Yes—generally, a Queensland plumbing company needs its own QBCC licence; a licensed director or employee cannot simply lend their personal licence to the company. The QBCC’s company guidance says a company is a separate legal entity and that employing a QBCC-licensed individual, or using a licensed director’s licence number on contracts, is insufficient; QBCC’s licensing guidance says plumbing and drainage requires a licence of any value, while the general threshold for other building work is over $3,300 including labour and materials (QBCC; figures checked 1 October 2026. Licence guidance last reviewed 11 August 2021 and last published 18 August 2021). Specific exemptions may apply, so the exact work and contracting arrangement must be checked.
Why is the company separate from its director?
A company has its own legal personality. Under the Corporations Law, it has the separate legal capacity of a natural person, rather than simply being a collection of directors or employees.
The company can enter contracts, buy and sell property, borrow funds, and sue or be sued in its own name. QBCC also states that companies are registered with ASIC, receive a unique Australian Company Number, and must keep separate financial records and bank accounts.
Those rights and obligations belong to the company itself. When that company enters contracts to carry out building work, QBCC says it must hold the required licence. Its ASIC registration or ACN does not replace a QBCC licence.
Can a director or employee lend their licence to the company?
No. QBCC specifically says it is not sufficient to:
- employ an individual who holds a QBCC licence;
- have a QBCC-licensed director; or
- put that director’s licence number on the company’s contracts.
An individual’s licence must match the scope of work they undertake or oversee and their role and responsibilities. That may matter to how the individual performs or supervises work, but it does not make the company licensed.
Does the value threshold settle every job?
No. The type of work matters as well as its value. The QBCC licensing guidance, last reviewed 11 August 2021 and last published 18 August 2021, sets out these thresholds:
| Work or situation | General QBCC licensing rule |
|---|---|
| Plumbing and drainage | A licence is required regardless of value |
| Hydraulic Services Design | A licence is required over $1,100 |
| General building-work threshold | A licence is required over $3,300, including labour and materials |
A specific work category may therefore matter even when the ordinary value threshold would not. The licence class must also cover the full scope, and more than one class may be needed.
When might an exemption apply?
The QBCC licence guidance, last reviewed 11 August 2021 and last published 18 August 2021, says its subcontractor guidance must be read with 53 exemptions in Schedule 1 of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Regulation 2018. For specified work, those exemptions can place the work outside the definition of building work so that a contractor’s licence is not required.
Schedule 1A of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 also provides situation-specific exemptions. QBCC lists examples involving:
- public-private partnerships;
- partnerships generally;
- prescribed government projects;
- design work by landscape gardeners;
- owner-builders; and
- consumers.
These are not blanket exemptions for every company. Subcontracting requirements vary according to the work and the contracting arrangement, so the exact facts must be checked before relying on an exemption.
What should the company check before tendering or signing?
Before accepting the work, the company should:
- confirm whether the company or an individual will be the contracting entity;
- define the exact plumbing, drainage or design work;
- check the total value, including labour and materials;
- confirm that the company holds the relevant licence class;
- check whether more than one class is needed for the full scope;
- assess any Schedule 1 or Schedule 1A exemption; and
- consider how subcontractors will be engaged and contracted.
If the arrangement is unclear, QBCC advises contacting it for assistance with the individual circumstances.
Where should the company confirm its obligations?
Check the QBCC regulator page for current licensing requirements and your policy’s PDS for insurance terms. Licensing and insurance are separate matters, and the company should not infer one from the other. This article provides general information, not financial or legal advice.
Sources
- Company | Queensland Building and Construction Commission
- When you need a licence | Queensland Building and Construction Commission
FAQ
Does every Queensland plumbing company need its own QBCC licence?
Generally, yes when the company carries out or contracts for plumbing and drainage work, which requires a licence regardless of value, or other building work over $3,300 including labour and materials. Specific exemptions may apply.
Can a licensed director cover the company?
No. A director’s personal licence does not become the company’s licence merely because the director is involved or their licence number appears on a contract.
Is plumbing worth $3,300 or less automatically exempt?
No. The general value threshold does not remove the licensing requirement for plumbing and drainage, which applies regardless of value.
Can subcontracting or a special exemption remove the requirement?
It can, depending on the work and contracting arrangement. Check the applicable Schedule 1 or Schedule 1A exemption and ask QBCC if the circumstances remain unclear.
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