Landscaping Licensing Information

NSW

The process of getting a landscapers licence in New South Wales is managed and regulated by the Department of Fair Trading.

Licensing

For home building or trade work you must have a contractor licence before you contract, sub-contract or advertise to do residential building work where the reasonable market cost of the labour and materials is more than $5,000 (including GST).

Work involved in the construction of external landscape features, and non-habitable structures including the following:

  • retaining walls of any material that do not form part of a habitable building,
  • fencing irrespective of the construction material, driveways, paths and other paving of any material,
  • cabanas, pergolas, decks and non-habitable shelters,
  • ornamental ponds, water features and other structural ornamentation.

A contract for structural landscaping can include any specialist work that is integral to the overall work, but such work must be carried out by the holder of an endorsed contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate in the relevant category of specialist work.

Note: A licence is required to undertake work to concrete tennis courts and the like but only if the work involved is to be done under a contract to do other work that is residential building work.

A licence is required to construct or install ornamental ponds and water features and other structural ornamentation which requires development consent but only if the work involved is to be done under a contract to do other work that is residential building work.

License Types

  • Structural Landscaping

License Application

You must lodge your application and payment in person at a Service NSW centre.

https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/trades-and-businesses/licensing-and-qualifications/structural-landscaping

Experience

Not Applicable

Qualifications

National Police Check

Not Applicable

Financial Requirements

Not Applicable

Building Insurance Requirements

If you’re a licensed builder or tradesperson in NSW, you need to get home building compensation (HBC) cover for each home building project over $20,000 including GST.

HBC cover, which used to be called ‘home warranty insurance’, protects homeowners as a last resort if you can’t complete building work or fix defects.

You need this cover to work directly for a developer, homeowner or owner-builder for new homes, new low-rise ‘multi-unit’ buildings of three storeys or less, or home renovations, unless exempt. Sub-contractors do not need the cover, because the head contractor has covered the work.

You must give proof of the HBC cover to your customer before starting work or asking for any payment or deposit.
 

More Information

For more information on applying for a NSW Builders' Licence, or to learn more about the process, visit the Department of Fair Trading website.