TrustSignal • Builder Report

How to Verify a Builder in South Australia

In South Australia, building work contractors are licensed through Consumer and Business Services (CBS). Building work must be supervised by a registered building work supervisor, and companies must nominate a supervisor. For many residential builds/renovations, Building Indemnity Insurance (BII) is a separate, critical check.

Run a SA Builder Report View Official Registers

Before You Search: What SA Licensing Requires

SA uses a <strong>contractor licence</strong> model: any person or business operating as a building work contractor must be licensed, including subcontractors. Importantly, all building work must be supervised by a <strong>registered building work supervisor</strong>; companies must nominate a supervisor.

If you're hiring a business

Verify the contracting entity and the nominated supervisor.

Confirm the contracting entity (legal name + ABN/ACN).
Verify the business holds a current building work contractor licence.
Confirm the nominated building work supervisor registration is current.

Separate check: Building Indemnity Insurance (BII)

BII is separate from licensing. If required for your job, confirm a valid certificate exists.

Ensure the certificate names the builder and matches the contract entity.
Verify certificate validity using insurer certificate registers (e.g., QBE / Assetinsure, depending on issuer).

Key SA nuance: A contractor licence without appropriate supervision is a structural risk. Always check both the contractor licence and the supervisor registration.

Official Public Registers

In South Australia, licensing records are accessible via the CBS occupational public register. Building indemnity insurance has separate insurer certificate registers. Disciplinary matters may be heard in SACAT under the Building Work Contractors Act.

CBS Occupational Public Register

Regulator: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) • Search by licence number, surname, or trading name

Use this register to confirm licence holder, licence type, and status. You’ll typically need the builder’s licence number or the surname/trading name.

Does the holder match the contracting entity on your quote/contract?
Is the contractor licence current?
If the business is a company, have you identified the supervisor they nominated?

Open CBS Public Register →How to use the register →

Note: the CBS public register may require a “not a robot” check.

Building Work Contractor Licence (Guidance)

Authority: SA Government (CBS licensing) • Contractor licence + supervision requirements

This page explains that all building work must be supervised by a registered supervisor and that companies must nominate a supervisor when applying.

Read SA guidance →Supervisor registration →

Building Indemnity Insurance (BII) - Certificate Verification

Authority: SAFA / SA Government • Verify a valid certificate is in place via insurer registers

Homeowners are encouraged to confirm a valid certificate exists and verify it using the insurer certificate registers listed by SA authorities.

BII overview + insurer registers →QBE certificate register →

If your certificate is issued by another insurer (e.g., Assetinsure), use the relevant insurer register listed on SAFA’s homeowner guidance.

Disciplinary Matters - SACAT

Authority: South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT)

SACAT hears and determines disciplinary actions against building work contractors and supervisors under the Building Work Contractors Act.

SACAT disciplinary actions →

Company & Directors

Authority: Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) • ABN Lookup

Confirm company registration, directors, and ABN details. Use ABN Lookup for a free quick check; use ASIC Connect for full company extracts (fee may apply). Licensing does not, by itself, indicate financial health.

Does the ABN/ACN on the quote match the registered entity?
Who are the current directors?
Are there related entities worth investigating?
Are any directors banned or disqualified from managing corporations or other specific activities?

Search ASIC Connect →Search ABN Lookup →Banned & Disqualified →

Insolvency Checks

Authorities: ASIC Insolvency Notices • AFSA for personal insolvency

Search published external administration events for companies. For individuals, check AFSA personal insolvency records.

ASIC insolvency notices →AFSA insolvency →

Why Verification Takes Multiple Checks in South Australia

SA contractor licensing is closely tied to supervision: building work must be supervised by a registered building work supervisor.
Licensing records are accessed through the CBS occupational public register and may require precise identifiers (licence number / surname / trading name).
Building indemnity insurance certificate verification is separate and may require using an insurer’s certificate register.
Disciplinary matters may be dealt with through SACAT and are separate from licence status checks.

Consolidated Verification

The TrustSignal Builder Report consolidates SA contractor licensing, supervisor registration, building indemnity insurance cues, and corporate context into a structured summary - helping you confirm: (1) who is licensed, (2) whether supervision requirements are structurally satisfied, and (3) whether insurance and corporate flags exist.

SA Builder Reports: Coming Soon

Currently available in NSW. Join the waitlist to be notified when SA launches.

Last reviewed: March 2026 • TrustSignal (trustsignal.com.au)