How to check a builder or tradie licence in Victoria

Victoria splits licensing between a few bodies. The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) registers builders and licenses plumbers, Energy Safe Victoria licenses electricians, and a handful of other regulators cover pest control and security work. Every one of them runs a free public search, and each check takes a couple of minutes.

Checking a builder or plumber with the BPC

The BPC took over from the Victorian Building Authority in July 2025, so if you know the old “VBA practitioner search”, this is the same register under a new name.

1. Ask for the tradie’s full name and their registration or licence number. Registered builders and plumbers carry a photo ID card that lists the classes of work they can do, so ask to see it.
2. For builders, carpenters, roof tilers, concreters, fencers and structural landscapers, open Find a builder. For plumbers, gasfitters, roof plumbers and air-con installers, use Find a plumber.
3. Search by name, number or suburb. Fewer details bring back more results. A registration number needs a space between the class code and the digits, so type “DB-U 1234”, not “DBU1234”.
4. Read the result. Check the status is current, the category and class cover your job, and whether any conditions or limits apply. A Domestic Builder (Unlimited) can run a whole renovation. A Domestic Builder (Limited) is restricted to one type of work, such as carpentry or waterproofing.
5. Search the BPC’s Compliance and Enforcement Register for disciplinary action, prosecutions, suspensions or conditions.

Electricians, air-con, pest control and security

Electricians. Energy Safe Victoria’s public registers include a Licensed Electrical Worker Search and a register of Registered Electrical Contractors (RECs). The business quoting you should be a REC, and the person doing the work should hold an electrician’s licence (A grade for general wiring). After any electrical installation work, they must give you a Certificate of Electrical Safety.

Air-conditioning. Installing a split or ducted system counts as plumbing work in Victoria. Look for a BPC licence in refrigerated air-conditioning, mechanical services or the single head split system class, a current ARCtick card you can confirm on the ARC licence check, and an electrical licence for the wiring.

Pest control. The Department of Health’s pest control licence holder register shows the operator’s name and licence expiry. For termites, the licence needs the general authorisation that includes timber pests.

Locksmiths and alarms. Victoria doesn’t license locksmiths for lockouts or rekeying. Anyone installing alarms, CCTV, safes or electronic access control needs a private security licence, listed on the Victoria Police register of licence holders.

When Victoria requires a licence

• Building work over $10,000. Domestic building work worth more than $10,000, counting labour, materials and GST, needs a BPC-registered builder and a written major domestic building contract.
• Re-stumping, re-blocking and demolition need a registered practitioner whatever the price.
• Single-trade jobs. Painting, plastering, wall and floor tiling, glazing, insulating, floor coverings and attaching external fixtures such as awnings and security screens are exempt on their own, however big the job. Combine two trades, say plastering and painting, on a job over $10,000 and the tradie must be registered.
• Plumbing, gas and drainage need a licensed plumber, or a registered one working under a licensed plumber, at any value. For work worth $750 or more, the licensed plumber must give you a compliance certificate.
• Electrical work always needs a licensed electrician, however small.

Home Warranty and insurance

For eligible domestic building contracts signed from 1 July 2026, the BPC’s Home Warranty has replaced domestic building insurance (DBI). It applies to eligible work worth more than $20,000. The registered builder pays the premium and the BPC sends you a Notice of Cover. Check it shows the same builder name, registration number, ABN or ACN and site address as your contract. Home Warranty may help when work is incomplete, defective or non-compliant and the builder won’t fix it, up to $400,000 per home, subject to eligibility and limits. Contracts signed before 1 July 2026 stay under DBI, which was required above $16,000. Licensed plumbers must also hold insurance that covers defective plumbing work.

Red flags

• The registration or licence doesn’t come up, has expired, or shows a suspension.
• The class doesn’t fit the job, like a carpentry-only registration on a full bathroom renovation, or a plumber with no gasfitting class quoting to move a gas line.
• The name or ABN on the quote doesn’t match the register. Run the ABN through ABN Lookup.
• The licence number on the quote belongs to someone else, or the tradie won’t give you one.
• No Certificate of Electrical Safety or plumbing compliance certificate once the job is finished.

Reporting unlicensed work

Report suspected unregistered or unlicensed building or plumbing work through the BPC’s online tip-off form, which you can do anonymously. The BPC also runs dispute resolution for domestic building work. For electrical work, contact Energy Safe Victoria, especially if an electrician won’t show a licence or issue a certificate. Pest control concerns go to the Department of Health, and security licensing questions to Victoria Police.

Want the plain version of which trades need a licence? Read our tradie licences guide. Or skip the legwork: get a free quote and we’ll match you with one local tradie whose licence, insurance, ABN and reviews we’ve already checked.