records. If a lease is changing after standards begin, ask the rental provider or agent how the property will comply.

Renters should not arrange fixed appliance replacement without approval. But they can ask whether the owner plans to use available discounts or rebates for upgrades.

Internal next steps

Read `/guides/gas-hot-water-replacement`, compare gas plans at `/gas`, estimate gas usage with `/calculators/gas-cost`, and read `/guides/keep-gas-for-cooking-only` if cooking is your final gas appliance.

Sources

• Victorian Government: Gas Substitution Roadmap, https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-energy/victorias-gas-substitution-roadmap
• Victorian Government: Electric and efficiency standards for buildings, https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/households/electric-and-efficiency-standards-for-buildings
• Consumer Affairs Victoria: New minimum energy efficiency standards, https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/resources-and-tools/legislation/public-consultations-and-reviews/new-minimum-energy-efficiency-standards
• Planning Victoria: Victoria's Gas Substitution Roadmap, https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/guides-and-resources/strategies-and-initiatives/victorias-gas-substitution-roadmap

Disclosure

CompareUs may receive a referral fee when you click or apply through some links. This does not change the price you pay. Our goal is to help Australians compare options clearly and make informed decisions.