How to check a South Australian contractor licence

Use the SA Government licence-search guidance to check the contracting individual or company and the relevant work scope. Distinguish a CBS contractor licence from supervisor registration and specialist plumbing, gas fitting, or electrical authority.

This guide was reviewed against the linked official sources on 13 October 2026. It provides general information, not legal advice.

Step-by-step: match the holder and scope

1. Collect the licence number and legal name. Match the individual or company to the entity offering and contracting for the work. Follow up trading-name or entity differences.
2. Select the correct register category. A building work contractor licence, supervisor registration, and PGE authority serve different purposes. Check each relevant role.
3. Read the current official record. Review the permitted work and conditions, status, and any available restrictions or disciplinary information. Do not rely only on an expiry date.
4. Check the project separately. Confirm supervision, approvals, the contract, and applicable insurance. Keep the evidence and date of the check.

Contracting and supervision are different authorities

Consumer and Business Services (CBS) administers building work contractor licensing under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995. The official contractor licensing guidance covers individuals and businesses carrying out or organising building work as a business, with relevant exemptions. There is no general $5,000 licensing exemption in that guidance.

Building work supervisor registration concerns the supervision of work within the registered scope. Companies must nominate a registered supervisor; individual contractors need the applicable supervision arrangements too. A supervisor registration alone does not replace the contractor licence required to carry on the contracting business.

Review whether the licence authorises general or specified work and read its conditions. A broad building licence does not establish authority for every specialist activity.

Plumbing, gas fitting, and electrical checks

CBS issues occupation-specific licences and registrations under the Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995. Check the relevant PGE licensing guidance for contractor and worker roles. The Office of the Technical Regulator's technical safety role is separate from issuing these licences.

Match the specific work and any conditions to the person performing it and the business contracting for it. A building work contractor record alone is insufficient for a specialist electrical or plumbing decision.

Building indemnity insurance

Current SA building indemnity insurance guidance requires the contractor to arrange BII for domestic work that needs council approval and costs $20,000 or more. The threshold changed from $12,000 on 10 November 2025.

For qualifying work, the builder arranges the policy and provides the project certificate before work starts. Cover protects against specified losses when the builder dies, disappears, or becomes insolvent; exclusions, policy dates, limits, and claim deadlines matter. Confirm the certificate with the insurer and follow the official builder responsibilities. A licence or general insurance eligibility is not proof that your particular project is insured.

Expired records and building disputes

Follow up an expired, suspended, cancelled, or unclear record with CBS before relying on it as authority for the work. Unlicensed work where licensing is required can lead to enforcement; penalties depend on the offence and current law.

A licence problem does not determine every warranty, complaint, or insurance right. For an existing project, use the official consumer and complaint guidance and seek qualified advice before changing contractual payments or terminating work.

Using WorkClear within SA coverage limits

WorkClear's SA verification page leads to the existing account/search workflow for supported active CBS PGE and Builder/BLD records. Review Sources and Status first. Broader SA classes remain outside these active slices and should be checked directly with CBS.

Stored records and source refresh times do not prove an individual live check. A missing or unavailable result does not establish that a person is unlicensed. Use the contractor API for repeat checks while retaining manual review for unresolved holder, scope, or coverage questions.