Domestic building contract

A domestic building contract (DBC) is the statutory term for a contract to carry out residential building work above a state-defined value threshold. The label matters because it pulls the contract into the consumer-protection regime in each state’s residential building Act and triggers a stack of rules a normal commercial contract does not face.

Per-state defining Acts and thresholds.

NSW: “residential building work” under the Home Building Act 1989. Consumer protection engages at $5,000; HBCF home warranty engages at $20,000.
VIC: “major domestic building contract” under the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995, engaging at $10,000.
QLD: “regulated contract” under QBCC Act Schedule 1B: Level 1 above $3,300, Level 2 above $20,000.
SA, WA, TAS, ACT, NT: each has its own Act. Confirm before quoting a figure.

What being a DBC triggers (varies by state, common pattern):

A statutory cooling-off period of typically 5 clear business days.
A capped deposit (NSW 10%, VIC tier-dependent, QLD tier-dependent).
Mandatory home warranty insurance (HBCF NSW, DBI VIC, QHWS QLD), with a certificate of currency to be given before any payment.
Mandatory contract content: statutory warranties, builder licence number, dispute info, inspection regime, price, payment schedule.
Restriction on who can sign: only a licensed builder for the relevant class of work.

For builders. Treat every residential job above the lowest state threshold as a DBC by default. A generic services contract or verbal agreement does not exempt the work; the statutory regime applies regardless of contract form.

Also known as: DBC, residential building contract, regulated contract (QLD term), major domestic building contract (VIC term).

Category: Contracts / consumer protection / licensing.

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