Required certification · Australia
Building Commission NSW (formerly NSW Fair Trading licensing)
NSW consumer protection regulator; building and trade licences are now issued by Building Commission NSW
Market position
NSW Fair Trading is the state's consumer protection regulator, and its old website now redirects to its page on nsw.gov.au. Building and trade licences in NSW, including general building, plumbing, draining and gasfitting, electrical and air conditioning and refrigeration, are issued by Building Commission NSW, while home building complaints go through Fair Trading forms. A contractor licence is needed to carry out, advertise or contract for building or trade work worth more than $5,000 in labour and materials (including GST), and plumbing, draining, gasfitting and electrical wiring work need a licence or certificate whatever the cost.
Australia-specific note
Under Automatic Mutual Recognition, in place in NSW since 1 July 2021, licence holders from participating states can work in NSW on their home-state licence, usually after a free notification to the NSW regulator; some occupations are excluded. Queensland does not take part, so Queensland and NSW workers cannot use it to work in each other's state. Unlicensed electrical wiring work can bring fines of up to $22,000 for individuals and $110,000 for companies.
Pros
- + Free online check of licences, certificates and registrations at verify.licence.nsw.gov.au
- + Licences run for 1, 3 or 5 years
- + Workers licensed in participating states can work in NSW after a free notification
- + Full fee schedule published for every licence type
Cons
- − Licences now come from Building Commission NSW, not Fair Trading, which can confuse applicants
- − Queensland is outside Automatic Mutual Recognition, so cross-border work with Queensland needs a licence in each state
- − The processing part of the fee is not refunded if an application is refused or withdrawn
- − Plumbing, gasfitting and electrical work need a licence at any job value
Typical Australia pricing
Official fees for July 2026 - June 2027 (Building Commission NSW), new individual applications for 1, 3 or 5 years: trade or specialist contractor licence $403, $803 or $1,235; building contractor licence $883, $1,654 or $2,890; tradesperson certificate $142, $190 or $329. Individual trade contractor renewals cost $299, $715 or $1,231. Company licences cost more. The processing part of each fee is not refunded if an application is refused or withdrawn.
Why this matters for Australia trades
Trade licensing is run by the states: Building Commission NSW issues NSW building and trade licences, QBCC licenses Queensland builders, plumbers and drainers (electrical work is licensed separately by the Electrical Safety Office), Victoria’s Building and Plumbing Commission registers and licenses plumbers, Building and Energy registers WA builders and licenses electricians, plumbers and gas fitters, and CBS licenses South Australian building and PGE contractors. Automatic Mutual Recognition lets licence holders from participating states work in NSW and, depending on the occupation, in WA, usually after notifying; Queensland does not take part. Employers report pay and super to the ATO through STP-enabled payroll software each payday, and from 1 July 2026 must pay the 12% super guarantee when they pay wages.
Australian trades vendor selection is shaped by state-based licensing, Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting to the ATO, super guarantee payments (due with each pay run under Payday Super from 1 July 2026), GST registration once turnover reaches $75,000 (per business.gov.au), and local lead services such as hipages, Localsearch and Yellow Pages.
Frequently asked
Is Building Commission NSW (formerly NSW Fair Trading licensing) a good fit for Australia trades?
NSW Fair Trading is the state's consumer protection regulator, and its old website now redirects to its page on nsw.gov.au. Building and trade licences in NSW, including general building, plumbing, draining and gasfitting, electrical and air conditioning and refrigeration, are issued by Building Commission NSW, while home building complaints go through Fair Trading forms. A contractor licence is needed to carry out, advertise or contract for building or trade work worth more than $5,000 in labour and materials (including GST), and plumbing, draining, gasfitting and electrical wiring work need a licence or certificate whatever the cost. Under Automatic Mutual Recognition, in place in NSW since 1 July 2021, licence holders from participating states can work in NSW on their home-state licence, usually after a free notification to the NSW regulator; some occupations are excluded. Queensland does not take part, so Queensland and NSW workers cannot use it to work in each other's state. Unlicensed electrical wiring work can bring fines of up to $22,000 for individuals and $110,000 for companies.
What does Building Commission NSW (formerly NSW Fair Trading licensing) cost in Australia?
Official fees for July 2026 - June 2027 (Building Commission NSW), new individual applications for 1, 3 or 5 years: trade or specialist contractor licence $403, $803 or $1,235; building contractor licence $883, $1,654 or $2,890; tradesperson certificate $142, $190 or $329. Individual trade contractor renewals cost $299, $715 or $1,231. Company licences cost more. The processing part of each fee is not refunded if an application is refused or withdrawn. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current Australia pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Other Australia vendors
QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction Commission)
Required certification
BPC (Building and Plumbing Commission, formerly VBA)
Required certification
Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
Required certification
Building and Energy (WA)
Required certification
Consumer and Business Services (CBS, South Australia)
Required certification
Hipages
Lead generation