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.
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?
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?
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)
