How to Verify a Contractor Licence in Australia
Step-by-step guides for checking contractor licences in every Australian state and territory. Learn about licensing bodies, what to look for, insurance requirements, and how to protect yourself when hiring a builder or tradesperson.
Queensland
QLDLicensed by the QBCC under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991. Over 107,000 active licences.
New South Wales
NSWLicensed by NSW Fair Trading under the Home Building Act 1989. Over 178,000 licence records across 50+ categories.
Victoria
VICRegistered by the VBA under the Building Act 1993. Over 47,000 building practitioner registrations.
Western Australia
WARegistered by the Building Commission (DMIRS) under the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011.
South Australia
SALicensed by CBS under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995. Covers general and specialist building work.
Northern Territory
NTLicensed by NT Licensing under the Building Act 1993 (NT). Includes cyclone-rated construction standards.
ACT
ACTLicensed by Access Canberra under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004. Class A, B, and C builder tiers.
Tasmania
TASLicensed by CBOS under the Occupational Licensing Act 2005 and Building Act 2016. Risk-based classification system.
Why Licence Verification Matters
Every Australian state and territory requires building contractors to hold a licence or registration before carrying out building work. The specific requirements, thresholds, and licensing bodies vary between jurisdictions, but the principle is the same: licensing ensures contractors meet minimum standards of competency, financial viability, and insurance coverage.
Verifying a contractor's licence before engaging them protects you from unlicensed operators, ensures you have access to statutory warranties and insurance protections, and gives you recourse through government complaint and dispute resolution processes if something goes wrong.
Verify contractor licences across all states
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