Permits and licensing · New South Wales
Renovation permits and contractor licences in New South Wales
New South Wales runs three approval pathways — exempt development needs no approval, a complying development certificate fast-tracks straightforward jobs, and everything else goes to council as a development application. A contractor licence is required for building work above a value threshold, and electrical, plumbing, draining, gasfitting and air conditioning work needs a licence whatever it costs.
Regulators and licensing bodies in New South Wales
These official bodies license contractors, oversee safety or issue permits in New South Wales.
NSW Fair Trading
Issues contractor licences, qualified supervisor certificates and trade certificates for building and trade work in New South Wales.
Building Commission NSW
The building regulator, which the NSW Government describes as ensuring the quality of residential buildings.
Your council, or an accredited certifier
Determines development applications and issues complying development certificates. Fast-track approvals are determined by council or an accredited certifier without a full development application when the proposal meets the standards.
Trades that need a licence in New South Wales
General contracting and renovation
A contractor licence is required to carry out, advertise or contract for building or trade work valued above a threshold NSW sets, measured on labour and materials including GST. The licence may be an individual or an endorsed contractor licence, a company or partnership contractor licence, or be paired with a qualified supervisor certificate.
Sources:NSW Government – General building work licence(opens in a new tab)
Electrical work
NSW is explicit that you need an electrical licence or certificate before doing any electrical wiring work, regardless of the cost of the work.
Sources:NSW Government – Electrical licences(opens in a new tab)
Plumbing
In NSW a licence or certificate is needed to do any plumbing, draining or gasfitting work regardless of the cost of the work, and whether it is residential, commercial or industrial. Air conditioning and refrigeration work also needs a licence or certificate, though NSW notes one is not required for duct work outside a dwelling.
Sources:NSW Government – Plumbing, draining and gasfitting licences(opens in a new tab)NSW Government – Air conditioning and refrigeration work(opens in a new tab)
General contracting and renovation
The National Construction Code sets the technical provisions for designing and constructing buildings and plumbing and drainage systems, but it has no force of its own: the ABCB states that the NCC is given legal effect through state and territory building and plumbing legislation, and that adoption dates are set by each state's administration. Requirements can apply at different times, or not at all, because of state variations — and the ABCB notes that gasfitting and electrical work are not covered by the NCC at all.
Sources:ABCB – About the National Construction Code(opens in a new tab)ABCB – NCC 2025 state and territory adoption information(opens in a new tab)ABCB – Information for homeowners(opens in a new tab)
Building and renovation permits in New South Wales
Which pathway your job takes decides how long approval takes. Exempt development does not need planning or construction approval from a council or a private certifier, and covers minor work such as decks, garden sheds, carports, fences, window repairs and house painting where the standards are met. Complying development is a fast-tracked process that combines planning and construction approval for straightforward residential work; it is granted as a complying development certificate by a council or an accredited certifier, and is not used for work that is exempt development. Everything else is local development, the most common type in NSW, which needs approval through a development application to your council.
Sources:NSW Planning Portal – Planning approval pathways(opens in a new tab)NSW Planning Portal – Exempt development(opens in a new tab)NSW Planning Portal – Complying development(opens in a new tab)NSW Planning Portal – Local development(opens in a new tab)
Before you hire a contractor in New South Wales
Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.
Check the licence on Verify.Licence before you sign: it looks up and verifies NSW licence and registration information.
Official lookup: NSW Government – Verify.Licence(opens in a new tab)
For electrical, plumbing, draining or gasfitting work, ask for the licence regardless of how small the job is — NSW requires one at any cost.
Official lookup: NSW Government – Plumbing, draining and gasfitting licences(opens in a new tab)
Work out which pathway applies — exempt development, a complying development certificate, or a development application — before you plan the build.
Official lookup: NSW Planning Portal – Planning approval pathways(opens in a new tab)
For a fast-track job, confirm whether your council or a private accredited certifier will issue the complying development certificate.
Official lookup: NSW Planning Portal – Complying development(opens in a new tab)
Sources for renovation permits and licences in New South Wales
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources.
- NSW Government – NSW Fair Trading(opens in a new tab)
- NSW Government – General building work licence(opens in a new tab)
- NSW Government – Building Commission NSW(opens in a new tab)
- NSW Planning Portal – Planning approval pathways(opens in a new tab)
- NSW Planning Portal – Complying development(opens in a new tab)
- NSW Government – Electrical licences(opens in a new tab)
- NSW Government – Plumbing, draining and gasfitting licences(opens in a new tab)
- NSW Government – Air conditioning and refrigeration work(opens in a new tab)
- ABCB – About the National Construction Code(opens in a new tab)
- ABCB – NCC 2025 state and territory adoption information(opens in a new tab)
- ABCB – Information for homeowners(opens in a new tab)
- NSW Planning Portal – Exempt development(opens in a new tab)
- NSW Planning Portal – Local development(opens in a new tab)
Find licensed pros
Compare local pros for the regulated trades in this guide, then confirm their licence with the regulator before you hire.
Renovation permits in other states and territories
Planning a renovation?
Describe your project once and hear from local pros. Ask each one for their licence and permit details before you hire.