Does a Queensland Company Need Its Own QBCC Licence? The $3,300 Rule

Yes—according to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC), a company entering into contracts to carry out building work generally needs its own QBCC licence where the value of the work exceeds $3,300, including labour and materials, although some exemptions exist (figures checked 1 October 2026). Employing a QBCC-licensed individual, or having a QBCC-licensed director and using that person’s licence number on contracts, is not sufficient for the company.

What does “separate legal entity” mean for the licence?

A company is an independent legal entity with many attributes of a natural person. Under the Corporations Law, it has separate legal capacity: it can enter into contracts, buy and sell property, borrow funds, and sue or be sued.

The company is therefore the legal entity carrying out the contracted work, rather than simply a name attached to a licensed individual. Its own licensing requirement cannot be replaced by a licence held by an employee or director.

The QBCC also notes that companies are registered with ASIC and allocated a unique Australian Company Number (ACN). Companies must keep separate financial records and bank accounts, reflecting their status as separate legal entities.

Why is a licensed employee or director not enough?

The distinction is between the person doing the work and the company contracting to do it.

Arrangement	Sufficient for the company?
Employing a QBCC-licensed individual	No. Employment alone does not satisfy the company’s licensing requirement.
Having a director who holds a QBCC licence	No. The director’s personal licence does not become the company’s licence.
Using an employee’s or director’s licence number on contracts	No. The QBCC expressly says this is not sufficient.
The company holding its own relevant licence	This is the arrangement the QBCC requires where a company licence is required.

The company must also hold the relevant licence class covering the scope of building work it contracts to carry out.

How does the $3,300 threshold work?

The QBCC’s company guidance sets out the following position:

Point to check	QBCC guidance
Company entering building-work contracts	The company is required to hold a licence.
Work exceeds $3,300, including labour and materials	In the majority of cases, the company needs its own licence under the QBCC Act.
Exemptions	Some exemptions exist under the QBCC Act.
Employee or director holds a licence	This does not remove the company’s own requirement.
Work does not exceed $3,300	The cited guidance does not say that every such job is automatically exempt.

The threshold should therefore not be treated as a blanket exemption or as permission to rely on another person’s licence.

What should the company check before accepting the work?

• Confirm whether the company itself is entering the contract to carry out building work.
• Check whether the value of the work, including labour and materials, exceeds $3,300.
• Check whether an exemption under the QBCC Act applies.
• Verify that the company holds its own licence, rather than relying on an employee’s or director’s licence.
• Confirm that the licence class covers the scope of work the company will carry out.
• Check the current requirements on the QBCC regulator page before relying on a licence arrangement.

This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Check the QBCC page for current licensing requirements and the relevant policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the insurance terms that apply to the work.

Sources

• Company | Queensland Building and Construction Commission

FAQ

Does a company need its own QBCC licence if it employs a licensed tradie?

Yes, where a company licence is required. The QBCC says employing a QBCC-licensed individual is not sufficient for the company.

Can the company use its director’s QBCC licence number?

No. The QBCC says having a director who is licensed and using that director’s licence number on contracts does not satisfy the company’s own licensing requirement.

Is building work worth exactly $3,300 automatically exempt?

The cited QBCC guidance refers to work that “exceeds $3,300”, including labour and materials. It does not resolve whether work exactly equal to $3,300 is exempt, so the current regulator guidance should be checked.

Which QBCC licence class does the company need?

The company needs the licence class covering the scope of building work it contracts to carry out. Confirm the correct class with the QBCC before relying on the licence.