New South Wales licensing
NSW Fair Trading is the regulator for builder and trade contractor licences in New South Wales. Dan knows the NSW system inside out.
Licences Dan obtains in NSW
- Individual contractor licence (general building work)
- Company contractor licence
- Trade contractor licences (carpentry, excavation, structural landscaping and more)
- Owner-builder permits
The NSW rules you need to know
In NSW, you need a contractor licence if the value of residential building work you contract, sub-contract or advertise for exceeds $5,000 (including labour and materials, GST included).
Your company must hold its own licence — your personal licence does not cover the company's activities. This catches many experienced builders off guard, with fines of up to $110,000 for non-compliance.
If your qualified supervisor leaves, you have 7 days to notify NSW Fair Trading and nominate a replacement. Missing this window puts your licence at risk.