Generally, yes: under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licensing guidance, sole traders, partners, trustees and companies must hold a QBCC licence to carry out or contract for building work valued over $3,300 (figures checked 1 October 2026). The licence class must also cover the carpenter’s intended scope and fit their industry role and responsibilities.
Does “over $3,300” include work valued at exactly $3,300?
No. The general QBCC threshold is building work valued over $3,300, so work valued at exactly $3,300 is not above that threshold. However, the value is only the first check: some work needs a licence at any value, and specific exemptions apply to particular people and circumstances.
| Situation | QBCC position |
|---|---|
| General building work | A QBCC licence is required when the work is valued over $3,300. |
| Hydraulic Services Design | A licence is required when the work is valued over $1,100. |
| Handyman work | No licence is required where the value is no more than $3,300, the work is not electrical or plumbing work, and it does not require an occupational licence. |
| Owner working on their own property | Work valued at no more than $11,000 is included on the no-licence list. |
| Owner-builder | Building work carried out under a permit is included on the no-licence list. |
A QBCC licence is required regardless of value when the work involves:
- drainage;
- plumbing and drainage;
- gas fitting;
- chemical termite management;
- fire protection;
- completed residential building inspection;
- low-rise, medium-rise or open-site building design; or
- mechanical services.
These are specific rules, not a blanket extension of the $3,300 threshold. For example, a job combining carpentry with regulated work may require more than one licence class.
Entity structure can also matter. The QBCC states that a trust cannot obtain a QBCC licence; the individual or company acting as trustee and undertaking the building work must apply.
Why does the licence class need to match the work?
The QBCC says the class must cover the scope of work the licence holder intends to undertake or oversee. Its type must also suit the person’s role and responsibilities in the industry. Holding a licence in a broad trade category is therefore not enough if the proposed work falls outside its scope.
The QBCC’s Carpentry licence guidance includes the following examples:
| Work area | Examples listed in the carpentry scope |
|---|---|
| Wall and roof framing | Constructing and erecting timber and steel wall framing and roof structures; erecting ceiling and subfloor framing |
| Internal walls and finishes | Constructing non-loadbearing internal partition walls; fixing internal linings, panelling and mouldings |
| Windows, doors and joinery | Installing windows and doors, including framing; installing locks and furniture; restoring and renovating doors, windows and frames |
| Stairs and fitments | Constructing timber stairs and installing fitments |
| Flooring | Installing timber and sheet flooring |
| External work | Installing exterior cladding, fascias and soffits; installing metal roofing |
| Simple concreting and formwork | Concreting to simple forms, including installing formwork, reinforcement and concrete; erecting and stripping formwork, including slip form and jump form formwork |
Within that scope wording, “door” includes a fire door or fire shutter. The page also lists incidental work of another class. Even so, the QBCC advises that more than one licence class may be needed to cover the full proposed scope.
How should a carpenter check the correct role and class?
Use a practical scope check before quoting or tendering:
- List each task the carpenter will undertake or oversee.
- Compare every task with the current QBCC carpentry scope.
- Check whether any part involves work that requires licensing regardless of value.
- Identify the licence type that fits the carpenter’s role and responsibilities.
- Confirm that the selected class covers the complete scope; consider another class where it does not.
- Check whether a Schedule 1 or Schedule 1A exemption applies to the particular work or circumstances.
- Contact the QBCC if the boundary between classes or an exemption remains unclear.
The QBCC’s carpentry application instructions specifically ask applicants to identify the required licence type and confirm that the class covers the scope of work.
Does subcontracting or a partnership change the licensing result?
It can. The QBCC says subcontractor requirements vary according to the work and the contracting arrangements. Its general subcontractor guidance must also be read with the 53 exemptions in Schedule 1 of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Regulation 2018. Those exemptions can mean specified work is not defined as building work and does not require a contractor’s licence.
Schedule 1A of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 also contains situation-specific exemptions.
A partnership may fall within a listed no-licence situation where an unlicensed person works with a licensee and the licensed partner holds the correct licence for the work performed. However, an unlicensed partner cannot offer to tender for or enter into a contract for building work and must meet the QBCC’s fitness and propriety requirements.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. Before carrying out work, check the current regulator page for the applicable QBCC position and read the Product Disclosure Statement for any relevant insurance policy.
Sources
Figures checked 1 October 2026.
- When you need a licence | Queensland Building and Construction Commission
- Carpentry | Queensland Building and Construction Commission
FAQ
Is a QBCC licence needed for building work valued at exactly $3,300?
The general rule applies to work valued over $3,300, so it does not include exactly $3,300. Separate rules may still apply, including the handyman conditions and categories that require a licence regardless of value.
Does the carpentry scope cover every task described as carpentry?
No. Check each part of the job against the full QBCC scope. Framing, partitions, windows, doors, flooring, roofing, formwork and other listed tasks have different scope wording, and another licence class may be needed.
Does a main contractor’s QBCC licence automatically cover a subcontractor?
No. The QBCC says subcontractor requirements depend on the work and contracting arrangements. Any partnership or exemption must be assessed against its conditions; an unlicensed partner cannot tender for or contract the building work.
How is the value of building work calculated?
The QBCC guidance states the value thresholds but does not explain how to calculate the value of a particular job. Readers with an uncertain valuation should contact the QBCC for advice about their individual circumstances.
Partner links. Using them costs you nothing extra and may earn us a commission.