How to verify a subcontractor’s licence in Western Australia

Before engaging a subcontractor for regulated work in Western Australia, identify the licence or registration required for the work and who must hold it. A business’s authority to contract and an individual worker’s authority to perform work can be different requirements.

Start with the relevant WA register

The Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS) replaced the former DEMIRS following the government restructure. Use the current LGIRS licensing and registration guidance to find the appropriate register for building, electrical, plumbing or other regulated work.

Do not assume one search covers every trade. Confirm the issuing authority and the scope of the register you are using. Search tools and available integrations can change; this guide does not claim that WA checks can never be automated or that another software provider cannot verify them.

Check more than the number

Compare the register result with the proposed work and the document shared with you:

• The holder’s name and whether it is a business or an individual.
• The licence or registration class and the work it authorises.
• Current status, expiry where applicable, restrictions and conditions.
• Whether the person doing the work needs a separate personal licence or supervision.

A current entry does not by itself establish that every part of your proposed scope is authorised. Resolve mismatches with the issuing authority before relying on the result.

Keep a useful record

Record the register, number searched, date, result and any conditions you considered. Keep supporting evidence where appropriate, and check again when the credential, work scope or relevant information changes.

If a software service uses a periodically refreshed register snapshot, understand its coverage and refresh date. A missing record may need a direct check with the current issuing register rather than being treated as proof that a licence is invalid.

See how Novato records supported register checks and manual reviews.

Source and review

Reviewed 11/10/2026 against LGIRS licensing and registration and LGIRS online systems. Confirm current requirements with the regulator for the actual work; this guide is not an exhaustive licence matrix.