How to check a builder's licence in every Australian state

NSW builders and tradespeople are checked on Verify NSW, Victoria's on the Building and Plumbing Commission's practitioner search, and Queensland's on the QBCC Licensee Register — and every other state and territory runs its own equivalent. Before you sign a contract or pay a deposit anywhere in Australia, the regulator's public register is the only reliable way to confirm a builder or tradesperson is currently licensed for the work you need done.

Each register is run by a different state or territory body, uses different licence classes, and in most cases only applies once building work passes a dollar threshold. Below is the register for all eight jurisdictions, what each one shows, and the value above which a licence becomes mandatory where that threshold is published on the regulator's own site.

Where do I check a builder's licence in NSW?

Search Verify NSW, the NSW Government's public register covering contractor and tradesperson licences, design and building practitioner registrations, and Home Building Compensation (HBC) cover. Search by licensee name, licence number, ABN, ACN or location. The result shows licence status, class, expiry and any conditions.

In NSW, you need a contractor licence to carry out, advertise or contract for residential building or trade work valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials, including GST. Doing unlicensed work above that threshold carries fines of up to $22,000 for an individual or $110,000 for a company under the Home Building Act 1989.

Where do I check a builder's licence in Victoria?

Victoria's building regulator, the Building and Plumbing Commission (formerly the Victorian Building Authority), runs Find and check a practitioner. Search by practitioner name, business name, registration number, location or type of work to confirm registration status and any conditions or limits. A separate Prosecution and Disciplinary Register lets you check whether a builder, plumber or company has faced disciplinary action.

Domestic building work worth more than $10,000, including labour, materials and GST, must be carried out by a registered building practitioner. Using an unregistered builder above that value means the work won't be covered by domestic building insurance.

Where do I check a builder's licence in Queensland?

Queensland's regulator is the Queensland Building and Construction Commission. Use the QBCC Licensee Register if you have a name or licence number, which returns a complete licence history, or the Find a local contractor tool to browse licensed contractors by trade and location.

A QBCC licence is required for building work valued at $3,300 or more, and subcontractors on a job must hold the appropriate licence at that same threshold. Plumbing, drainage, gas fitting and fire protection work needs a QBCC licence regardless of value, and electrical work needs a separate Electrical Safety Office licence.

Where do I check a builder's licence in WA?

Western Australia's Building and Energy division of the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety maintains the Building and Energy licence and registration search, covering registers of builders, building surveyors, painters and building engineers, updated daily.

Under the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011, a registered building contractor is required for building work that needs a building permit and is valued at $20,000 or more (or $50,000 or more for a Class 10a structure such as a private garage, shed or carport).

Where do I check a builder's licence in SA, TAS, ACT and NT?

• South Australia: Consumer and Business Services runs Find a licence holder, covering builders, plumbers, electricians, gas fitters and other trades. Search by name or licence number to confirm a licence is current.
• Tasmania: Consumer, Building and Occupational Services runs Find a licensed tradesperson, searchable by category including builder, electrician, plumber and building surveyor. The register only shows current licence holders.
• ACT: Access Canberra publishes public registers including a List of builders, list of certifiers and other construction occupations. Under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004, anyone providing a construction service in the ACT, including an owner-builder, needs a licence for the work.
• Northern Territory: The Building Practitioners Board runs the Public Register of Building Practitioners. Search by category, registration number, name or suburb, and check the status filter (active, cancelled, suspended, expired or inactive). Residential building contractor registration is required once the value of the work reaches $25,000.

Building licence registers and thresholds at a glance

State/territory	Register	Regulator	Licence threshold
NSW	Verify NSW	NSW Fair Trading / Building Commission NSW	$5,000
VIC	BPC practitioner search	Building and Plumbing Commission	$10,000
QLD	QBCC Licensee Register	Queensland Building and Construction Commission	$3,300
WA	Building and Energy search	Building and Energy (DEMIRS)	$20,000 ($50,000 for Class 10a)
SA	Find a licence holder	Consumer and Business Services	Not published on the regulator's site
TAS	Find a licensed tradesperson	Consumer, Building and Occupational Services	Not published on the regulator's site
ACT	Public registers	Access Canberra	No general dollar threshold; a licence applies from $0
NT	Public Register of Building Practitioners	Building Practitioners Board	$25,000 (residential building contractor)

As at 2026, most states apply a threshold below which minor building work can be done unlicensed, but every state licenses specialist trades such as plumbing and gas fitting regardless of value. If a threshold isn't listed for your state above, check with the regulator directly rather than assume the work is exempt.

What does a licence register actually tell you?

Every register above confirms whether a licence or registration is current, what class or category it covers, and any conditions attached to it. Most also flag suspensions, cancellations or expired status, so a name not appearing at all is a stronger warning sign than a name appearing with an old expiry date.

A licence check does not replace due diligence. It won't tell you about a builder's workmanship, communication style or whether they're a good fit for your project. Combine the register check with references, a written contract, and — where the state requires it — proof of home warranty or building insurance before work starts. See our guide on how to choose a home builder for the fuller due-diligence process.

Why checking the register matters before you sign

Unlicensed building work strips away your legal protections. If a builder isn't licensed for the work, home warranty insurance generally won't cover it, and your options if something goes wrong shrink to civil action rather than a regulator-backed complaints process. A five-minute search against the correct state register, before any deposit changes hands, is the cheapest insurance available.

This applies whether you're hiring for a new build, a renovation, or general trade services work like a bathroom retile or a deck. If you're comparing quotes from multiple home builders, verify every one of them on the relevant state register before you shortlist, not just the one you're leaning toward.

Frequently asked questions

Is an ABN the same as a builder's licence?

No. An ABN only registers a business for tax. A builder's licence or registration is issued by the state or territory regulator and confirms qualifications, experience and insurance eligibility for building work.

What if I can't find a builder on the register?

If a name or licence number doesn't return a match, treat it as a red flag. Call the regulator directly (numbers are listed on each register) before signing a contract or paying a deposit.

Does a current licence guarantee good work?

No. A licence confirms qualifications, experience and insurance eligibility, not workmanship on a specific job. Combine a licence check with references, a written contract and, where required, home warranty insurance.

Do I need to check a licence for small jobs?

Below each state's dollar threshold, general building work is often unregulated, but specialist trades such as plumbing, gas fitting and electrical work usually need a licence regardless of job value. Check the relevant register if in doubt.

Can I check a builder's disciplinary history, not just their licence status?

In several states, yes. Victoria's Building and Plumbing Commission and Queensland's QBCC both publish separate disciplinary or prosecution registers alongside the main licence search.