How to check a builder or tradie licence in the ACT

In the ACT, builders and many trades are licensed under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004. Access Canberra keeps the public registers, so a licence check takes a few minutes and is free.

Use the public register

Search for the person or business on the relevant Access Canberra public register. The ACT Planning directorate also points to the construction licences page for licensed construction practitioners. Access Canberra has updated the construction occupation registers to show clearer licence status, so read the whole entry, not only the headline status.

Compare the result with the work

• Whether the licence holder is the business or individual you are contracting with.
• The licence type and class, and whether it covers the work in your scope.
• The current status, expiry date and any conditions.
• Whether other trades on the job need their own licences.

A current licence does not mean every part of your scope is allowed. If the class and the work do not match, resolve it with Access Canberra before you rely on the result.

Look beyond the licence

Access Canberra suggests also checking whether the business has any public warnings, enforceable undertakings or disciplinary action on record. Ask for a certificate of currency for public liability insurance, and keep a copy.

Keep a record

Record the date, the licence number, the name you searched, the class, the status and any conditions. Keep a copy or a screenshot. Check again when the licence is due to expire, when the scope changes, or when a new subcontractor joins the job.

Where Novato fits

For ACT building, plumbing and gas, and electrical licences, Novato can check the licence number against Access Canberra's open data when the holder's state is the ACT. The review page names the source, and the result is saved with the subcontractor. Anything it cannot confirm stays a manual review against the official register.

See how Novato records licence checks and manual reviews.

Source and review

Reviewed 31/10/2026 against Access Canberra, choosing a tradesperson and the ACT Planning construction licences page. Confirm current requirements with Access Canberra for the actual work. This guide is not a full list of licence classes.