Required certification · Australia
Consumer and Business Services (CBS, South Australia)
South Australia's licensing body for building work contractors and for plumbing, gas fitting and electrical contractors and workers
Market position
Consumer and Business Services (CBS) is the South Australian government agency that issues building work contractor's licences and building work supervisor registrations, plumbing, gas fitting and electrical (PGE) contractor licences, and PGE worker registrations. The contractor licence covers taking on the work, and the people who carry out PGE work must be registered workers. Technical safety sign-off sits with the separate Office of the Technical Regulator in the Department for Energy and Mining.
Australia-specific note
SA licences are issued under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (with the Building Work Contractors Regulations 2026) and the Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995 (with its 2025 Regulations). Electricians and gas fitters must give the customer an electronic certificate of compliance within 30 days of finishing the work, a requirement run by the Office of the Technical Regulator. Interstate and overseas licence holders have a separate recognition pathway.
Pros
- + One agency for building contractor licences and PGE contractor licences and worker registrations in SA
- + Online applications and online licence renewals
- + Individuals applying for a building contractor licence can register as a building work supervisor on the same application
- + PGE worker registration runs for 3 years
Cons
- − Building and PGE contractor licences run for 1 year, so renewal is yearly
- − Electrical and gas compliance certificates are handled by a second body, the Office of the Technical Regulator
- − PGE contractors need registered workers to carry out the contracted work
- − An electronic certificate of compliance is due to the customer within 30 days of each electrical or gas job
Typical Australia pricing
Official fees are set by the SA Government and published on sa.gov.au; building work contractor and PGE contractor licences are issued for 1 year, and PGE worker registration for 3 years.
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 Consumer and Business Services (CBS, South Australia) a good fit for Australia trades?
Consumer and Business Services (CBS) is the South Australian government agency that issues building work contractor's licences and building work supervisor registrations, plumbing, gas fitting and electrical (PGE) contractor licences, and PGE worker registrations. The contractor licence covers taking on the work, and the people who carry out PGE work must be registered workers. Technical safety sign-off sits with the separate Office of the Technical Regulator in the Department for Energy and Mining. SA licences are issued under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (with the Building Work Contractors Regulations 2026) and the Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995 (with its 2025 Regulations). Electricians and gas fitters must give the customer an electronic certificate of compliance within 30 days of finishing the work, a requirement run by the Office of the Technical Regulator. Interstate and overseas licence holders have a separate recognition pathway.
What does Consumer and Business Services (CBS, South Australia) cost in Australia?
Official fees are set by the SA Government and published on sa.gov.au; building work contractor and PGE contractor licences are issued for 1 year, and PGE worker registration for 3 years. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current Australia pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Other Australia vendors
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Building and Energy (WA)
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Hipages
Lead generation