NSW Fair Trading Licence Verification
Verify New South Wales contractor licences against the official Fair Trading register. Search 546,326+ licensed contractors instantly.
About NSW Fair Trading
NSW Fair Trading is the division within the NSW Department of Customer Service responsible for regulating home building, trade, and construction work in New South Wales. It administers the Home Building Act 1989, which requires contractors to hold a licence for residential building work valued over $5,000.
NSW has the largest contractor register in Australia, with over 546,326 licence records covering builders, plumbers, electricians, gasfitters, and dozens of specialist trade categories. The register also includes White Card (general construction induction) records and other occupational categories.
WorkClear provides programmatic access to NSW Fair Trading licence data including:
- 546,326+ licence records in the database
- 50+ licence categories across construction, electrical, plumbing, and trades
- Regular data updates sourced from NSW Fair Trading public records
- Instant verification via web search or REST API
NSW Licence Categories
NSW Fair Trading issues licences across a wide range of construction and trade categories. Our data covers:
Residential and commercial construction
Specific trade categories like tiling, waterproofing
All plumbing and gas work
Electrical installation and maintenance
HVAC installation and servicing
Residential and commercial demolition
Pool construction and installation
General construction induction training
Permits for owner-builder residential work
Supervision of building or trade work
NSW Home Building Regulations
New South Wales regulates building work through the Home Building Act 1989 and the Home Building Regulation 2014. These laws set out licensing, insurance, and contract requirements for residential building work.
Key Requirements
- Home Building Compensation Fund — for residential building work over $20,000, contractors must obtain insurance through icare's Home Building Compensation Fund. This protects homeowners if the contractor dies, disappears, or becomes insolvent.
- Written Contracts — mandatory for work over $5,000. Contracts between $5,000 and $20,000 must be in writing. Work over $20,000 requires a detailed written contract with specific clauses prescribed by the Act, including a 5-day cooling-off period.
- Licence Conditions — contractors may have conditions attached to their licence restricting the type or value of work they can perform. Our data includes licence status so you can check whether a contractor is currently authorised.
- Owner-Builders — individuals can apply for an owner-builder permit for residential work over $10,000 on their own property, but must complete an approved owner-builder course first.
Penalties for Unlicensed Work
Performing building work without a valid NSW licence carries significant penalties. For individuals, fines can reach $110,000 or 2 years imprisonment. For companies, fines can reach $330,000. Homeowners who hire unlicensed contractors may not be covered by the Home Building Compensation Fund if something goes wrong.
For a step-by-step guide on checking NSW licences, see our NSW Licence Verification Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check a contractor's licence in NSW?
Use our NSW licence search to verify any Fair Trading-licensed contractor. Enter their name, licence number, or ABN and we'll check the register. You can also search the official NSW Fair Trading licence checker at fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.
What information is available for NSW licences?
Our NSW data includes the contractor's name, licence number, licence category (e.g., General Building, Plumbing, Electrical), licence status, and associated business details. This allows you to confirm both identity and what type of work the contractor is authorised to perform.
How current is the NSW data?
Our NSW Fair Trading data is updated regularly from public records. Visit our Status page for the latest update date and record count. The NSW dataset is actively growing as new licence types and records are added. For urgent verification, we recommend cross-checking with Fair Trading directly.
What is the $5,000 threshold for NSW licensing?
In NSW, contractors must hold a licence for residential building work valued at $5,000 or more (including labour and materials). This sits between Queensland's lower threshold of $3,300 and Victoria's higher threshold of $10,000. For specialist work like electrical and plumbing, a licence is required regardless of the value.
Does the NSW register include White Cards?
Yes. The NSW Fair Trading register includes General Construction Induction Training records (commonly called White Cards). Anyone working on a construction site in NSW must hold a valid White Card. Our data includes these records alongside traditional building and trade licences.
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