What Is the VBA?
The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) is Victoria’s principal regulator for the building, plumbing, and demolition industries. It registers and licenses building practitioners (builders, building surveyors, engineers, draftspeople), plumbers, and other trade professionals. The VBA also monitors compliance, investigates complaints, and takes disciplinary action against practitioners who breach regulations.
Key Functions
The VBA is responsible for:
- Practitioner registration — registering builders, building surveyors, engineers, building inspectors, and quantity surveyors under the Building Act 1993
- Plumbing licensing — licensing plumbers and issuing plumbing compliance certificates
- Compliance monitoring — auditing building practitioners and plumbers to ensure standards are maintained
- Complaint investigation — investigating allegations of non-compliant or defective building work
- Disciplinary action — issuing fines, suspending or cancelling registrations, and referring serious matters to VCAT
- Consumer information — providing guidance to homeowners on hiring registered practitioners and understanding their rights
VBA Practitioner Search
The VBA maintains a public register where you can search for registered building practitioners and licensed plumbers by name, registration number, or business name. The register shows registration status, category, and any conditions or disciplinary findings.
Registration Categories
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Domestic Builder (Unlimited) | Can build any domestic building |
| Domestic Builder (Limited) | Limited to specific types of domestic work |
| Commercial Builder (Unlimited) | Can build any commercial building |
| Building Surveyor | Issues building permits and conducts inspections |
| Licensed Plumber | Plumbing, gasfitting, draining, roofing |
How It Relates to Licence Verification
The VBA register is the authoritative source for building practitioner and plumber registrations in Victoria. TradieVerify aggregates VBA registration data so you can verify a Victorian tradesperson’s credentials alongside practitioners from other states. Always confirm your practitioner is currently registered with the VBA before work commences.