Concreting Licensing & Regulations in Australia
Protect yourself by understanding concreter licensing requirements in every state and territory. Verify credentials, check insurance, and ensure your project complies with Australian building standards.
Why Concreter Licensing Matters
Working with licensed concreters protects your investment, ensures building standard compliance, and gives you legal recourse if problems arise.
✅ Benefits of Licensed Concreters
- Compliance with AS 3600 (Concrete Structures) and AS 2870 (Residential Slabs)
- Insurance coverage protecting you from liability
- Licensing demonstrates competency and experience
- Licensed work covered by building warranty schemes
- Complaints can be lodged with regulatory authorities
- Permits and inspections require licensed contractor details
❌ Risks of Unlicensed Concreters
- No insurance protection — you're liable for accidents
- No warranty coverage for defective work
- Building code violations affecting permits
- No recourse with building authorities
- Home insurance may not cover unlicensed work
- Resale problems — affects property value and sales
⚠️ Penalties for Unlicensed Work
- Homeowners can face fines for hiring unlicensed contractors
- NSW: Up to $22,000 individual / $110,000 company
- VIC: Up to $50,000+ individual
- QLD: Up to $45,000+ individual
When Licensing Is Required
Most states require licensing for concreting work above specific dollar values (including labour, materials, and GST).
| State / Territory | Licence Threshold | Licensing Authority |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | $5,000 | NSW Fair Trading |
| Victoria | $5,000 | Victorian Building Authority (VBA) |
| Queensland | $3,300 | QBCC |
| South Australia | Building work licence | Consumer & Business Services |
| Western Australia | $20,000 | Building & Energy |
| Tasmania | $5,000 | WorkSafe Tasmania |
| Northern Territory | $12,000 | Building Practitioners Board |
| ACT | $5,000 | Access Canberra |
💡 What Counts Toward the Threshold
- All labour costs + all materials (concrete, reinforcement, base materials)
- Equipment hire + site preparation + GST
- Example: Materials $1,500 + Reinforcement $500 + Labour $2,500 + Equipment $300 = $4,800 (licence required in most states)
State-by-State Licensing Details
Authority: NSW Fair Trading
Licence Types: Contractor Licence • Qualified Supervisor Certificate • Endorsed Contractor Licence
Qualifications: Certificate III in Concreting (CPC30320) or equivalent + 2 yrs experience + White Card
Insurance: HBCF (residential >$20K), Public Liability $20M, Workers Comp
Verify: fairtrading.nsw.gov.au → Check a Licence
Authority: Victorian Building Authority (VBA)
Registration: Building Practitioner - Concreting • Domestic Builder - Limited • Commercial Builder
Qualifications: Cert III Concreting + 3–5 yrs experience + White Card + police check
Insurance: DBI (contracts >$16K), Public Liability $10–20M, Professional Indemnity $1.5M+
Verify: vba.vic.gov.au → Check a Practitioner
Authority: QBCC
Licence Classes: Contractor (Cat 1–Open by turnover) • Nominee Supervisor • Site Supervisor
Qualifications: Cert III Concreting + business management unit + Minimum Financial Requirements
Insurance: Public Liability $10M, Contract Works (>$3,300), Professional Indemnity (if design)
Verify: qbcc.qld.gov.au → Licence Search
Authority: Consumer & Business Services (CBS)
Licence Types: Building Work Contractor Licence • Building Work Supervisor Registration
Qualifications: Cert III Concreting + 3–5 yrs experience + police clearance
Insurance: Public Liability $10M, Building Indemnity (residential), Workers Comp
Verify: cbs.sa.gov.au → Check a Licence
Authority: Building & Energy (Dept of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety)
Licence Types: Building Contractor Licence • Building Practitioner (Supervisor) Licence
Qualifications: Cert III Concreting or equivalent + relevant experience
Insurance: Building Indemnity (residential), Public Liability $10M+, Workers Comp
Verify: commerce.wa.gov.au → Building Services Public Register
Authority: WorkSafe Tasmania
Approach: Accreditation-based rather than licensing — demonstrate competency through qualifications & experience
Qualifications: Cert III Concreting preferred; experience-based assessment available
Verify: Contact WorkSafe Tasmania — 1300 366 322
Authority: Building Practitioners Board
Licence: Building Practitioner Licence - Concreting (flat structure, no financial categories)
Qualifications: Cert III Concreting + 2+ years experience
Verify: nt.gov.au → Building Practitioner Licensing
Authority: Access Canberra
Licence: Construction Occupation Licence — Concreting Class
Qualifications: Cert III Concreting + minimum experience + public liability insurance
Verify: accesscanberra.act.gov.au → Construction Occupations Register
Australian Standards for Concreting
Licensed concreters must comply with these mandatory standards for all work.
AS 3600:2018
Concrete Structures
Governs structural concrete design & construction: strength (20–100 MPa), reinforcement, cover requirements, durability, and quality control.
AS 2870:2011
Residential Slabs & Footings
House slab construction: site classification (A–E, P), footing design by soil reactivity, drainage, waterproofing, and construction specifications.
AS 1379:2007
Specification & Supply
Ready-mix concrete supply standards: ordering, delivery procedures, quality control, testing, and strength verification.
AS 1012 Series
Methods of Testing
Concrete testing procedures: strength testing protocols, workability (slump) testing, and quality assurance standards.
✅ Licensed Concreters Must
- Follow Australian Standards in all work
- Use specified concrete strengths (typically 25–32 MPa residential)
- Provide adequate reinforcement (type and coverage)
- Ensure proper curing procedures & conduct required testing (slump tests)
- Maintain records of materials and testing
How to Verify Your Concreter
Follow these steps before hiring any concreter to protect your investment.
Request Licence Details
Ask for their licence number, licence type/category, and expiry date. Legitimate concreters readily provide this information.
Check the Online Register
Use your state's online register to verify the licence is current, check for disciplinary history, and confirm the scope covers concreting.
Request Insurance Certificates
Ask for current public liability, building indemnity/warranty insurance, and workers compensation certificates (if they have employees).
Verify Insurance Directly
Contact the insurance company listed on each certificate. Confirm the policy is current, coverage amounts are adequate, and it covers your project type.
Check References & Review Contract
Request 3+ recent references, contact past clients, and view completed work. Ensure the contract includes full business details, scope, materials, timeline, and warranty terms.
Red Flags to Watch For
Cannot Provide Licence
Legitimate concreters readily provide licence details. Delays or excuses about licensing are major red flags.
Cash-Only Payments
Requesting cash without invoices avoids paper trails and tax obligations — a common sign of unlicensed operation.
No Written Contract
Verbal agreements only, vague scope of work, no detailed specifications — always insist on a written contract.
Unusually Low Quotes
Prices 30%+ below competitors may indicate cutting corners. Often from unlicensed operators with no insurance or warranty.
Large Deposit Pressure
Demanding 50%+ upfront is a red flag. Standard deposits are 10–20% — larger requests may signal intent to take money and disappear.
No Insurance or ABN
Cannot provide current insurance certificates, no ABN or business registration, and uncontactable after hours.
If You've Hired an Unlicensed Concreter
⚠️ Immediate Actions
- Stop work immediately — do not allow work to continue
- Do not make further payments
- Document everything (photos, correspondence, contracts, dates)
- Seek legal advice from a building law specialist
- Contact your state's regulatory authority and lodge a formal complaint
| State | Authority | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Fair Trading | 13 32 20 |
| VIC | Victorian Building Authority | 1300 815 127 |
| QLD | QBCC | 139 333 |
| SA | Consumer & Business Services | 131 882 |
| WA | Building & Energy | 1300 489 099 |
| TAS | WorkSafe Tasmania | 1300 366 322 |
| NT | Building Practitioners Board | (08) 8999 5458 |
| ACT | Access Canberra | 13 22 81 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find Licensed Concreters
Connect with verified, licensed concreters in your state who meet all regulatory requirements and carry appropriate insurance.
Get Free Quotes →