QBCC, state builder licensing, contractor registration — what you legally need to operate in each Australian state.
Building contractor licensing in Australia is administered state by state. There is no single national licence. What you need depends on which state you work in, the value of the work, and whether you're doing structural work (which triggers more stringent licensing requirements than fit-out joinery).
In Queensland, joinery work that is part of a building project above $3,300 requires the contractor to hold an appropriate QBCC licence. Cabinetmakers and joiners working on fit-out joinery only (kitchens, wardrobes, built-ins) typically fall under the Joinery licence category. Check with QBCC directly for current requirements — thresholds and categories are updated periodically.
NSW requires a contractor licence from NSW Fair Trading for residential building work above $5,000 (including supply and install of fixed joinery like kitchens). The relevant licence category is Building and Construction (General). Sole traders and companies both need their own licence.
Victoria (VBA), South Australia and Western Australia each have their own licensing frameworks. In Victoria, domestic building work above $10,000 requires a Domestic Building Practitioner registration. Requirements for joinery specifically vary — check with the VBA directly. SA and WA have similar frameworks with different thresholds.
Free tools pre-set for Australian conditions — AUD, GST and AU labour rate defaults.
Open free tools →