Do tilers need a licence? What to check before you hire

A new bathroom floor, a kitchen splashback or a retiled shower can lift a whole room. Tiling done badly, though, can mean cracked tiles, drummy floors and water getting where it shouldn't. That's why it pays to know whether your tiler needs a licence, and what to check before you hand over a deposit.

The short answer is that it depends on your state and the size of the job. This guide gives a general overview, links to the official sources, and lists the checks worth doing everywhere. Rules change, so confirm the current position with your state regulator before relying on it for a specific job.

New South Wales

NSW treats tiling as licensed trade work. The NSW Government's wall and floor tiling work page says you need a contractor licence to do residential building or trade work, including wall and floor tiling, valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials (including GST).

The same page notes that this category can include waterproofing wet areas to get them ready for tiling, as well as preparing surfaces and minor repairs before tiling. It also says a licence is needed to advertise or contract for the work, not just to do it.

You can look up a NSW tiler through the licence check described by the NSW Government. It shows the holder's name, licence categories, expiry date and details of any cancellations, conditions or public warnings.

Queensland

The QBCC's when you need a licence page says individuals and companies must hold a QBCC licence to carry out building work valued over $3,300.

QBCC has a dedicated wall and floor tiling licence class. It covers cutting and fixing tiles to floors, walls, hearths, spas and pools, constructing terrazzo, and applying waterproofing for wall and floor tiling. Before you sign, search the tiler's name or licence number on the QBCC licensee register and check that the licence class matches the work.

Victoria

Victoria works differently. Consumer Affairs Victoria's page on becoming a registered building practitioner lists wall and floor tiling among the jobs that don't need registration with the Building and Plumbing Commission when the job involves only that trade.

The catch is combined work. The same Consumer Affairs Victoria page says registration is needed when a tradesperson uses a combination of skills on domestic building work worth more than $10,000. A full bathroom renovation usually involves several trades, so ask who is managing the job and whether they're registered.

Western Australia

WA doesn't have a separate tiler's licence. The WA Government's building contractor registration page says that individuals, partnerships and companies that contract to provide building work valued over $20,000 must be registered as a building contractor. That applies to work that needs a building permit and is carried out within the board's area of jurisdiction.

The government's Build a Life in WA tiler page puts it simply: a tiler employed by a registered builder doesn't need a licence, but one contracting with others on building work valued over $20,000 needs to register as a building contractor. For a straightforward retile, your checks will mostly be about the business itself rather than a licence.

South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory

In South Australia, the SA Government's building work contractor's licence page explains that people who run a business carrying out or organising building work for others must be licensed as building work contractors. Whether a particular tiling job falls within this depends on the work, so check with Consumer and Business Services if you're unsure.

In Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory, tiling-only work generally isn't licensed in the same way as electrical or plumbing work. Larger jobs that include other building work may need a licensed builder, so check with the local building regulator before you sign anything significant.

What to check whatever state you're in

A licence is one piece of the puzzle. Whether or not your job needs one, these checks only take a few minutes:

1. Licence or registration. Where one applies, ask for the number and look it up on the official register. Make sure the name matches the business on your quote. Our guide to checking a tradie's licence in every state links to each register.
2. ABN. Confirm the business is active using our guide to checking a tradie's ABN.
3. Insurance. Ask for a current public liability certificate. Here's why public liability insurance matters.
4. Waterproofing. In wet areas, ask who is doing the waterproofing, whether it's included in the quote and whether you'll get written certification for it. If it's a separate trade, check them too.
5. A detailed written quote. It should cover tile supply, removal of old tiles, surface preparation, waterproofing, grout, trims and clean-up.
6. Deposits. Keep the deposit reasonable and tie payments to finished stages. Our guide to deposits and progress payments explains how.

For more on picking the right person, read our guide on how to choose a tiler.

Finding a tiler near you

When you're ready, search Find My Tradie's tilers directory to find local businesses and contact them directly. You can also start with tilers in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne or Perth. Get two or three written quotes and run the checks above before you decide.

Find tilers in your area

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information only, not legal or financial advice. Rules change, so check the official sources linked above for your state.