Do fencing contractors need a licence in Victoria and NSW?

What the regulator pages do not say

The regulator pages we found do not say whether farm, stock, vineyard or exclusion fencing needs a licence or registration, on either side of the Murray. The New South Wales fencing page describes fencing around residential property boundary lines. The Victorian registration page names, among its single-trade exceptions, only a chain wire fence around a tennis court. We do not infer anything from either. This page reports what each says, states the thresholds as thresholds, and ends with questions to put to a contractor.

Licensing depends on the value and type of work. Ask the contractor which licence or registration they hold, check it with the regulator for the side of the Murray where the fence is, and ask the regulator if you are unsure. A licence or registration is about the person doing the work. A planning or building permit is about the fence, and is covered further down.

New South Wales side of the Murray: what the NSW pages say

The NSW Government's fencing work page, run by Building Commission NSW, says "Fencing means putting up fences and gates within or on residential property boundary lines", and treats fencing as trade work (NSW fencing work page). It says some other licence categories "cover some fencing". It does not mention rural fencing and does not list exclusions, and we do not say what it implies. For the threshold it says: "You must have a contractor licence to carry out, advertise or contract for building or trade work that is valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials (including GST)." Where a licence is needed and not held, it says you can be fined $22,000 as an individual or $110,000 as a company.

The general building work page repeats the $5,000 threshold and the penalty, under the Home Building Act 1989 per the page, and does not mention fencing (general building work page). Building Commission NSW is on 13 27 00, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm. These are thresholds. They matter if the work counts as residential building work (the pages do not say whether a rural fence does).

Victorian side of the Murray: what the Victorian pages say

Consumer Affairs Victoria says registration with the Building and Plumbing Commission is needed for domestic building work where the contract is worth more than $10,000 (becoming a registered building practitioner). The single-trade exceptions the page lists name only one fence: "erecting a chain wire fence around a tennis court". Whether a rural boundary, stock, vineyard or exclusion fence counts as domestic building work, the pages do not say. Another Consumer Affairs Victoria page lists "fencing and gates" among small home improvement projects where you should check a tradesperson's credentials before hiring (builders and tradespeople page).

The Building and Plumbing Commission's page on unregistered practitioners mentions the $10,000 test for builders carrying out work that requires a major domestic building contract, and does not mention fencing (unregistered practitioner page). Its Home Warranty page says the scheme applies to eligible domestic building contracts signed on or after 1 July 2026, for eligible projects valued at more than $20,000, with the registered builder paying the premium (Home Warranty page). It does not mention fencing.

The thresholds in one table

Each row applies if the work counts as residential building work (New South Wales) or domestic building work (Victoria), and the pages do not say whether a rural fence does.

Contractors who work across the border

Because Sunraysia straddles the Murray, a contractor may work on both sides. We describe the automatic mutual recognition scheme as mechanics only. For a New South Wales practitioner working in Victoria, the Building and Plumbing Commission says eligible practitioners must notify it with the online notification form before any work starts, that any condition on the home registration also applies, and that it is an offence to work as a building practitioner in Victoria without the required insurance (Victorian mutual recognition page). For a Victorian licensee working in New South Wales, the NSW Government says licensees must notify Building Commission NSW before they start, that home state licence conditions still apply, and that the scheme does not cover licences issued to companies or partnerships (NSW working interstate page). Neither page mentions fencing.

We do not say a Mildura contractor may work in Wentworth Shire or the reverse, and we do not say whether the scheme covers a rural fence. Ask the contractor what they hold, and ask the regulator on the side where the fence is.

Insurance, permits and what is separate

The only insurance facts in our sources are the Victorian required-insurance wording above, Victoria's Home Warranty and the New South Wales Home Building Compensation certificate. We give no view on cover. Ask what insurance the contractor holds and what it covers, and ask for the evidence in writing.

Permits are separate from licensing. Mildura Rural City Council lists "sheds, carports, verandahs, garages, fences" among building types that may need a building permit and says to check with its building department (Mildura building permits). Another Victorian council says a permit applies where a fence "is more than 2m high (regardless of materials used or location)" (another Victorian council's page). That is another council's rule, used only as an illustration, and we did not find Mildura's own height threshold. A fence that is also a pool barrier is a separate regulated fence. The Murray page covers flood and vegetation permits.

Questions to ask before you sign

1. Which licence or registration do you hold? Ask for the name of the licence or registration and the body that issued it.
2. For which side of the Murray? Check it with Building Commission NSW on 13 27 00 for New South Wales, or the Building and Plumbing Commission for Victoria.
3. What insurance do you hold? And what does it cover on this job?
4. Is the contract in writing? With the scope, the price basis and any deposit stated.
5. Is the quote itemised? The cost and quote guide lists the items to look for.
6. Who serves any neighbour notice? See the Victorian and New South Wales boundary fence pages, each for its own side.

When you are ready, send your town, the side of the Murray and a photo of the fence line, and the enquiry goes to a local contractor who is responsible for holding any licence or registration that applies.