How to check a Queensland QBCC contractor licence

Use the free QBCC licence check to match the contracting individual or company, current licence status, work classes, and conditions to your project. Check home warranty insurance separately. The guidance below was reviewed against the linked official sources on 13 October 2026 and provides general information, not legal advice.

Queensland building and trade contractor licensing is administered by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). Whether you're a homeowner hiring a builder for renovations, a project manager onboarding subcontractors, or a platform verifying trade credentials, checking that a contractor's licence matches the work and the contracting entity is an important part of due diligence.

Under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991, it is an offence for a person to carry out building work without the appropriate licence where licensing is required. QBCC's licensing guidance explains the value thresholds, occupational requirements, and exemptions. Checking a licence is one part of due diligence; also confirm the scope of work, contract, and applicable insurance.

Step-by-Step: How to Check a QBCC Licence

What to Look for in the Results

When you receive licence search results, pay attention to several key fields:

• Licence status: Confirm the status on the official register, including suspensions, cancellations, and restrictions. A stored status or future expiry date alone is not current-status proof.
• Licence classes: QBCC licences are issued for specific categories and classes of work. Ensure the contractor's permitted scope matches the building class, size, construction type, and specific trade work. A builder's class does not automatically authorise occupational plumbing, gas, or electrical work.
• Renewal and expiry: Renewal arrangements vary by licence type. QBCC's renewal guidance explains suspension after non-payment and the applicable renewal or restoration process. Confirm the actual status with QBCC.
• Conditions and financial scope: Read restrictions and supervision requirements. Maximum revenue concerns the licensee's allowable annual turnover; it is not a simple maximum value for each project.
• Demerit points and sanctions: The QBCC records disciplinary actions. A contractor with a history of compliance orders may warrant extra scrutiny.

Queensland's Licensing Framework

Governing legislation

Contractor licensing in Queensland is governed by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (the QBCC Act) and the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 addresses payment protections. Licensing, occupational work, project insurance, contracts, and dispute procedures have separate requirements. Use QBCC's linked guidance to assess the relevant requirements rather than treating a licence check as a complete compliance decision.

The licensing body: QBCC

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission is a statutory authority responsible for regulating the building and construction industry in Queensland. It issues and manages contractor licences, investigates complaints, enforces building standards, and administers the Home Warranty Scheme. The QBCC maintains the public register of all licensed contractors, which is the source of truth for licence verification.

Unlicensed work and dispute options

It is an offence under the QBCC Act for a person to carry out, or advertise to carry out, building work without the appropriate licence where required. Penalties depend on the offence and circumstances; consult QBCC's current fines guidance rather than relying on a fixed dollar estimate. Do not assume a licensing problem removes every complaint, warranty, or insurance option. QBCC's building issues and disputes guidance explains when it may assist and how to report incorrectly licensed work. Eligibility, policy terms, and deadlines depend on the facts.

Insurance requirements

Queensland's Home Warranty Scheme covers eligible residential construction work, subject to exclusions, claim limits, and time limits. Holding a QBCC licence alone does not establish that a particular project is insured. For insurable residential construction work over $3,300 (including materials, labour, and GST), the principal contractor must take out cover on the homeowner's behalf, collect the premium from the owner, and pay it to QBCC.

The premium is due before work starts or within 10 business days of signing the contract, whichever is earlier. Check QBCC's home warranty obligations for the project scope, exclusions, and who must pay.

Work classes and licence types are different

A work class describes the building or trade scope. A licence type describes how the holder may operate. Read the full scope and exclusions in QBCC's available licence classes. The following examples are an orientation, not a substitute for the project-specific scope check.

QBCC offers contractor, nominee supervisor, site supervisor, and occupational licence types. A contractor licence permits the licensed individual or company to contract within its approved scope. Nominee and site supervisor licences support supervision roles and do not, by themselves, authorise contracting. Occupational licences apply to specified work performed by individuals. See QBCC's licence-type guidance.

A licensed company must appoint an appropriately licensed nominee to supervise its work. A partnership cannot hold a QBCC licence itself; the partner contracting for the work must be licensed. Match the licence holder to the entity named in the quote and contract using QBCC's company, partnership, and trust requirements.

Electrical licences are separate from QBCC

Queensland electrical work is regulated by the Electrical Safety Office, not licensed as a QBCC electrical trade class. Businesses carrying out electrical work for others need an electrical contractor licence; the person performing the work needs the appropriate electrical work licence. An electrician undertaking separate building work may also need a relevant QBCC licence.

Review the official electrical licensing guidance and register links for those checks. WorkClear does not currently support public Queensland electrical verification. QBCC coverage does not include electrical licences; check WorkClear's supported source coverage before using the API.

Why Licence Verification Matters in Queensland

A useful check establishes who is contracting, what work they may undertake or supervise, and which limitations need follow-up. Keep the official check and project insurance evidence with your contract records. Repeat the check when you engage a new contracting entity or a relevant licence or project detail changes.

Use the official QBCC register to confirm the licence holder, current status, classes, and conditions before engaging a contractor. Check home warranty cover separately for eligible work, and keep the evidence with your contract records.