In the UK, almost anyone can call themselves a builder, and checking a firm usually means reading reviews or looking for a trade association logo. Australia works differently: builders and many trades must hold a licence issued by a state or territory regulator, and you can usually look that licence up yourself in a few minutes. This piece explains who needs one, where to check in each state and what to look for when you do.
Why licensing matters more here
An Australian licence is not a badge of quality, but it does tell you several useful things. The person or company has met minimum requirements for qualifications or experience, is known to a regulator, and in many states can be disciplined or have the licence suspended. Licensing is also tied to consumer protection. In most states, home warranty insurance (sometimes called home building compensation or domestic building insurance) is required on residential work above a set value, and only a properly licensed builder can arrange it. That insurance can protect you if the builder dies, disappears or becomes insolvent before fixing defects.
Using an unlicensed contractor for work that needs a licence can leave you without that protection, may cause problems with your own insurer, and can complicate selling the house later. Some work, notably electrical and gas, is dangerous as well as illegal to do without a licence.
Which trades need a licence
The rules differ by state, so treat the following as a general picture rather than a checklist. Electricians and plumbers are licensed everywhere in Australia, with gasfitting usually a separate endorsement. General builders need a licence for residential work in every state, although the dollar value at which a licence becomes compulsory varies and some states license only certain types of work. Many states also license specialist trades such as waterproofing, concreting, roof plumbing, pool building or termite management.
Small jobs can fall below the threshold where a licence is needed, but the threshold is not the same everywhere and it changes from time to time. If in doubt, ask the regulator in your state rather than relying on what the tradie tells you.
Where to check, state by state
| State or territory | Who licenses builders |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | NSW Fair Trading, with licence checks available online through Service NSW |
| Victoria | The state building regulator, formerly the Victorian Building Authority and now operating as the Building and Plumbing Commission |
| Queensland | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) |
| Western Australia | Building and Energy, a division of the state government |
| South Australia | Consumer and Business Services |
| Tasmania | Consumer, Building and Occupational Services |
| ACT | Access Canberra |
| Northern Territory | Building Practitioners Board |
Agency names and structures change after reorganisations, so search for the current regulator if a link or name no longer works. In Queensland, the QBCC’s online licence search covers builders and a wide range of trade contractors. In Western Australia, Building and Energy’s information for consumers explains which builders, plumbers, electricians and painters must be registered or licensed and how to search the registers.
What to look for when you search
Have the licence number in front of you. A legitimate business will put it on its quotes, vehicles and website, and in many states this is a legal requirement. Then check:
- The name matches. The licence should belong to the person or company you are contracting with, not a relative or a former employer.
- It is current. Expired, suspended or cancelled licences are listed as such.
- The class covers your job. A licence for one trade, such as fencing or carpentry, does not authorise general building work.
- Any conditions or disciplinary history. Some registers show past complaints, directions to rectify, or insurance claims.
Keep a screenshot or printout of what you found, dated, with your other paperwork. If something does not match, ask the contractor to explain before signing anything.
Licences alongside quotes and contracts
A licence check is one part of choosing a contractor, not the whole of it. It should sit alongside written quotes that you can compare like for like, a proper contract for larger jobs and, where required, the home warranty insurance certificate before any deposit is paid. Our guide to getting quotes from Australian tradies covers what a good quote should contain and how to compare them.
Questions readers ask
Does a handyman need a licence?
It depends on the state and the value and type of work. Minor maintenance may not need one, but anything structural, electrical, plumbing or above the state threshold generally does.
Can I check a licence from the UK before I arrive?
Yes. The state registers are public and online, so you can check a builder’s licence from anywhere.
Is membership of an industry association the same as a licence?
No. Associations offer training, contracts and advice to members, but they do not issue licences. Always check the state regulator’s register as well.