Do builders need a licence in Australia?
Yes. Every state and territory licenses or registers builders, but the trigger differs: a job value in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA and NT, any value in SA, and the type of work or approval in TAS and the ACT.
Licence by state
| State | Licence needed? | Licence and who issues it | Check a licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSWNew South Wales | Over a job value $5,000 incl GST (labour and materials) |
Contractor licence - general building work Building Commission NSW Covers adding to a home, and garages, carports and sheds (including kits). Needs 2 years of supervised experience. |
Verify Licence - home building licence check |
| VICVictoria | Over a job value $10,000 incl GST (labour and materials) |
Domestic Builder (Unlimited) or a Domestic Builder (Limited) class Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) Restumping, reblocking, demolition and permit work need registration at any value. Home warranty insurance is needed over $20,000. |
BPC Find and check a practitioner |
| QLDQueensland | Over a job value $3,300 incl GST (labour and materials) |
QBCC Builder - low rise (or medium rise, open) Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) A separate Sheds, carports and garages licence covers class 10a buildings up to 100m2. |
QBCC licensee register |
| WAWestern Australia | Over a job value $20,000 or more for work that needs a building permit; $50,000 or more for garages, carports, sheds and patios (class 10a) from 1 July 2026; GST treatment not stated |
Building contractor registration (plus building practitioner registration) Building and Energy (WA Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety) Only inside the prescribed area of the state. Home indemnity insurance is needed for permit work over $20,000. |
WA Online Licence Search |
| SASouth Australia | Yes | Building work contractor's licence (plus building work supervisor registration) Consumer and Business Services (CBS) Needed at any value. Building indemnity insurance is needed for domestic work over $20,000 that needs council approval. |
Check occupational licence holders |
| TASTasmania | Depends on the work | Builder licence (Builder Domestic, Low Rise, Medium Rise or Open) Consumer Affairs Tasmania (Building Standards Tasmania) No dollar limit. Houses, extensions and larger sheds, garages and carports are notifiable work for a licensed builder. Owners can build sheds up to 18m2, or kit sheds up to 36m2. |
Find a licensed tradesperson |
| ACTAustralian Capital Territory | Depends on the work | Builder licence Class A, B, C or D Access Canberra (Construction Occupations Registrar) A licensed builder is needed for any work that needs building approval. Class D covers non-structural basic building work. |
Access Canberra public registers |
| NTNorthern Territory | Over a job value over $25,000 for prescribed residential building work (GST and materials treatment not stated) |
Building contractor registration (residential) Building Practitioners Board (NT) Covers new homes, extensions and garages or carports built with a new home. Free-standing sheds and open carports added to an existing home need no registered builder. |
Public Register of Building Practitioners |
Jobs that need an extra licence
Sheds, carports and garages onlyQBCC Sheds, carports and garages licence (class 10a, up to 100m2)
QLD
Garages, carports and sheds onlyDomestic Builder (limited to the construction of non-habitable building structures)
VIC
Demolition, restumping or reblockingRegistration at any value (demolisher or matching builder class)
VIC
Plumbing, electrical and gas parts of the buildLicensed plumber, electrician or gasfitter
All states and territories
Swimming poolsPool building licence or builder endorsement
NSW, ACT (other states not checked)
Hiring? How to check a licence
- Ask for the licence or registration number and the name on it.
- Check the number on the official register for your state (links below).
- Make sure the name, licence class and expiry date match the person or company you are hiring.
- Check the licence covers the exact work, not just a related trade.
- Check the licence class covers your job size and building type (for example low rise, or sheds only).
- Ask for the home warranty or building indemnity insurance certificate before you pay a deposit.
- Check the building permit or approval is in place before work starts.
- Get a written quote and contract that shows the licence number.
- For electrical, plumbing or gas parts of the job, check that tradie's own licence too.
Find local businesses: Cladding InstallersBuildersCarport BuilderGarage BuilderShopfitterUnderpinning ExpertsShed BuildersHome Renovation Builder
On ServiceTasker, a business uploads its licence and our team checks it before a licence badge shows on its profile. You see what it holds, never the number or the document.
For businesses: how to get this licence
- Qualify: finish at least a Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building). Some classes need a Diploma or degree (VIC unlimited, ACT Class A and B).
- Experience: get recent, supervised, paid building work (NSW 2 years, VIC 3 years, ACT 3,650 hours).
- Documents: have your ID, qualifications, a police check, referee reports, insurance and proof of finances ready.
- Apply to your state (links below). VIC sets an exam and ACT Class A to C need the CIT regulatory assessment.
- Licensed in another state? Most states accept mutual recognition, but Tasmania does not cover builders under automatic mutual recognition.
| State | Who issues it | Apply here (official) | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Building Commission NSW | How to apply | Requirements |
| VIC | Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) | How to apply | Requirements |
| QLD | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) | How to apply | Requirements |
| WA | Building and Energy (WA Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety) | How to apply | Requirements |
| SA | Consumer and Business Services (CBS) | How to apply | Requirements |
| TAS | Consumer Affairs Tasmania (Building Standards Tasmania) | How to apply | Requirements |
| ACT | Access Canberra (Construction Occupations Registrar) | How to apply | Requirements |
| NT | Building Practitioners Board (NT) | How to apply | Requirements |
Last checked: 12 November 2026. General information only, not legal advice. Rules, fees and forms change: always check with the regulator in your state before you hire or apply. Some details could not be confirmed online and are left out; the regulator can confirm them.
Official sources (51)
- nsw.gov.au /business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-lice...
- nsw.gov.au /business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-lice...
- nsw.gov.au /housing-and-construction/building-or-renovating-a-home/preparing/chec...
- verify.licence.nsw.gov.au /home/Trades
- nsw.gov.au /business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-lice...
- bpc.vic.gov.au /home-owners/before-you-start-building/engaging-a-builder
- bpc.vic.gov.au /resource-hub/info-sheets/What-is-domestic-building-work
- bpc.vic.gov.au /builders/builder-classes/domestic-builder
- bpc.vic.gov.au /builders/registration/registration-requirements-and-eligibiity
- consumer.vic.gov.au /housing/building-and-renovating/plan-and-manage-your-building-project...
- consumer.vic.gov.au /licensing-and-registration/builders-and-tradespeople/becoming-a-regis...
- bpc.vic.gov.au /find-and-check-a-practitioner
- bpc.vic.gov.au /builders/registration/how-to-complete-your-builder-application
- bpc.vic.gov.au /builders/registration/automatic-mutual-recognition
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /licences/apply-licence/available-licences/builder/builder-low-rise
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /licences/apply-licence/available-licences/other-trade/sheds-carports-...
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /licences/start-your-career/when-you-need-licence
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /home-owner-hub/build-renovate/finding-contractor-getting-quotes/who-m...
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /resources/glossary
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /about-us/our-lists-registers
- my.qbcc.qld.gov.au /myQBCC/s/qbcc-licensee-register
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /licences/apply-licence
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /licences/apply-licence/interstate-overseas-applicants
- wa.gov.au /government/publications/do-i-need-be-registered-building-contractor
- wa.gov.au /government/multi-step-guides/builders-registration
- wa.gov.au /organisation/building-and-energy/building-or-renovating-your-home
- wa.gov.au /organisation/building-and-energy/building-and-energy-licence-and-regi...
- ols.demirs.wa.gov.au /search
- wa.gov.au /organisation/service-delivery/automatic-mutual-recognition
- sa.gov.au /topics/business-and-trade/licensing/building-and-trades/building-work...
- sa.gov.au /topics/business-and-trade/licensing/building-and-trades/building-work...
- cbs.sa.gov.au /documents/Building-work-in-SA-what-you-need-to-know.pdf
- legislation.sa.gov.au /_legislation-documents/lz/c/r/building-work-contractors-regulations-2...
- sa.gov.au /topics/business-and-trade/licensing/licence-check
- sa.gov.au /topics/business-and-trade/licensing/interstate-and-overseas
- consumeraffairs.tas.gov.au /topics/licensing-and-registration/licensed-occupations/building-provi...
- buildingstandards.tas.gov.au /topics/technical-regulation/building-standards/permit-authorities/cat...
- buildingstandards.tas.gov.au /topics/building-renovating/consumer-building-information
- buildingstandards.tas.gov.au /topics/licensing-and-registration/search-licensed-occupations/find-a-...
- buildingstandards.tas.gov.au /topics/resources-tools/apply-for-a-licence
- buildingstandards.tas.gov.au /topics/licensing-and-registration/licensed-occupations/interstate-and...
- planning.act.gov.au /professionals/regulation-and-responsibilities/construction-licences
- planning.act.gov.au /community/build-or-renovate/before-you-start/find-a-professional
- services.accesscanberra.act.gov.au /s/public-registers
- planning.act.gov.au /professionals/regulation-and-responsibilities/mutual-recognition
- bpb.nt.gov.au /
- bpb.nt.gov.au /registration
- bpb.nt.gov.au /practitioners
- nt.gov.au /property/building/build-or-renovate-your-home/check-if-your-builder-i...
- nt.gov.au /industry/licences/builders-and-building-certifiers
- ntlis.nt.gov.au /building-practitioners/
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