SA.GOV.AU - Building work contractor's licence

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} @media (min-width: 768px) { .toc_rellink_wrapper.toc-desktop { display: block; } } /* related links / TOC component - mobile only */ @media (min-width: 768px) { .toc_rellink_wrapper.toc-mobile { display: none; } } </style><div class="highlight_box_wrapper"> <div class="highlight_box"> <h2>Apply for a licence</h2><p>To complete your registration or licence application you'll need meet certain requirements and supply supporting documents - <a href="#whatyouneed">what you'll need</a>.</p><p>After filling out the form you'll need to print and sign it, then scan and upload it (if you can't do this phone <a href="tel:131-882"> 131 882 </a>to discuss your options with CBS staff).</p><p><a title="Fees" class="content-drawer__link" href="https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/business-and-trade/licensing/building-and-trades/building-work-contractor-s-licence/fees">Application fees</a></p> </div> <div class="cta_button_wrapper"> <a class="primary_btn" href="https://secure.cbs.sa.gov.au/ELAF/BLD/start_BLD.php" title=""><span class="sr-only">Building contractor licence.</span> Start now</a> </div> </div> <div id="new_content_container_493428_493428"> <h2 class="accordion" id="whoshouldapply">Who should apply</h2><div><p>Individuals and businesses must be licensed as building contractors, including subcontractors if they run a business that carries out or organises building work:</p><ul><li>for others</li><li>to sell or let land or buildings.</li></ul><p>Sole traders normally apply for a contractor's licence and building work supervisor registration at the same time as both are required to contract work.</p><h3>Exemptions</h3><p>Business partners who don’t organise or do the work no longer need to hold a contractor’s licence and can apply for an exemption - eg administrative partner.</p><p><a href="https://forms.sa.gov.au/#/form/5912a938ad9c5a371c10d415">Apply for an exemption</a> - new applicants</p><p><a href="https://forms.sa.gov.au/#/form/58193da1088f956f3004de65">Surrender your licence</a> - for partners who already hold a licence and would like to apply for an exemption.</p></div><h2 class="accordion" id="whatyouneed">What you'll need</h2><div><h3>Finances</h3><p>People who do 'specified building work' - eg bricklayers, carpenters - need to have at least $10,000 in net assets to apply for a contractor's licence. If you don’t have enough in net assets, you can apply for a restricted licence as a subcontractor.</p><p>Builders who work in 'major residential construction' must attach a certificate of eligibility for building indemnity insurance to the application.</p><p>Industrial, commercial and civil builders must declare on the application form that they have the financial resources needed to carry on this type of business.</p><h3>Knowledge and experience</h3><p>Check you have the right knowledge and experience to apply for a building contractor's licence.</p><p><a href="https://cbs.sa.gov.au/documents/business_criteria_contractors_companies_individuals_-_factsheet.pdf">Business criteria for contractors (205KB PDF)</a></p><p><a href="https://cbs.sa.gov.au/documents/working_as_a_builder_in_sa.pdf" target="_blank">Interstate builders working in SA (128.99 KB PDF)</a></p><h3>Police clearance</h3><p>Include with your application a copy of your National Police Certificate (NPC) no more than 12 months old.</p><p><a href="https://www.police.sa.gov.au/services-and-events/apply-for-a-police-record-check">Apply for an NPC</a> - SA Police</p><a href="https://www.acic.gov.au/our-services/national-police-checking-service/find-out-more-information/accredited-bodies">National police checking service</a> - Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission <p>You don't need an NPC if you:</p><ul><li>are the director of a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange</li><li>have lodged an NPC with CBS within the last year</li><li>are an overseas resident and have never lived in Australia</li><li>have held a licence within the last year and are applying for an equivalent licence</li><li>have already supplied an NPC for a different licence issued under the same Act.</li></ul></div><h2 class="accordion">What happens next</h2><div><p>You'll need to have your photo taken for your registration and undergo an ID check before being issued with a <a href="https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/business-and-trade/licensing/building-and-trades/security-id-cards">licence card</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.cbs.sa.gov.au/sections/Licences/occupational-licensing">Estimated processing times</a></p><p>If you're an interstate applicant, and not applying through mutual recognition, you'll need to provide evidence that you intend to do contract building work in South Australia.</p></div><h2 class="accordion">Supervision of building work</h2><div><p>All building work must be supervised by a registered building work supervisor.</p><p>Suggested best practice principles for supervision of building work are outlined in <a href="https://www.cbs.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/910312/Building-Work-Supervisors-Supervision-Guidance-.pdf">supervision guidance (PDF 158KB)</a>.</p><p>Companies will need to nominate a building work supervisor when applying for a contractor licence.</p><p>Individuals who apply for a contractor licence can also register as a supervisor on the same application. If an individual is only contracting out building work, a supervisor must be nominated.</p><p><a href="https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/business-and-trade/licensing/building-and-trades/building-work-supervisor-s-registration">Building work supervisor’s registration</a></p></div> </div> <div id="content_container_591337"> <h3 class="accordion" >Changes that affect your registration or licence</h3> <div><p>You must notify CBS within 14 days:</p><ul><li>if you have committed an offence</li><li>if the business has gone bankrupt</li><li><a href="https://secure.cbs.sa.gov.au/OLR/add_director_supervisor.php" target="_blank">when you change or add a nominated supervisor</a></li><li><a href="https://secure.cbs.sa.gov.au/OLR/change_address.php">if you change your address</a> - you can also update your address when you renew your licence</li><li><a href="https://forms.sa.gov.au/#/form/58193da1088f956f3004de65">to surrender your occupational licence</a> - you'll no longer be able to work under this licence</li><li><a href="https://forms.sa.gov.au/#/form/581bbf48088f9d7d482da59a" target="_blank">if you have lost or damaged cards or certificates</a></li><li><a href="https://secure.cbs.sa.gov.au/OLR/add_director_supervisor.php" target="_blank">when you change directors in your company</a>.</li></ul></div> </div> <div id="new_content_container_482662_482662"> <div id="content_container_586137"> <h2 class="accordion">Digital licences</h2><div><p>You can download your licence or registration to an Apple or Android smartphone or tablet using the <a href="https://www.sa.gov.au/mysagov/account#app">mySAGOV app</a>.</p><p>Once registered in the app, press the '+' button in the top right corner, select your 'occupational licence' type, then enter the licence/registration number requested along with your client ID.</p><p>Your client ID can be found in the <a href="https://secure.cbs.sa.gov.au/OLR/retrieve_client_id.php">Consumer and Business Services licence register</a>.</p><p>Hard copy licences will still be issued and it's a good idea to carry these with you until digital licences become widely accepted.</p></div> </div> </div> <span id="new_content_container_300286_300286"> <div id="content_container_459988"> <h2>Contact CBS licensing</h2><p><strong>Email</strong>: <a href="mailto:occupational@sa.gov.au">occupational@sa.gov.au</a></p><p><strong>Phone</strong>: <a href="tel:131-882">131 882</a> and press 4</p> </div> </span> </div> <div class="page_contents"><form id="form_email_2496" enctype="multipart/form-data" action="https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/business-and-trade/licensing/building-and-trades/building-work-contractor-s-licence" method="post" ><input type="hidden" name="SQ_FORM_2496_PAGE" value="1" class="sq-form-field" id="SQ_FORM_2496_PAGE" /><input type="hidden" name="form_email_2496_referral_url" value="" /> <style type="text/css"> .recaptcha__container { margin-bottom: 1rem; 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SA.GOV.AU - Building work contractor's licence