How to check a builder's QBCC licence in Queensland before you sign

To check a builder’s QBCC licence in Queensland, search the free online licensee register run by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) by the builder’s name, company name, ABN, or licence number. It takes two minutes and it tells you whether they’re licensed for the work you need, whether the licence is current, and whether it carries any suspensions, cancellations, or conditions — all of which are worth knowing before you sign a contract or pay a deposit.

Why the QBCC licence check matters

In Queensland, most residential building work valued over $3,300 must be carried out by a contractor who holds the correct QBCC licence, under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991. Licensing exists to make sure builders are competent, financially sound, and accountable — and it’s tied directly to your protection.

The most important reason to check is the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme (QHWS). Insurable residential work over $3,300 must be covered by the scheme, and only a licensed contractor can pay the premium and trigger that cover. If you unknowingly hire an unlicensed builder, you can lose access to the warranty scheme that would otherwise help with incomplete or defective work if the builder fails to fix it, dies, disappears, or becomes insolvent. Hiring unlicensed doesn’t just risk poor work — it can strip away the safety net.

How to search the QBCC register

The QBCC provides a free public search of its licensee register:

1. Go to the QBCC website and open “Search a register” (also reachable via the “Find a licensed contractor” page).
2. Search by the builder’s name, company name, ABN, or QBCC licence number. Searching by licence number is the most precise; searching by name helps if you only have that.
3. Open the result and read the full licence record, not just the top line.

Because it’s the official source, the QBCC register is more reliable than a builder’s own website or a third-party directory. Always confirm against the QBCC record itself.

What to check in the results

A green “licensed” status is the start, not the end. Read the whole record:

• Licence status. Is it current and active — not expired, suspended, or cancelled?
• Licence class. A contractor may be licensed only for specific work. A builder needs the appropriate builder class (for example, a low-rise or open builder licence) for a new home. A tradesperson licensed only in a trade is not licensed to contract for a whole house.
• Conditions or restrictions. Any conditions on the licence can indicate past compliance, quality, or financial issues — worth asking about directly.
• History. Look for previous suspensions or cancellations. A licence that has been suspended before isn’t automatically disqualifying, but it’s a reason to ask more questions and check references.
• The name matches the contract. Make sure the licensed entity is the same company or person you’re actually contracting with. It’s common for the trading name, the contracting company, and the licence holder to differ — they should line up.

What the licence classes mean

QBCC licences are issued by class, and the class defines what work someone can lawfully contract for and supervise. For a new home you want a contractor holding a builder licence appropriate to the building type — not just a trade licence. If a “builder” only holds a carpentry or another single-trade licence, they generally can’t be the principal building contractor for your whole home. If you’re unsure which class applies to your project, the QBCC can confirm what’s required for the type of work.

Red flags when you check

Treat any of these as a reason to slow down:

• No licence found at all, or a licence in a different name to the one on your quote
• An expired, suspended, or cancelled licence
• A trade-only licence for work that needs a full builder licence
• Reluctance from the builder to give you their exact licensed name or number
• A request to pay a deposit or start work before a written, compliant contract is in place

An unlicensed operator asking for cash up front is the classic pattern that leaves homeowners with unfinished work and no warranty cover.

After the check — protect yourself for the whole build

Confirming the licence is step one. Protect yourself through the rest of the project:

• Keep a screenshot of the QBCC register result with your contract, dated.
• Get a compliant written contract with a clear schedule of progress payments before any work starts.
• Document the build. Photograph and date each construction stage and every issue so you have a record if something goes wrong.
• Know the complaint path. If a licensed builder won’t fix defects, the QBCC complaint process lets you lodge a formal complaint, and the QBCC can issue a direction to rectify.

What to do if you’ve already signed with an unlicensed builder

If you’ve checked the register after the fact and found a problem — no licence, the wrong class, or a name that doesn’t match — don’t panic, but act promptly:

• Confirm the facts. Search the register carefully by licence number and by name. Sometimes the licence is held by a related entity with a slightly different name; that may be fine if it’s the entity you contracted with.
• Stop further payments until you understand the position, and get advice before releasing more money.
• Contact the QBCC. The QBCC regulates licensing and can tell you whether the work required a licence and what your options are. Unlicensed contracting is an offence, and the QBCC can take action against the operator.
• Check your warranty position. Because Queensland Home Warranty Scheme cover depends on a licensed contractor, work done unlicensed may not be insured — the QBCC can confirm where you stand.
• Document everything. Keep the contract, quotes, receipts, messages, and dated photos of the work. If the matter escalates, that record is what you’ll rely on.

The earlier you find the problem, the more options you have — which is exactly why the two-minute check belongs before you sign, not after.

Key Takeaways

• Check any Queensland builder on the QBCC’s free “Search a register” by name, company, ABN, or licence number before you sign a contract or pay a deposit.
• Most residential work over $3,300 must be done by a licensed contractor under the QBCC Act 1991, and only a licensed contractor can trigger Queensland Home Warranty Scheme cover.
• Don’t stop at “licensed” — check the status, the licence class, any conditions or restrictions, past suspensions, and that the licensed name matches your contract.
• A new home needs a builder-class licence; a trade-only licence doesn’t allow someone to be the principal building contractor.
• Red flags include no licence, a name mismatch, a suspended or cancelled licence, a trade-only licence for whole-home work, and a request for cash before a written contract.
• Keep a dated screenshot of the register result with your contract, and document every stage of the build in case you need the QBCC complaint process later.