Restricted licence

A restricted licence is a building licence limited to a defined specialist scope, tiling, painting, plastering (gyprocking), retaining walls, fencing, that does not authorise structural or general residential building work. It is the narrower alternative to an unrestricted or general builder’s licence.

Licensing systems issue both broad and narrow authorities:

• A general (unrestricted) builder’s licence authorises full residential building work.
• A restricted licence covers only the specific trade or category it names. A tiler’s licence lets you contract for tiling, not for building a house.

The restriction is about what you can contract to do. Work outside the named scope needs the appropriate licence held by whoever contracts for it. The categories and names vary by state, trade contractor licences, specialist licences, restricted builder registrations, but the principle is the same everywhere.

For a builder the practical point is to hold the right licence for the work you actually contract. A restricted licence does not let you take on general building or structural work outside its scope, and contracting outside your class carries the same consequences as being unlicensed: penalties, an unenforceable contract, and the loss of your right to be paid. If a job spans categories, either hold the licences to match, or subcontract the parts you are not licensed for to people who are. Treat the scope on your licence as a hard boundary, not a guideline.

Also known as: Trade contractor licence, specialist licence, limited licence.

Category: Licensing / Building.

Related

• SA CBS licensing
• Contractor licence

See also

• NSW licensing

References

• SA CBS licensing (Chalkline) (verified 2026-06-01)

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Last updated: 2026-06-01. Verified: 2026-06-01. Quarterly review for currency.