Building licence FAQs

You must hold a building work contractor licence for any building work you carry out in South Australia — including work you do yourself and work you arrange for other licence holders to do.

Your licence will specify:

• The type of work you can contract for.
• Any height limitations on buildings you can work on.
• Any limits on the value of contracts you can enter into.
• Whether you are required to work in partnership with another person.

Yes. If you sub-contract for work from other licensed builders, you must hold a building work contractor licence.

You do not need a licence if you are working as an employee rather than a contractor.

CBS can issue licences to individuals (sole traders and partnerships) and to corporate entities (companies). The right applicant depends on your business structure:

• Sole trader: the individual is the licence holder.
• Partnership: each partner must hold their own licence.
• Company: the company (e.g. Pty Ltd) is the licence holder.
• Trust: the trustee — whether an individual or a company — must be licensed.

If you plan to change your business structure, contact CBS before doing so as you may need to update or transfer your licence.

Yes. You must either hold a supervisor registration yourself or nominate another registered person to supervise your licence. The supervisor must properly oversee all building work carried out under your licence, and their registration must cover the same type of work you contract for.

Start by identifying which licence class suits your work (e.g. Building Work Contractor, Building Work Supervisor). Then:

1. Check the qualification and experience requirements for that class on the CBS website.
2. Gather evidence of your qualifications and on-site experience.
3. Submit your application through CBS.

MBASA's licensing advisory service can guide you through every step and review your application before submission.

Applications are lodged with CBS (Consumer and Business Services SA) via the CBS website. You'll need to submit your qualifications, evidence of experience, and the applicable fee. CBS will assess your application and may request additional information.

MBASA recommends having your application reviewed before lodging — a well-prepared application significantly reduces the risk of delays.

Qualification requirements vary by licence class. As a general guide:

• Building Work Contractor: typically a Certificate IV in Building and Construction (or higher), plus relevant industry experience.
• Building Work Supervisor: similar qualifications plus demonstrated supervisory experience.
• Trade-based licences: relevant trade qualification plus any additional units specified by CBS.

Always confirm current requirements on the CBS website or contact MBASA for advice specific to your situation.

You're not alone — CBS's licensing pathways can be complex. MBASA offers a one-on-one licensing advisory service to help you:

• Identify the right licence class for your goals.
• Understand exactly what evidence you need to gather.
• Avoid the most common reasons for application delays.

Contact MBASA's licensing team for a personalised consultation.

As a qualified carpenter you have a strong foundation. To move to a building work contractor licence you'll generally need to:

• Hold (or obtain via RPL) a Certificate IV in Building and Construction.
• Demonstrate on-site experience managing broader building work, not just carpentry tasks.
• Provide references or statutory declarations from licensed builders you've worked under.

Contact MBASA's licensing team for a personalised assessment of your current qualifications and experience.

Upgrading from a trade licence to a contractor or supervisor licence means applying to CBS with evidence that you meet the higher-class requirements. This typically means showing construction management experience that goes beyond your trade work. MBASA can help you structure your evidence to present your experience in the strongest possible way.

This applies to carpenters, concreters, electricians, bricklayers, cabinetmakers, fencers, painters, tilers, solid plasterers and others. CBS will want to see that your experience extends beyond your specific trade to broader building site management. Key steps:

• Assess whether your experience includes co-ordinating other trades, managing compliance, or overseeing the full build process.
• Seek RPL for any missing units in your Certificate IV.
• Compile a detailed log of your on-site experience (dates, project descriptions, scope of work).

Speak with MBASA's licensing advisors before lodging — a well-evidenced application makes a material difference.

On-site experience without formal qualifications can still count towards a supervisor's licence, but you'll need to document that experience through statutory declarations, project records, or references from licensed builders. You may also need to complete specific units of competency. MBASA's advisors can help you identify any gaps and the best pathway to fill them.

Once your qualifications are complete, confirm your experience log is in order and your referee details are ready, then lodge your application with CBS. MBASA recommends a pre-submission review — a complete, well-documented application is far less likely to be delayed.

You'll need to work under a licensed builder to accumulate on-site experience before applying for your own licence. Options include:

• Working as a subcontractor or employee under a licensed contractor.
• Completing an apprenticeship or traineeship in a relevant trade.
• Undertaking a Certificate IV in Building and Construction alongside hands-on work.

MBASA can connect you with industry contacts and training providers to help you get started.

CBS accepts several forms of evidence, including:

• Statutory declarations from licensed builders or supervisors you've worked under.
• Contracts, project records, or purchase orders showing your involvement.
• Council-approved plans or inspection certificates for projects you supervised.
• Tax records or invoices demonstrating your work history.

The more specific and detailed your evidence, the stronger your application. MBASA can help you compile and present your experience log effectively.

Start by compiling a chronological list of the projects you've worked on — dates, type of work, your specific role, and the name of the licensed contractor you worked under. Supporting documents such as payslips, tax returns, contracts, or council records will strengthen your case. If you no longer have records, a statutory declaration from a credible witness can sometimes substitute.

Licence details are publicly available on the CBS licence register — you don't need your former employer's co-operation to find their licence number. If you need a statutory declaration signed but they are unwilling, speak with MBASA — there may be alternative ways to document your experience for the application.

RPL is assessed by a registered training organisation (RTO). You'll typically need to provide a portfolio of evidence — work samples, photos, references, or a skills assessment — demonstrating you meet the competency standards. MBASA can refer you to RTOs experienced in assessing RPL for building industry qualifications.

Yes. If you hold a building licence in South Australia, your licence number begins with 'BLD'. You must display it on:

• Any contract for domestic building work.
• Any advertisements (including online).
• Required site signage if you are the principal contractor.

Under South Australian law, every domestic building work contract carries implied warranties. As the builder, you are warranting that:

• Work will follow trade standards and the agreed plans and specifications.
• Materials will be 'good and proper'.
• Work will comply with all legal requirements.
• Work will be performed with reasonable care.
• The completed house will be fit to live in.
• The building will be fit for its purpose (where you were made aware of that purpose).

Domestic building work means any building work on a house, including:

• Air-conditioning, electrical, gas fitting, plumbing.
• Excavating or site filling.
• Insulation, painting, solar panels.
• Works on a swimming pool or spa.

For domestic building work contracts valued at $20,000 or more (or for preliminary work contracts), you cannot request payment unless it is:

• Payment for third-party services (e.g. surveying).
• Reimbursement for building indemnity insurance you've already purchased.
• A progress payment for work already completed.
• A deposit of no more than 5% of the contract value.

Yes, if your domestic building work contract is valued at $20,000 or more and the work requires planning approval. When applying for planning approval, you must provide a copy of the insurance certificate to both the building owner and the local council.

Australia's mutual recognition legislation generally allows holders of an equivalent interstate licence to apply for registration in SA without re-sitting assessments. However, the process depends on whether your interstate licence class has a direct SA equivalent:

• If your licence maps directly to an SA class, you can apply for mutual recognition through CBS.
• If there's no direct equivalent, CBS will assess your qualifications and experience against SA requirements.

MBASA can help you determine which category applies and what to expect. Visit the CBS website for current details.