Getting Your Owner-Builder Licence in Queensland

If you’re planning to manage your own construction project in Queensland, you’ll need an owner-builder permit from the QBCC (Queensland Building and Construction Commission). Here’s what the process actually looks like.

What an owner-builder licence lets you do

An owner-builder permit allows you to take on the role of the builder for construction work on your own property — managing licensed trades, coordinating inspections, and taking legal responsibility for the build.

You cannot use an owner-builder permit to build for someone else, or to build on a property you don’t intend to occupy. There are also limits on how often you can use it — you can only apply for one permit every six years per property.

Eligibility requirements

To apply for a Queensland owner-builder permit you need to:

• Own the land or have an interest in the property (e.g. be under contract to purchase)
• Intend to occupy the completed building as your principal place of residence
• Not have had a previous owner-builder permit on the same land in the past six years
• Complete the QBCC-approved owner-builder education course

The education course

Before you can apply, you must complete an approved owner-builder education course. As of 2025, there are several registered training organisations (RTOs) delivering this course in Queensland. It can be done online.

The course covers:

• Your legal obligations as an owner-builder
• Contract administration with trades
• Workplace health and safety
• The building approval and inspection process
• Defects and rectification

Expect to spend 6–12 hours on the course depending on your prior experience. The assessment is straightforward if you’ve done any reading about construction.

The application

Once you have your course completion certificate, you apply to the QBCC through their online portal. You’ll need:

• Proof of land ownership or interest (title search or contract of sale)
• Your course completion certificate
• Details of the proposed works (description, estimated value)
• The application fee (check the QBCC website for current fees — it’s in the hundreds of dollars)

The QBCC will assess your application and issue the permit, typically within a few weeks. The permit is property-specific and describes the scope of works you’re permitted to manage.

What the licence doesn’t cover

The owner-builder permit lets you manage the build. It does not let you personally carry out licensed trade work. In Queensland, electrical, plumbing, gas fitting, and other licensed work must still be done by licensed contractors.

You will also need a separate building approval (development approval and/or building permit) from your local council or a private certifier.

Selling within six years

If you sell a property built or substantially renovated under an owner-builder permit within six years of the work being completed, you are required to provide the buyer with a building inspection report and warranty insurance (if applicable) from a licensed insurer.

This is an important consideration if you’re building as an investment rather than a forever home.

Our experience

The application process was straightforward. We completed the online course over a couple of evenings, submitted the application with our title search and course certificate, and had the permit within about three weeks.

The most valuable part of the process wasn’t the licence itself — it was the reading around it. Understanding your obligations as an owner-builder before you start saves a lot of pain later.

Where to get current information

The QBCC website is the authoritative source: qbcc.qld.gov.au. Processes and fees change, so always check there rather than relying on what someone told you in a forum three years ago.