Categories and classes of building and trade work

Learn about which categories or classes of licence, certificate or registration you may need for the type of work you want to do.

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Residential building work

You must have a contractor licence to carry out, advertise or contract for residential building work in NSW that is valued at more than $5000 in labour and materials (including GST). A general builder can do any work that is residential building work.

General building work

Other building work

You must have a contractor licence to carry out, advertise or contract for other residential building work in NSW that is valued at more than $5000 in labour and materials (incl GST). This includes work involved in:

Specialist work

You need a licence or certificate to carry out, advertise or contract for specialist work in NSW regardless of the cost of the work or whether the work is residential, commercial or industrial, including any associated electrical wiring that would otherwise be done by an electrician. Specialist work includes:

Trade work

You must have a contractor licence to carry out, advertise or contract for residential building work in NSW, including general trade work, that is valued at more than $5000 in labour and materials (including GST).

Working on class 2, 3 and 9c buildings

Learn more about registering as a design and building practitioner to work on class 2, 3 and 9c buildings.

Trading as a company or partnership

Learn more about company and partnership licences.