Introduction

Building practitioners need to apply for registration to make compliance declarations and lodge regulated designs on the NSW Planning Portal for regulated buildings

  • class 2, 3, or 9c
  • buildings with a class 2, 3, or 9c part.

You can register as a building practitioner for 1, 3 or 5 years. Registration application fees apply.

In this application, building practitioners can apply for:

  • general
  • general (medium rise) or
  • general (low rise)
    • if you’re authorised to make compliance declarations for building work
    • if you prepare and provide required documents for building work
    • if you hold a contractor licence for general building work under the Home Building Act 1989.
  • body corporate nominee
  • body corporate nominee (medium rise) or
  • body corporate nominee (low rise)
    • if you’re a registered building practitioner that has been nominated by a body corporate
    • if the body corporate that has nominated you holds a building practitioner - body corporate registration
    • if you’re authorised to prepare and provide documents as a building practitioner on behalf of a registered body corporate
    • if you hold a supervisor certificate or you’re authorised to do general building work under the Home Building Act 1989.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, you need to:

Note

  • If you worked on two or more building sites at the same time it will be counted as one period of time only when calculating your equivalent full time work experience.
  • You cannot register if you are an undischarged bankrupt.

What you need

  • a MyServiceNSW Account
    • you can create one when you start your application
    • you may need details from 2 identity documents (such as Australian driver licence, Medicare card, passport)
  • your National Police Check certificate
  • your endorsed contractor licence authorising you to do general building work, or a supervisor certificate
  • your contact details
  • a current credit card for payment.

How to apply

  1. Check the eligibility criteria for the registration types and classes you want to apply for.
  2. Gather your certificates and other required documents.
  3. Select the ‘Apply online’ button.
    Note: You can save and resume your application within 60 days. If you have not submitted your application within 60 days any details you’ve entered will be deleted.
  4. Log in, or create your MyServiceNSW Account.
  5. Follow the prompts to:
    1. complete your application and
    2. pay the fee.

What happens next

When you apply for registration, you’ll:

  • need to wait for your application for registration to be assessed and approved by Building Commission NSW before you can declare or lodge designs
  • be contacted by Building Commission NSW if further information is needed
  • be notified about the result of your application within 8 weeks of submitting it (unless placed on hold, pending further information)
  • receive your registration ID if approved.

Privacy

To apply for building practitioner registration with Building Commission NSW you’ll need to create or log in with a MyServiceNSW Account.

By logging in you consent to sharing your name and email address in your MyServiceNSW Account with Building Commission NSW, a division of the Department of Customer Service.

To find out how your personal information will be handled once it is shared by Service NSW read the Building practitioner registration – privacy collection notice.

Contact

If you have questions about your registration you can contact Building Commission NSW:

Last updated: 4 August 2025

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