Operator Guide · Updated 18 May 2026
A plain-language reference for which trades need a licence in which Australian state, the dollar threshold that triggers it, the regulator that issues the ticket, and what to put on every invoice. Designed for sole traders and small contractor teams.
Section 1 — Building Licence Thresholds
General building / carpentry work is threshold-based — below the dollar amount in the table, a competent person can do the work; above it, a builder licence or registration is required. Specific occupational trades (plumbing, electrical, gas, refrigeration) are always licensed regardless of value.
| State | Regulator | Building threshold | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
NSW New South Wales | NSW Fair Trading | $5,000 (incl. labour & materials) | Home Building Act 1989. Licence required for residential building work over $5,000 — also for any plumbing, draining, gasfitting, or electrical work regardless of value. |
VIC Victoria | Victorian Building Authority (VBA) | $10,000 (domestic building work) | Domestic Building Contracts Act. Registered Building Practitioner required for domestic work over $10,000. Plumbing, gasfitting, and electrical licensed regardless of value via separate VBA/ESV registers. |
QLD Queensland | Queensland Building & Construction Commission (QBCC) | $3,300 (building work) | Strictest licensing regime in AU. Licence required for almost every trade above $3,300 — including painting, tiling, waterproofing, glazing. Owner-builder permits required for self-build over $11,000. |
SA South Australia | Consumer & Business Services (CBS) | $12,000 (building work contract) | Building Work Contractors Act 1995. Contractor licence required above $12,000. Plumbers, gasfitters, and electricians require separate technical occupational licences. |
WA Western Australia | Department of Mines, Industry Regulation & Safety (DMIRS) | $20,000 (residential building work) | Building Services (Registration) Act 2011. Builder registration required above $20,000. Painters, gas fitters, electricians, and plumbers have separate trade licences via EnergySafety and Plumbers Licensing Board. |
TAS Tasmania | Consumer, Building & Occupational Services (CBOS) | $20,000 (building work) | Occupational Licensing Act 2005. Builder occupational licence required for work over $20,000. Electrical and plumbing always licensed via TasCAT and Plumbers Licensing Board. |
ACT Australian Capital Territory | Access Canberra | $5,000 (residential building work) | Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004. Licence required above $5,000. Specific occupations (electrical, plumbing, drainage, gas) licensed regardless of value. |
NT Northern Territory | NT Building Practitioners Board | $12,000 (residential building work) | Building Act 1993. Registered building practitioner required above $12,000. Plumbing, gas, and electrical licensed via NT Plumbers & Drainers Licensing Board and NT WorkSafe. |
Thresholds are residential contract values inclusive of labour and materials (GST treatment varies by state). Commercial thresholds are typically lower — confirm with the regulator before quoting.
Section 2 — By Trade
Some trades are always licensed nationwide — there is no dollar threshold below which the work can be done unlicensed. Other trades follow the building thresholds in Section 1 or have no licensing requirement at all in most states.
Always licensed in every state and territory, regardless of value. Separate licences for installer, contractor, and Certificate of Compliance (CoC) signatories. Federal Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000) apply.
Always licensed nationwide. Most states issue distinct endorsements (water, sanitary, drainage, gasfitting, roofing-plumbing, mechanical-services). Gas work has additional state-level certification.
Federal Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) licence required for any work handling fluorinated refrigerants — separate from state-based trade qualifications.
Class A (friable) and Class B (non-friable) asbestos removal licences issued by state SafeWork regulators. Required for any commercial removal above 10m².
Threshold-based licensing — see state table above. Above the state's contract-value threshold, a builder licence or registration is required. Below the threshold, a competent person can perform the work.
QLD requires a QBCC painter licence above $3,300. SA requires contractor registration. NSW, VIC, WA, TAS, ACT, NT have no specific painter licence — but lead-paint removal is regulated separately.
QLD requires a tiler licence above $3,300. Other states have no specific tiler licence, but waterproofing tiled wet areas requires either a specific waterproofing licence (QLD, VIC) or a builder above threshold.
Generally unlicensed for residential garden work nationwide. Retaining walls over certain heights, paving over certain areas, and irrigation tied to mains water can trigger building or plumbing requirements.
Falls under building/carpentry thresholds in most states. Roof plumbing (gutters, flashings, downpipes) is plumbing-licensed work. QLD has a specific QBCC roofing licence above $3,300.
Section 3 — Invoice Requirements
State regulators are explicit about what licensed trade paperwork must show. Missing one of these can void the contract, your home warranty insurance, or both.
Every state requires the licence number on quotes, contracts, and invoices for licensed work — and on physical signage if you advertise. Misquoting your own number or using an expired one is a fineable offence.
Required nationally to issue a tax invoice. Missing-ABN invoices can trigger PAYG withholding at 47% by the client. Print on every quote and invoice — OneBookPlus does this automatically.
Once your turnover hits the $75,000 GST threshold, you must register and display GST on invoices. Itemise GST as a separate line — bundling it into the total breaches the GST Act.
For residential building work above the state HWI threshold (typically $20,000), the HWI certificate must be issued before the client pays a deposit. Provide a copy with the contract.
Most state Home Building Acts require a 5-business-day cooling-off period for residential contracts over a threshold (NSW $20,000, VIC $5,000, QLD any signed contract). The statement must be on the contract — not in a separate document.
State legislation sets statutory warranties (typically 6 years structural, 2 years non-structural). You can't shorten them, but you should reference them on the contract so the homeowner knows what's covered.
If your QLD quote lands at $3,250, you're a $50 variation away from needing a QBCC licence. Build a margin buffer when quoting close to a state threshold — and never split a single job into two contracts to dodge licensing. State regulators explicitly call this out as evasion.
Plumbing and electrical CPD requirements (varying 10–20 hours per renewal cycle) are tracked by the state regulator. Missing CPD points at renewal forces requalification or worse — practical assessments. Log CPD attendance as you complete each course; don't scramble at renewal.
Crossing the border for a job doesn't auto-extend your licence. The Mutual Recognition Act gives you the right to apply for a corresponding licence — but you still pay the fee and supply documents to the destination state regulator before you can quote work there.
Hiring an unlicensed subbie for licensed work is a head-contractor offence in every state. Sight the licence and verify it on the regulator's public register before each job — most state portals (QBCC, VBA, NSW Fair Trading) have free licence-lookup tools.
It depends on the state and the type of work. Cosmetic work (changing a tap washer, replacing a light bulb) is unlicensed everywhere. Anything connected to mains plumbing, gas, or electrical needs a licensed tradesperson nationwide. General building work is threshold-based — QLD starts at $3,300, WA at $20,000.
Mutual Recognition Act 1992 allows you to apply for a corresponding licence in another state if you hold a valid licence in your home state — but you still need to apply and pay the second state's fee. Some occupations (electricians, plumbers) have closer national alignment than others.
Your trade licence number, your ABN, and a clear description of the work. Several states (QLD, NSW, VIC) require the licence number on the invoice and on any contract over the licensing threshold. Failing to display the licence number can void the contract and your home warranty insurance.
Most states require licensed builders to take out home warranty insurance (NSW HBCF, VIC Domestic Building Insurance, QLD Home Warranty Scheme) before starting residential work over a state-specific threshold (typically $20,000). It covers the homeowner if the builder dies, disappears, or becomes insolvent.
Most are 1-year or 3-year cycles with continuing professional development (CPD) requirements. Plumbing and electrical CPD hours are tracked by the state regulator. Missing CPD or renewal deadlines can require re-examination.
Penalties vary by state — QLD can fine an unlicensed builder up to $130,000+ per offence. Beyond fines, an unlicensed contract is generally unenforceable (you can't sue for unpaid work), and home warranty insurance doesn't apply.
OneBookPlus prints your ABN, trade licence number, and GST registration on every document — built for Australian tradies.
Last reviewed and updated: by Bishal Shrestha