Complete guide · 2026

Apartment electrical plan:
7 steps to a clean electrician quote

Everything you need to draw an apartment or unit electrical plan your electrician can price — whether for a renovation, a switchboard upgrade, or to document your installation.

Reading time: 8 min·Updated: October 2026

Why create an electrical plan for your apartment?

Whether you're renovating an older apartment or planning a complete rewiring, an apartment electrical plan is essential. It helps you visualise power point placement, lighting, and circuit routing before any work begins — saving time and money on site.

📋

Accurate quotes

Get comparable quotes from several electricians

🔌

Circuit check

Verify every circuit and power point you need is planned

📄

Full documentation

Build the file for your body corporate or insurer

🏗️

Job tracking

Monitor progress and changes during the renovation

Apartment vs. house: key electrical differences

Meter in common areas

In an apartment building, the electricity meter is often in a shared meter room or riser rather than inside the apartment. The supply to each apartment is part of the building’s installation.

Switchboard inside the apartment

The apartment has its own switchboard with the main switch, 30 mA RCDs — no more than three circuits each — and a breaker per circuit. Circuits supplying power points and lighting must be RCD-protected.

No outdoor circuits

Unlike a house, an apartment typically has no outdoor circuits beyond the balcony. Circuits are limited to interior rooms, which simplifies the plan but leaves less room to compensate for an under-provisioned space later.

Body corporate rules

Work inside your unit is usually allowed, but the body corporate controls common property under the Unit Titles Act. Shared infrastructure (risers, the building supply, structure) is outside your control.

How much to provide, room by room

AS/NZS 3000 sets no minimum number of power points — the figures below are a comfortable provision for a modern apartment, not a rule to satisfy.

RoomSuggested power pointsLighting points
Living space6 – 8 doubles≥ 1
Open-plan kitchen/living8+ doubles≥ 2
Kitchen (bench)6+ doubles≥ 2
Main bedroom3 – 4 doubles≥ 1
Second bedroom3 doubles≥ 1
BathroomOutside zones 0 and 1 only≥ 1, IP rated
Hallway / entry1 double≥ 1
Laundry1 – 2 doubles≥ 1

Design guidance, not a regulatory minimum. Adjust to how each room will actually be used.

Create your apartment plan with Planelico

1

Get your apartment floor plan PDF

Use the plan from the sale documents, the agent’s floor plan or the body corporate records. A scan or a hand-drawn sketch works too.

2

Import into Planelico

Drop your PDF into the editor. Planelico keeps it as a background layer while you work on electrical symbols on top.

3

Place symbols room by room

Drag & drop power points, switches, light fittings and specialised equipment. The live summary keeps a running count per room so nothing is forgotten.

4

Add zones & wiring connections

Draw coloured zones for each room and connect switches to lights. Your electrician will immediately understand the wiring intent.

5

Export & share

Generate a professional PDF with legend and summary. Share it via link with your electrician or download it for quotes and your project file.

FAQ — Apartment electrical plan

How many power points should an apartment have?
AS/NZS 3000 sets no minimum count per room — it is a design decision. A workable provision: six to eight double power points in the living space, three or four in the main bedroom, six or more above the kitchen bench, plus dedicated circuits for the cooktop and oven. A two-bedroom apartment typically lands around fifteen to twenty double power points in total.
Do I need the body corporate’s permission to rewire my unit?
Work inside your own unit is usually yours to decide, but check the body corporate operational rules under the Unit Titles Act for anything touching common property — risers, the building supply, structural floors and ceilings. The work itself must be done and certified by a licensed electrical worker.
Is an electrical plan required for an apartment renovation?
Not legally required for minor work, but strongly recommended. For a complete rewiring, your electrician will need it to quote and complete the job. Insurance may also request it after a claim to verify the installation.
How do I create an electrical plan for my apartment?
With Planelico: import your PDF plan, place standard symbols, then draw room zones and wiring connections. Free includes 1 project with up to 2 floors, 2 layers per floor and a watermarked PDF export. Premium unlocks the generated AS/NZS 3000 switchboard and watermark-free export.
How much does it cost to rewire an apartment?
It depends heavily on the size of the apartment, access to the ceilings and floors, the finishes to make good and your region. The best way to keep quotes under control is to give several licensed electricians the same detailed plan: with every power point, light and dedicated circuit marked, their quotes become directly comparable.
What about bathroom zones in a small apartment?
Section 6 of AS/NZS 3000 defines zones 0 to 3 around the bath or shower whatever the size of the apartment. Power points are not allowed in zones 0 and 1, and are restricted in zone 2 — a shaver outlet, for example. In a small bathroom, the zones often leave little room, so mark the bath and shower on the plan and let the electrician confirm positions on site.
Studio apartment: anything specific to plan for?
AS/NZS 3000 sets no minimum number of power points, but a studio still needs sensible separation: a power circuit, a separate lighting circuit and dedicated circuits for the cooktop and oven. Even with only a few circuits, the switchboard needs at least two RCDs, with no more than three circuits each (clause 2.6.2.4).
Can I run cables in the floor of my apartment?
Concrete slabs typically don't allow routing — cables go in the ceiling or walls. For ceiling routing in apartments with neighbours below, check the body corporate rules: drilling through structural slabs usually needs approval.
What symbols are used on apartment electrical plans?

Related guides

Electrical plan software compared

Design packages versus layout tools, and which fits a home job.

How to create a house electrical plan

Step-by-step guide from PDF import to export.

AS/NZS 3000 electrical plan

Final subcircuits, RCD protection, certification.

Create your electrical plan now

Planelico lets you create a professional electrical plan in minutes. Free, no installation.

Start for free →Try without an account