In Victoria, demolishers are registered building practitioners, and anyone can look a business up on the regulator's public register. People say "licensed"; the regulator calls it "registered".
Check the company on your contract, not just the person you meet, and check that the registration category covers the job. It takes a couple of minutes.
Here's what the categories mean, how to check, and what to ask before you sign.
What "licensed" means for a demolisher
In Victoria, demolition is a registered building trade. The regulator describes demolishers as practitioners who completely or partly dismantle buildings and other structures. Since 1 July 2025 that regulator has been the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), which took over from the Victorian Building Authority (VBA).
Demolishers can be registered in one of three categories:
- Demolisher (Low rise)
- Demolisher (Medium rise)
- Demolisher (Unlimited)
The category sets the scope of work the registration covers. If you're not sure which category your job needs, ask the demolisher to explain it and to show you where it appears on the register.
Why the company matters as much as the person
It's easy to check the person who quoted your job and stop there. The contract, though, is with a company, and the company needs to be registered too.
The VBA warned demolishers in 2019 that a company can't enter into a major domestic building contract unless the company itself is registered as a building practitioner. That covers major domestic building work, which includes demolishing a home. The same warning noted that a building surveyor can't issue a building permit unless the contract was entered into by a person or company that is registered and whose registration covers the work.
Match the names. The business name on your quote and contract should be the one you find on the register. If they don't match, ask why before you sign.
How to check, step by step
- Get the details in writing. Ask for the company's registered name and registration details on the quote or contract.
- Open the register. Use the Find a practitioner tool on the BPC website.
- Search for the company and the individual. Confirm both appear, and that the registration is for demolition.
- Check the category. Confirm it covers the type of building you're having demolished.
- Ask for the insurance certificate. Councils ask for a copy of the demolisher's public indemnity insurance with a demolition application, so a demolisher should have it on hand.
Where registration comes up in the permit
You'll see the same requirement from the council's side. Whittlesea City Council, for example, asks for evidence that the demolisher is currently registered with the Building Practitioners Board, and that the demolisher has the knowledge, experience, equipment and storage facilities for the work. A registered demolisher is also needed to obtain the demolition permit in the first place, See how long house demolition takes for where the permit fits in the timeline.
Asbestos removal is a separate licence
A demolisher's registration doesn't cover asbestos removal. Licensed asbestos removal is regulated separately by WorkSafe, with two licence classes:
- Class B covers non-friable asbestos and asbestos-contaminated dust from removing it.
- Class A covers Class B work as well as friable asbestos and most asbestos-contaminated dust.
WorkSafe's directory of service providers is the place to find licensed asbestos removalists. For what happens after removal, see our guide to asbestos clearance certificates in Victoria.
What DigDig holds
DigDig Demolition is registered as a Demolisher (Low Rise) and a Licensed Domestic Builder (Unlimited), and holds a WorkSafe Class B asbestos removal licence. Asbestos removal is carried out as part of a full demolition, not as a standalone service. You can look DigDig up on the register the same way as any other business. More on our house demolition service.
Questions worth asking before you sign
- Is the company on this contract registered, and in which category?
- Is the person running my job registered as well?
- Who holds the WorkSafe licence for any asbestos removal, and which class is it?
- Can I see your public liability insurance certificate?
- Who applies for the demolition permit, and who arranges the Section 29A report? (See Section 29A explained.)
Common questions
How do I check if a demolisher is licensed in Victoria?
Search the demolisher's company name, and the individual's name, on the Building and Plumbing Commission's Find a practitioner tool. Confirm that both are registered for demolition, that the category covers your building, and that the company name matches the one on your quote and contract.
Is a demolition licence the same as an asbestos licence?
No. Demolishers are registered as building practitioners with the Building and Plumbing Commission. Licensed asbestos removal is regulated separately by WorkSafe Victoria, with Class A and Class B licences. A demolisher can need both.
What are the demolisher registration categories in Victoria?
There are three: Demolisher (Low rise), Demolisher (Medium rise) and Demolisher (Unlimited). The category sets the scope of work the registration covers.
Does the demolition company have to be registered, or just the individual?
The company should be registered as well. The VBA has warned that a company can't enter into a major domestic building contract, which includes demolishing a home, unless the company itself is registered as a building practitioner.
Sources
- Building and Plumbing Commission: Find a practitioner
- VBA: Demolisher registration
- VBA: Demolishers warned about major domestic building contracts and company registration (2019)
- Whittlesea City Council: Before you demolish or remove a building
- Victorian Government asbestos: Licensed asbestos removalists