Painting is one of the few trades where licensing genuinely changes by state, NSW over $5,000, QLD over $3,300, VIC over $10,000. Don’t accept “fully licensed” as a universal answer. Ask which licence, in which state, for which dollar amount.
Painting is one of the few trades where licensing genuinely changes by state. That makes
“fully licensed” a near-meaningless answer on its own, it only means something if your state
requires the licence for a job your size. So don’t accept the universal line. Ask which licence,
in which state, for which dollar amount.
The thresholds, state by state
NSWNSW Fair Trading
Painting work over $5,000 needs a tradesperson certificate.
Over $20,000: Home Building Compensation cover required.
Maximum deposit: 10%.
QLDQBCC
Painting work over $3,300 needs a QBCC licence.
The same threshold triggers Home Warranty Scheme cover.
Painters above the threshold must be QBCC-licensed.
VICVBA
Painters registered with the VBA for work over $10,000.
Over $16,000: Domestic Building Insurance required.
Max deposit: 10% ($10k–$20k) or 5% ($20k+).
SAConsumer & Business Services
No painter-specific licence, but a Building Work Contractor’s Licence (painting specialisation) is required to contract.
Not licence-free: “no licence needed” is a myth for SA.
Confirm the contractor licence on the CBS register.
WABuilding Services Board
Painting-contractor registration required from $1,000, the strictest threshold.
Effectively most paid jobs need a registered contractor.
Verify registration before you book.
TASNo specific licence
No specific painting licence, an ABN and general business licence apply.
Insurance and a written quote still matter.
ACT & NT: ask to see the current licence for your job size.
Watch the South Australia myth: SA has no painter-specific licence, but you still need a
Building Work Contractor’s Licence to contract painting work. “No licence needed” is wrong. WA is
the strictest, with contractor registration required from $1,000. ACT and NT we don’t list a figure
for here. Ask to see the current licence and certificate of currency for your job size. Always
confirm the current rule against the regulator for your state.
Why it matters even below the threshold
If your job sits under the threshold, a licence isn’t legally required, but public liability
insurance, a written itemised quote and a real warranty still are the marks of an operator worth
hiring. The licence is one signal, not the only one. A licensed painter with a one-line quote and
no insurance is still a risk.
“Fully licensed” only means something if your state requires the licence. Ask which one, and for
the number.
Ask this, exactly
“In my state, for a job this size, which licence do you hold and what’s the number?”
A working painter answers with a licence class and a number you can check on the register. A vague “yeah, all licensed” is the cue to ask again.
See it in context
The estimator shows your state’s licence line with the price.
Pick your state and it returns the correct licence rule alongside the indicative band, SA included, no myths.
We’re licensed in NSW, certificate 284 551C, and happy to show it for
a job of any size, including the small ones that don’t legally need it. The number is on every
quote and in the footer of this site, so you can check it before you call.
Common questions
Do painters need a licence in Australia?
It depends on the state and the size of the job. NSW requires a tradesperson certificate for painting work over $5,000, QLD requires a QBCC licence over $3,300, and VIC requires VBA registration over $10,000. South Australia has no painter-specific licence, but a Building Work Contractor’s Licence (painting specialisation) is required to contract painting work, it is not licence-free. WA requires painting-contractor registration from $1,000.
Do I need a licensed painter in NSW?
For any painting work over $5,000 in NSW, yes, the painter needs a tradesperson certificate, and work over $20,000 also requires Home Building Compensation cover. Below $5,000 a licence isn’t mandatory, but insurance and an itemised quote still matter.
Does “fully licensed” mean anything?
Only if your state requires the licence for your job size. “Fully licensed” is a universal-sounding phrase that can mean very little. Ask which licence, issued by which body, for which class of work, and get the number so you can check it on the register.
Brushline Painting Co.