Required certification · Australia
QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction Commission)
Queensland's building regulator: contractor and plumbing licences, home warranty insurance and building disputes
Market position
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licenses building contractors, supervisors and occupational plumbers and drainers, runs the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme and helps resolve payment and building-work disputes. A QBCC licence is needed for building work valued over $3,300, and for plumbing and drainage, gas fitting, fire protection and some other work at any value. Electrical work is licensed separately by the Electrical Safety Office.
Australia-specific note
Queensland does not take part in Automatic Mutual Recognition, so a licence from another state does not automatically cover work in Queensland. QBCC can audit work, direct contractors to fix defects, apply demerit points and prosecute unlicensed work.
Pros
- + Online licensee register shows a contractor's licence history
- + Statutory home warranty scheme covers defective residential building work
- + Adjudication and mediation for payment and building-work disputes
- + Plumbing and drainage licences available for 1 to 5 years
Cons
- − Queensland is outside Automatic Mutual Recognition, so interstate licences do not carry over
- − Electricians need a separate licence from the Electrical Safety Office
- − Contractor licence fees depend on turnover category and rise each 1 July
- − Demerit points and prosecutions apply for non-compliance
Typical Australia pricing
Official QBCC fees. Occupational plumber or drainer licence (fees increased 1 July 2026): $248.75 for 1 year to $602.99 for 5 years, including the $80.90 annual administration fee. Contractor licences are priced by turnover category: QBCC's contractor fee page (last published 1 July 2025) lists a new individual SC1 licence (turnover up to $200,000, not available to builders) at $773.89, with higher categories costing more.
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 QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction Commission) a good fit for Australia trades?
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licenses building contractors, supervisors and occupational plumbers and drainers, runs the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme and helps resolve payment and building-work disputes. A QBCC licence is needed for building work valued over $3,300, and for plumbing and drainage, gas fitting, fire protection and some other work at any value. Electrical work is licensed separately by the Electrical Safety Office. Queensland does not take part in Automatic Mutual Recognition, so a licence from another state does not automatically cover work in Queensland. QBCC can audit work, direct contractors to fix defects, apply demerit points and prosecute unlicensed work.
What does QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction Commission) cost in Australia?
Official QBCC fees. Occupational plumber or drainer licence (fees increased 1 July 2026): $248.75 for 1 year to $602.99 for 5 years, including the $80.90 annual administration fee. Contractor licences are priced by turnover category: QBCC's contractor fee page (last published 1 July 2025) lists a new individual SC1 licence (turnover up to $200,000, not available to builders) at $773.89, with higher categories costing more. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current Australia pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Other Australia vendors
Building Commission NSW (formerly NSW Fair Trading licensing)
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