Permits and licensing · Tasmania
Renovation permits and contractor licences in Tasmania
Tasmania sorts building work by risk, not by price. The Building Act 2016 takes a risk-based approach: low risk work needs no building permit or approval, medium risk work is notifiable and assessed by a building surveyor, and high risk work needs a building permit from council. Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) licenses builders and the electrical, plumbing and gas-fitting trades.
Regulators and licensing bodies in Tasmania
These official bodies license contractors, oversee safety or issue permits in Tasmania.
Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS)
A division of the Department of Justice that licenses building services providers — including builders, architects, engineers, building designers and building surveyors — and the electrical, plumbing and gas-fitting trades.
Your building surveyor or council (permit authority)
A building surveyor assesses notifiable work for a Certificate of Likely Compliance; council issues the Building Permit for high risk work. Which one you deal with depends on the risk category of the job.
Trades that need a licence in Tasmania
General contracting and renovation
Builder licences in Tasmania come in three classes: Builder (General Construction), which manages or carries out building work, demolition, alterations, additions, relocations or repairs; Fire protection services builder; and Demolisher. Check the class covers the work you are hiring for, not just that a licence exists.
Certified trades
CBOS licenses occupations rather than applying a job-value threshold. Its licensed categories include builders, architects, engineers, building designers, building services designers, building surveyors and permit authorities, alongside electrical, plumbing and gas-fitting licences.
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 Tasmania
The Building Act 2016 takes a risk-based approach to building approval, so the first question is which category your job falls into. Low risk work — fences, low decks, farm sheds, carports — needs no building permit or approval, though planning approval may still apply. Medium risk work, called notifiable work and including a detached house or unit and residential alterations or extensions, runs on a Notice of Work to a building surveyor for a Certificate of Likely Compliance: it can be carried out by a licensed builder with a surveyor's oversight, and council must be notified but does not approve it. High risk work, called permit work, covers commercial, industrial and public buildings, residential buildings needing a planning permit, owner builder work and most work in hazardous areas, and goes through a full building approval with council for a Building Permit. Plumbing and demolition run on parallel low, medium and high categories ending in a Plumbing Permit or a Demolition Permit.
Sources:CBOS – Categories of building work(opens in a new tab)
Before you hire a contractor in Tasmania
Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.
Work out the risk category first — low, notifiable or permit work — because it decides who you deal with.
Official lookup: CBOS – Categories of building work(opens in a new tab)
Search the CBOS register for the tradesperson or building services provider; it shows only current licence holders.
Official lookup: CBOS – Find a licensed tradesperson(opens in a new tab)
Check the builder's licence class matches your job, whether general construction, fire protection or demolition.
Official lookup: CBOS – Builder licence(opens in a new tab)
For notifiable work, confirm who is lodging the Notice of Work and obtaining the Certificate of Likely Compliance.
Sources for renovation permits and licences in Tasmania
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources.
- CBOS – Licensed occupations(opens in a new tab)
- CBOS – Categories of building work(opens in a new tab)
- CBOS – Builder licence(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)
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.