OpSpot Blog
Industry Best Practices
How to Check a Builder's Registration in Victoria
15 October 2026
Short answer: search the builder's name, business name or registration number on the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) "Find and check a practitioner" register (bpc.vic.gov.au). Confirm the registration is current, that its class covers the work, and that the name matches who you're contracting with. Then check the BPC's Compliance and Enforcement Register for disciplinary action. It takes a few minutes and it's free.
The BPC replaced the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) on 1 July 2025. Facts checked against Victorian Government sources on 14 October 2026.
Step by step
- Get the registration number from the quote or contract, or ask the builder for it.
- Search the BPC register at bpc.vic.gov.au ("Find and check a practitioner"). You can search by name, business name, registration or licence number, location or type of work.
- Check the result, using the table below. A company and the individual builder behind it can hold separate registrations, so check the one you're signing with.
- Check the Compliance and Enforcement Register for suspensions, cancellations, conditions or prosecutions.
- Keep a record of the check, with the date.
What to check on the result
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Status is current | Anything else means they can't legally do registered building work |
| Class covers the work | Registration classes limit the type of building work allowed |
| Name matches | The registration must belong to the person or company on your contract |
| Conditions | Some registrations carry conditions that restrict the work |
| Disciplinary history | Check the Compliance and Enforcement Register before you hire |
When registration is required in Victoria
- Domestic building work costing more than $10,000 (labour and materials) must be done by a builder registered with the BPC. A tradesperson who combines more than one trade on a job, for example plastering and painting, must also be registered if the total is more than $10,000.
- Single-trade work such as tiling or painting doesn't need building registration on its own, but some trades are licensed regardless of cost: plumbers (BPC) and electricians (Energy Safe Victoria, which has its own public register of licensed electrical workers and registered electrical contractors).
Don't forget insurance and contracts
- Domestic building insurance (DBI) is required for domestic building work over $16,000. The builder takes it out for the client and must give the client a copy of the policy and a certificate of currency before taking a deposit or any other money. It covers the client if the builder dies, becomes insolvent or disappears. See Home warranty insurance: NSW, Victoria and Queensland compared.
- Get a written contract that clearly sets out the work and the total price.
- Deposits: Consumer Affairs Victoria advises a deposit of no more than 10% for jobs under $20,000 and no more than 5% for jobs of $20,000 or more.
For builders: registrations change during a job
A subcontractor's registration or licence can be suspended, cancelled or put under conditions after you've engaged them, and expiry dates creep up. Re-check whenever they start a new job, before expiry, and periodically for everyone.
How OpSpot helps: OpSpot keeps every subcontractor's licences and insurance on file with their numbers, classes and expiry dates, shows each one's status, and emails people before their licence or insurance expires. For Victorian registrations you record the details and OpSpot tracks them; automatic checks against a government register are currently available for NSW licences. See Subcontractor licence and insurance tracking.
FAQ
Is checking a builder's registration free? Yes. The BPC register and the Compliance and Enforcement Register are free to search.
What happened to the VBA? The Victorian Building Authority was replaced by the Building and Plumbing Commission on 1 July 2025. Use the BPC register for current information.
Does a kitchen or bathroom renovation need a registered builder? If it's domestic building work costing more than $10,000, or it combines several trades with a total over $10,000, yes. Plumbing and electrical work must be done by licensed tradespeople whatever the cost.
Can I check an electrician on the BPC register? No. Electricians are licensed by Energy Safe Victoria, which has its own public register.
Sources
- Building and Plumbing Commission: Find and check a practitioner
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: Home improvements costing $10,000 or less
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: Domestic building insurance
- Energy Safe Victoria: Search a public register
