Checking a builder's licence in South Australia
Here, search by licence number, surname or trading name. What to look for in any state, and what a licence never tells you, is on the main guide.
Open the CBS Find a licence holder →
The direct search, not the regulator's front page. Opened and confirmed on 26 October 2026.
South Australia's register is straightforward to use, and the useful discipline here is about what you type into it.
Three ways in, and they are not equally good
You can search by licence number, by surname, or by trading name. They are not equivalent. A licence number is unambiguous. A surname returns near matches and builders share surnames. A trading name is the weakest of the three, because the name on the signage is frequently not the entity that holds the licence or the entity that would sign your contract.
Get the licence number from the quote or the business card and use that. If you only have a trading name, treat a result as a starting point rather than a confirmation, and work back to the legal entity before you rely on it.
A recent change worth knowing about
From 10 November 2025, domestic building work under $20,000 is classed as minor work and regulated less strictly. That does not make the licence check less worthwhile on a small job — it makes it more so, because fewer of the other protections are carrying weight underneath it.
South Australia: the register at a glance
- Register
- CBS Find a licence holder
- Search by
- The licence number, the surname, or the trading name of the service supplier
- Also covers
- Plumbers, electricians, gas fitters, conveyancers, land agents and others
- Where to find the details to search with
- A business card, a written quote, or the builder's website
Read from Consumer and Business Services, Find a licence holder on 26 October 2026. Consumer and Business Services is the authority on what applies to a particular licence, and a register is a record of permission rather than of competence.
Questions about South Australia licences
Where do I check a builder's licence in South Australia?
The CBS Find a licence holder register. You can search by licence number, surname, or trading name.
Which search is most reliable?
The licence number — it is unambiguous. A surname returns near matches, and a trading name is weakest of all, because the name on the signage is often not the entity holding the licence.
Where do I get the licence number?
A business card, a written quote, or the builder's website. If you only have a trading name, treat a result as a starting point and work back to the legal entity.
Does it matter on a small job?
More, not less. From 10 November 2025 domestic work under $20,000 is classed as minor and regulated less strictly, so fewer of the other protections sit underneath it.