New South Wales · Covered by Know Your Builder

Check a builder licence in NSW

Run a free Know Your Builder report to check a NSW builder’s licence, ASIC and insolvency records and court history in one go. Or check the Building Commission NSW register yourself, step by step below.

What Know Your Builder checks in NSW

Contractor licence status and class on the NSW register, plus any compliance history recorded against it
NSW court and tribunal decisions, including NCAT home building disputes
ASIC company status, insolvency notices, disqualified directors and enforceable undertakings
ATO tax-debt notices, payment times and Fair Work enforcement outcomes

Every finding links to its source record. See how it works.

How to check a builder licence in NSW yourself

Building Commission NSW publishes licences on the Verify licence (NSW Government). It’s free and takes a couple of minutes.

Open the NSW Government’s Verify licence service and choose home building and trades.
Search by the builder’s name, business name or licence number.
Check the licence is current, covers the type of work you need, and is held by the same person or company named on your contract.
Open the licence record to see any conditions or compliance history recorded against it.

Home building insurance and deposits

Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF) cover is required for most residential building work over $20,000. The builder must give you the HBCF certificate before asking for a deposit or any other payment under the contract.

The maximum deposit you can be asked to pay is 10%.

Check more than the licence

A current licence doesn’t tell you whether the business is in financial trouble. These national registers cover businesses in every state:

ABN Lookup: Confirms the ABN is active and who it belongs to.
ASIC published notices: Liquidation, administration and winding-up notices.
ASIC banned and disqualified register: People banned from managing companies.

Common questions

Who licenses builders in NSW?

Building Commission NSW. Licences are published on the NSW Government’s Verify licence service, where anyone can search by name or licence number.

Do I need home building insurance for my renovation?

For most residential building work over $20,000, yes. The builder must take out HBCF cover and give you the certificate before asking for a deposit.

How much deposit can a NSW builder ask for?

Up to 10% for residential building work.

Last reviewed 16 October 2026 against the Building Commission NSW website. Rules change, so confirm with the regulator before you rely on a figure.

Check a NSW builder before you sign.

Free report. NSW and ACT builders.