Unrestricted demolition licence
Find out when you need this licence, the eligibility requirements and how to apply.
On this page
Key information
- Demolition work is dangerous and considered high risk construction work.
- In NSW, there are two different types of demolition licences required to demolish or partly demolish most buildings, structures and installations: a restricted demolition licence and an unrestricted demolition licence.
When an unrestricted demolition licence is needed
You need this licence to demolish or partly demolish any structure or part of a structure that is loadbearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure and:
- is over 15 metres high, or
- is a chemical installation, or
- involves a tower crane on site, or
- involves a mobile crane with a rated capacity of more than 100 tonnes, or
- has structural components that are pre-tensioned or post-tensioned, or
- involves floor propping, or
- involves explosives.
For example, you will need this licence for demolition work involving load-shifting machinery, such as excavators, on multi-storey car parks or buildings that are 15 metres or more in height which require floor propping.
Eligibility
Who can apply
To apply for an unrestricted demolition licence, you must:
- be at least 18
- be operating a business
- have an ABN (Australian business number) or ACN (Australian company number)
- be a legal representative of the business - you must be the ABN holder/owner or the manager of the business; for a company, you must be a director
- have at least one named supervisor. They must have:
- completed the specified 11 units from the Certificate III in Demolition and Certificate IV in Demolition
- experience undertaking demolition work involving all of the following demolition types:
- over 15 metres high
- a chemical installation
- involved a tower crane on site
- involved a mobile crane with a rated capacity of more than 100 tonnes
- had structural components that were pre-tensioned or post-tensioned
- involved floor propping
- involved explosives.
You must submit evidence of your named supervisor’s experience. If you are a sole trader, you can nominate yourself as the named supervisor.
How to apply
What you need
Before you begin your application, make sure you have the following:
- proof of identity
- evidence of experience for your named supervisor
- proof of your named supervisor’s work with an unrestricted demolition licence holder. You must submit at least 2 examples of their experience for each of the 7 demolition types, for example, 2 for floor propping, 2 for a structure over 15 metres high, 2 for use of explosives, and so on
- a letter of reference from a supervisor of an unrestricted licence holder verifying the work experience of your named supervisor
- a public liability insurance certificate stating business activity is ‘demolition’
- a worker’s compensation insurance certificate, if you have employees and are not exempt
- safe work method statements (PDF, 166.25 KB) that include the demolition jobs your named supervisor is using as proof of their experience
- photographs showing the evidence of experience
- payment for the licence, which lasts 5 years (view the cost of the licence in the fee schedule).
You will also need to include the completed supervisor nomination form (PDF, 797.92 KB).
Apply for a new licence
Select the ‘Apply now’ link below. It will take you to the Service NSW online application form.
Your fee will be calculated on completion of the online application.
Your application will take around 30 minutes to complete.
Apply now for a new licence. Visit Service NSW if you need help applying online.
You can also renew your licence.
What happens next
- You will need to go to a Service NSW service centre within 30 days of applying, to complete facial verification.
- We will review your application. A SafeWork NSW officer will contact you by email if we need more information.
- We will email you to tell you if your application was successful. We will include a copy of your licence, and your details will be added to the public register.
Renew a licence
You need to renew your licence before it expires. If you don't, you will not be allowed to carry out demolition work.
Complete the renewal application form (PDF, 275.21 KB) and email it to the SafeWork NSW licensing team.
You can pay to renew your licence by credit card or PayPal and you will get a receipt number you can enter on the renewal application form (PDF, 275.21 KB).
If you don’t renew your licence within 3 months of expiry, you'll have to pay more to reapply.
We'll email you around 60 days before the expiry date to remind you to renew.
Lost, stolen or destroyed licences
If your licence is lost, stolen or destroyed, let us know in writing as soon as possible.
Complete the replace a licence application form (PDF, 149.82 KB) and email it to the SafeWork NSW licensing team or post it to Customer Experience, SafeWork NSW, Locked Bag 2906, Lisarow, NSW 2252.
You can pay to replace your licence by credit card or PayPal, and you'll get a receipt number you can enter on the replace a licence application form (PDF, 149.82 KB).
Change of details
It's your responsibility to tell us within 14 days if your name, address or other details change.
Named supervisors
Whenever licensed demolition work is being carried out, the demolition site must have a SafeWork NSW-approved, named supervisor on site, supervising the work.
Your named supervisor must agree to be nominated as a supervisor for your licence on the supervisor nomination form (PDF, 682.77 KB).
If you are a sole trader, you need to have the same experience and qualifications listed for a named supervisor.
Removing a named supervisor
We can remove a named supervisor from a demolition licence if we:
- become aware of a relevant matter for a named supervisor
- are satisfied the named supervisor was approved based on false or misleading information.
This means the conduct of a named supervisor can be considered separately when the relevant matter or action does not involve or implicate the licence holder, without impacting on the status of the licence.
Qualification requirements for named supervisors
Training
A Registered Training Organisation (RTO) must provide your named supervisor's training.
To get your licence, your named supervisor will need to have completed 11 units from the Certificate III in Demolition and Certificate IV in Demolition courses.
The 11 units are:
- ‘Plan and prepare for activities on demolition sites’
- ‘Read and interpret plans and specifications’
- ‘Select and use small plant and equipment for demolition tasks’ (first you will need to do ‘Apply OHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry’)
- ‘Demolish small buildings and structures using hand tools and small plant equipment’
- ‘Identify hazards on demolition sites and apply risk management strategies’
- ‘Select and use tools and equipment for hot work in the demolition industry’
- ‘Manage demolition recyclable and waste materials using load-shifting equipment’
- ‘Supervise individual activities on demolition sites’
- ‘Plan demolition work to minimise risk to health, safety and environment’
- ‘Manage work health and safety in the building and construction workplace’
- ‘Finalise demolition activities and supervise property handover’.
Evidence of experience for named supervisors
When applying for an unrestricted demolition licence, you need to submit evidence your named supervisor has demonstrated experience carrying out unrestricted demolition work for an unrestricted demolition licence holder. Your named supervisor’s experience should not be older than 10 years.
You must submit at least 2 examples of the named supervisor’s work in each of the 7 unrestricted demolition types (we note your examples might include more than one demolition type):
- over 15 metres high, and
- on a chemical installation, and
- involving a tower crane on site, and
- involving a mobile crane with a rated capacity of more than 100 tonnes, and
- with structural components that are pre-tensioned or post-tensioned, and
- involving floor propping, and
- involving explosives.
You must provide details, including:
- a description of the named supervisor’s role in each of the work examples
- safe work method statements (PDF, 166.25 KB) that include your supervisor undertaking demolition work in each of the 7 demolition types
- a letter of reference that verifies the demolition experience of your named supervisor. The reference must be from a named supervisor of an unrestricted demolition licence holder who observed your named supervisor undertake unrestricted demolition work.
You must provide detailed evidence of experience using the following dot points:
- project name and address, for example, Demolition of ABC Tower, Market St, Sydney
- start and end dates of unrestricted demolition work, for example, 1 Jan 2023 – 30 April 2023
- unrestricted demolition licence holder business name and licence number, for example, Demo 123 Pty Ltd, Lic: AD123456
- demolition types, for example, demolition over 15 metres, floor propping, mobile crane over 100 tonnes
- description of the tasks the named supervisor undertook, for example, excavator operator undertaking mechanical demolition of columns and beams on a 50-storey concrete framed building with suspended floors
- optional supporting evidence may include but is not limited to, contracts, engineering plans, work diaries, logbooks, demolition plans, toolbox talks, site inductions and photographs.
Demolition workers
From 1 March 2025, demolition licence holders must ensure demolition workers have completed the SafeWork NSW-approved course: CPCCDE3016 - Identify hazards on demolition sites and apply risk management strategies, if required to undertake licensed demolition work.
If your demolition worker can demonstrate they have previously completed one of the demolition courses listed below, they will not be required to complete the new course.
- CPCCDE3016A Identify hazards on demolition sites and apply risk management strategies (superseded by current course CPCCDE3016)
- 91181NSW – Course in Demolition Supervision (Restricted)
- 91182NSW – Course in Demolition Supervision (Unrestricted)
If a worker is a current or previously approved supervisor for a demolition licence, they are exempt from undertaking the course.
Working interstate
There are two ways of working across states and territories:
- Automatic Mutual Recognition
- Mutual Recognition
Automatic Mutual Recognition
This means licensed workers from all states and territories can work across borders (except Queensland), without having to apply for a licence in the second state or territory.
Interstate licensees will need to notify us of their intention to work here by completing an online notification. This can be accessed at the NSW Government website.
Under the AMR scheme, there is no need to obtain a local licence in a second state or territory or pay any additional licensing fees, as long as there is a home state licence in force.
Under AMR:
- licensees working interstate are subject to all relevant laws in the second state or territory
- their home state licence is considered a local licence in the second state or territory
- the second state or territory cannot impose specific conditions on an interstate licensee if they are not conditions that would be imposed on a local licensee
- any conditions on a licensee's home state licence still apply while working in the second state or territory
- licensees may appear on the second state's public register - this depends on the state or territory.
The scheme does not apply to New Zealand occupational registrations and licences.
Mutual Recognition
Licensed workers who are ineligible for AMR may be able to apply to work interstate under Mutual Recognition (MR) arrangements.
MR enables a licensed worker to work in another state or territory by having their qualifications recognised in NSW and vice versa.
Under the MR system, you can practise an equivalent occupation in NSW if the activities you're authorised to carry out under your original licence are substantially the same as those under the occupational licence in NSW.
You'll need to apply for recognition of your existing licence and pay any applicable fee.
For an application form, please email the SafeWork NSW licensing team or contact us on 13 10 50.
Note: Demolition workers operating in NSW must notify SafeWork NSW 5 calendar days before undertaking any demolition work that involves:
- the demolition of a structure more than 6 metres high
- load-shifting machinery (for example, an excavator) on a suspended floor
- explosives.
Latest updates
Find information about working as an unrestricted or restricted demolition licence holder.
You will need to select the regions you plan to work in for the public register.
Learn about penalties and on-the-spot fines coming in from 1 March 2023.
Contact us
Need help applying?
If you need help with your application or have questions, please call SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50.
Unsuccessful applications
You can apply for a review.
A review involves a different SafeWork NSW officer who was not involved in the original decision on your application.