Under South Australian law, anyone who contracts for building and landscaping work covered by licencing requirements must hold a current building work contractors' licence. MLSA members ought to hold a licence if they conduct activities listed as 'specified' works within Consumer Business Services - Building Work Supervisor Standard Registration Conditions.

Whilst the process of getting a Builders licence in South Australia is managed and regulated by Consumer and Business Services, the MLSA is here to assist you in any way we can! 

Although the process of becoming licenced may seem daunting, MLSA provides advice and assistance. 

PRE-LICENCE INTERVIEW SERVICE

MLSA offers a pre-licence interview that helps people improve their knowledge, giving them a better chance to obtain a licence from Consumer Business Services (CBS). 

In the pre-licence interview, we ask questions based on the following topics:

• legislative requirements - indemnity insurance and CITB payments
• health and safety provisions - Work Health and Safety Act
• technical requirements specific to the licence you are applying for - building code standards inclusive of appropriate drainage and termite protection measures. 

If you want the best help to either get a licence or have your existing licence upgraded, be sure to sit with us for a pre-licence test.

A pre-licence interview is FREE for members; standard non-member fees are $240 per interview

There are serious repercussions for tradies working without a license, and there may be unscrupulous clients or third parties interested in leveraging the situation for their own gain. As such, you must make sure your licence is valid, up to date, and that you only operate within the bounds of your licence conditions.

DO YOU UNDERTAKE ANY OF THIS WORK? 

• Balustrades
• Bricks & Block Laying
• Cabinet Making
• Carpentry & Light Steel Framing
• Construction Waterproofing
• Civil Construction for Streetscapes & Carparks
• Decks
• Earthworks Construction
• External Blinds and Screens
• Fencing
• Fixing of Cladding
• Floor Finishing
• Formwork
• Paving
• Pergolas, verandahs & carports

• Pool Fencing
• Pre-cast concrete unit installation
• Rain water tank installation
• Retaining Walls
• Sheds & Garages (Class 10 structures)
• Shade Sails
• Timber and/or Metal Stairs and/or Balustrades
• Stone Masonry
• Stone Veneer Installation
• Stormwater Drainage Limited to 90mm
• Structural Steel Errection
• Swimming Pool Construction
• Undersetting
• Underpinning
• Wall & Floor Tiling (excluding wet areas)
• Water Features

THEN YOU NEED A LICENCE!

LANDSCAPE LICENCING SUPPORT

In South Australia, undertaking building work without a licence can result in:

• a fine of up to $50,000 for an individual and for a business up to $250,000; or
• 12 months in prison.

If you are not licenced, your client does not have to pay you for the work undertaken. So it is important that you make sure that your Licence is up to date.

LANDCAPE LICENCING INFORMATION

LICENSING

Under South Australian law, anyone who contracts for landscaping work such as paving, building retaining walls or installing water features must hold a current building work contractors' licence.

Sole traders typically apply for a contractor's licence and building work supervisor registration at the same time as both are required to contract work.

LICENSING TYPES

A Building Work Contractor – Specified Licence is required if undertaking projects such as; Retaining walls, Concrete Path Paving, Decks etc

EXPERIENCE

Demonstration of experience through the provision of a detailed work history. A minimum of 7 and up to 10 separate examples of work completed will be required.

An interview will also be required in determining your eligibility to be authorised the category of work applied for.

QUALIFICATIONS

Not Applicable

NATIONAL POLICE CHECK

Applicants must provide a copy of National Police Certificate, no older than 12 months from the date of submission.