Information about the assessment of licence applications, renewals or other change requests.
We receive a high volume of home building licence applications. We aim to assess all applications as quickly as possible while making sure we follow a fair and thorough assessment process.
All applications are assessed based on set criteria for qualifications, as well as fitness and propriety. This assessment may include consideration of financial and criminal history, previous disciplinary actions or complaints, as well as demonstration of relevant experience (for General Building and Specialist categories).
An application may take longer to assess if there is missing or incomplete information, or if information from other agencies is needed.
We may need to contact you about your application. To help reduce delays in your application, please check your emails regularly (including spam) and make sure your contact details are up to date.
The current average processing times for home building licence applications are recorded below as at 1 June 2024.
Home building industry licences
| Licence type | Average processing time (includes waiting time for applicants to provide additional information if required) |
|---|---|
| Builder | 12 weeks |
| Company or partnerships | 11 weeks |
| Specialist (all other) | 10 weeks |
| Specialist (electrical) | 8 weeks |
Other building
| 7 weeks |
| Trade | 8 weeks |
Applying for a new licence or certificate
During our assessment process we assess your application and supporting documents to ensure you meet the requirements to hold the relevant licence.
The following information provides details about our assessment process, timeframes and when you can expect to be contacted.
This information is for individuals applying for a new licence. See information for companies and partnerships.
For further information specific to each licence type, see licensing and qualifications.
What happens after I submit my application?
Once we receive your application, supporting documents, and fee, we then assess your application.
If we need to request additional information, the processing time will increase, so it’s important that you submit all the required information and documents with your original application.
We will contact you via SMS or email if we request additional further information.
If your application for a licence is approved, we will let you know via SMS and we will send you a licence card in the post.
The licence card may take a few weeks to arrive, in the meantime your approved licence details will be published on the public register.
If your application is refused, we will contact you in writing and outline the reason(s) for refusal as well as details of your options.
If we refuse your application, only part of the fee may be refunded, the rest is to cover processing costs.
For reasons an application may be refused, see below.
Reasons for refusing a licence
We may refuse your application.
Some reasons may include.
- you haven't met the qualification or experience requirements
- you failed to provide details requested by Fair Trading
- you used false information in your application, or you failed to disclose information in your application relevant to the issue of the licence
- you haven't complied with an NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) order
- you're considered to be an unfit or improper person to hold a licence or certificate
- you owe money to Fair Trading as a result of disciplinary or other compliance action
- you've had an unreasonable number of:
- complaints
- penalty notices
- formal cautions
- paid insurance claims
you're bankrupt or were bankrupt within three years before the date of the application
you're or were a director or a person concerned in the management of a company:
you are bankrupt or were bankrupt within three years before the date of the application
- that is or was the subject of a winding up order, or
- for which a controller or administrator has been appointed
- when a controller or administrator was appointed (within three years prior to your application for licence). This includes where you stop being a director or a person concerned in the management of a company within 12 months prior to the external administration
- you have been subject to insurance claims that have not been satisfied
- a close associate (who is not a fit and proper person to hold a licence) has significant influence over you or the operation and management of your business.
- you have previously been disqualified from holding a licence (in the same industry)
- you hold a provisional licence or certificate
- you are an apprentice or trainee.
If your application is refused you'll be advised in writing of the reasons and your options for internal review.
For moredetails about the internal review process see reviews of Fair Trading decisions.
Vary your licence or certificate
If you gain more qualifications that allow you to do more types of work, such as other building work, trade work or specialist work, you can apply to add a category to your individual contractor’s licence and/or your qualified supervisor’s certificate.
This information is for individuals applying for a variation of a current licence.
See information for companies and partnerships.
What happens after I submit my application?
Once we receive your application, supporting documents, and fee, we then assess your application.
If we need to request additional information, the processing time will increase, so it’s important that you submit all the required information and documents with your original application.
We'll contact you via SMS or email if we request additional further information.
If your application for a licence is approved, we will let you know via SMS and we will send you a licence card in the post.
The licence card may take a few weeks to arrive.
In the meantime your approved licence details will be published on the public register.
If your application is refused, we will contact you in writing and outline the reason(s) for refusal as well as details of your options.
If we refuse your application to vary your licence, you will not receive a refund as the fee paid consists only of a processing fee.
For reasons why an application may be refused, see below.
Reasons for refusal
We may refuse your application. Some of these reasons may include:
- you haven't met the qualification or experience requirements
- you failed to provide details requested by Fair Trading
- you used false information in your application, or you failed to disclose information in your application relating to the issue of the licence
- you haven't complied with an NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) order
- you are considered to be an unfit or improper person to hold a licence or certificate
- you owe money to Fair Trading as a result of disciplinary or other compliance action
- you have had an unreasonable number of:
- complaints
- penalty notices
- formal cautions
- paid insurance claims
- you're bankrupt or were bankrupt within three years before the date of the application
- you're or were a director or a person concerned in the management of a company:
- that is or was the subject of a winding up order or
- for which a controller or administrator has been appointed or
- when a controller or administrator was appointed (within three years prior to your application for licence). This includes where you stop being a director or a person concerned in the management of a company within 12 months prior to the external administration.
- you've been subject to insurance claims that have not been satisfied
- a close associate (who is not a fit and proper person to hold a licence) has significant influence over you or the operation and management of your business.
- you have previously been disqualified from holding a licence (in the same industry)
- you hold a provisional licence or certificate
- you are an apprentice or trainee.
If your application is refused you will be advised in writing of the reasons and of your options for internal review.
For more details about the internal review process see reviews of Fair Trading decisions.
Renew or restore a licence or certificate
We will send you a renewal form in the mail several weeks before your licence or certificate is due to expire.
This information is for individuals applying to renew or restore licence.
See information for companies and partnerships.
What happens after I submit my renewal?
Your licence details are published on the public register.
Once an application to renew or restore an authority is lodged on time, the licence remains current (while the expiry date remains unchanged) and this enables you to continue to contract or work while a decision is pending.
For more details on the status of your licence displayed on the public register please see below section.
Licence status on the public register
Application type and timeframe | What is the status of the licence? | What will it look like on the online public register? |
|---|---|---|
Renewal application lodged on or before expiry date. | The licence remains in force until a decision is made and the licensee notified. | There will be a green tick above the licence holder’s name however the expiry date will remain unchanged until the licence is renewed.
|
Restoration application lodged within 3 months* of licence expiry date. *If the licence or certificate is expired for a period exceeding 3 months, restoration may not be an option and you may need to reapply. | Once an application to restore is made, the licence remains in force until a decision is made and the licensee is notified. | Once the expiry date passes the licence will display a red cross above the name. The red cross will be updated to a green tick if an application to restore the licence is submitted. The expiry date will remain unchanged and the public register will note that your licence is current.
|