The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) publishes a Structural Landscaping (trade) description and a Builder restricted to structural landscaping description; both, checked 1 October 2026, say prefabricated sheds—including associated concrete slabs—must have a floor area of not more than 10m². They are not interchangeable: Structural Landscaping expressly covers retaining walls that do not require engineering certification under a local law and surface or subsoil drainage, while Builder restricted expressly covers irrigation, playground equipment, ponds and water features, and plans or specifications for the licensee’s personal use. Match the complete intended job to the published scope, and ask QBCC where the work crosses both descriptions.
How do the two published scopes compare?
“Not expressly named” below means only that the wording on that page does not list the item. It is not proof that no other QBCC licence class or requirement could apply.
| Work or feature | Structural Landscaping (trade) | Builder restricted to structural landscaping |
|---|---|---|
| Carports, decking, fences, gazebos, pergolas and ornamental structures | Preparing, fabricating and erecting these structures is expressly included. | Preparing, fabricating and erecting these structures is expressly included. |
| Gate | Not expressly named. | A gate is expressly included with fences. |
| Retaining work | Retaining walls are included only at a height that does not require engineering certification under a local law. | “Retaining walls and structures” are expressly included. The published wording should be checked for the proposed height and work. |
| Prefabricated sheds | Installation, including associated concrete slabs, is included where the floor area is not more than 10m². | Installation, including associated concrete slabs, is included where the floor area is not more than 10m². |
| Surface and subsoil drainage | Installing surface and subsoil drainage systems for landscaping work is expressly included. | Not expressly named. |
| Irrigation | Not expressly named. | Installing irrigation for landscaping works is expressly included. |
| Ponds and water features | Not expressly named. | Ponds and water features are expressly included. |
| Artificial landforms | Not expressly named. | Artificial landform structures requiring a fabricated internal structure are expressly included. |
| Site preparation, paving and concrete | Site preparation and paving or concrete for landscaping are included when the work is not intended to carry vehicular traffic. | Site preparation, excavation, and paving or concrete associated with landscaping are expressly included. |
| Tennis and other sporting courts | Construction, maintenance and repair are included, including site preparation or excavation, concrete work, and surface materials or treatments. | Construction, maintenance and repair are included, including site preparation or excavation, concrete work, and surface materials or treatments. |
| Playground equipment | Not expressly named. | Installing, erecting and constructing playground equipment is expressly included. |
| Plans and specifications | Not expressly named. | Included for the licensee’s personal use, or for building work to be performed personally by the licensee. |
| Incidental work of another class | Expressly included. | Not expressly named. |
| Published exclusion | No parallel exclusion appears in this work description. | Does not include personally carrying out building work requiring a fire protection licence, or an occupational licence unless the licensee holds that occupational licence. |
Which scope differences matter when matching a job?
Start with the complete works description rather than a broad trade label. The published pages contain several distinctions that can change the apparent match:
- Irrigation and drainage are not interchangeable terms. Irrigation for landscaping is expressly named in Builder restricted. Surface and subsoil drainage systems for landscaping are expressly named in Structural Landscaping.
- Water-based work has a different published location. Ponds and water features appear expressly in the Builder restricted description, not the Structural Landscaping description.
- Playground equipment is expressly named only in Builder restricted.
- The retaining-wall wording differs. Structural Landscaping refers to wall height that does not require engineering certification under a local law. Builder restricted refers to retaining walls and structures without reproducing that height wording.
- Site-work conditions must travel with the scope. The Structural Landscaping paving and concrete description says the work is not intended to carry vehicular traffic. Its builder-restricted counterpart refers to paving or concrete associated with landscaping and separately includes excavation.
- The personal-use condition matters. Builder restricted expressly covers plans and specifications for the licensee’s personal use or for building work performed personally by the licensee.
- The occupational-licence exclusion applies to the published Builder restricted scope. Work requiring a fire protection licence, or requiring an occupational licence that the licensee does not hold, is outside that description.
For a mixed job, compare each element against both descriptions and obtain QBCC’s view where an essential activity, limit or exclusion remains unclear.
What eligibility do applicants need for either class?
Both cited QBCC pages set out the following core requirements:
| Requirement | What the applicant must be able to do |
|---|---|
| Licence eligibility | Meet all eligibility requirements for the relevant licence type. |
| Fit and proper | Be fit and proper to operate. |
| Work permission | Have permission to work in Queensland; each page lists citizen, visa and Immicard in parentheses. |
| Identity | Provide photographic proof of identity. |
| Business structure | If operating under a trading name, company, partnership or trust, provide evidence of that business structure. |
| Timing of application | Be able to meet all eligibility requirements before applying and paying fees. |
The Builder restricted page lists Individual, Company and Mutual recognition under “How to apply”. The work-scope comparison should therefore be followed by a separate check of the requirements for the particular licence type being sought.
What fees are listed for each class?
For a contractor-type licence, QBCC says the fee is determined by annual turnover, also described as maximum revenue (MR). The cited pages list the following application fees:
| QBCC row and MR band | Structural Landscaping total | Structural current QBCC licence holder | Builder restricted total | Builder restricted current QBCC licence holder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC1: MR up to $200,000 p.a. | $773.89 | $438.81 | Not listed on the cited page | Not listed on the cited page |
| SC2: MR up to $800,000 p.a. | $920.68 | $501.47 | $920.68 | $501.47 |
| Cat 1-2: MR up to $12 million p.a. | $1180.19 | $678.72 | $1180.19 | $678.72 |
| Cat 3-7: MR over $12 million p.a. | $1696.50 | $942.15 | $1696.50 | $942.15 |
A current individual QBCC licence holder applying for another licence class pays a reduced fee. Changing the licence type or increasing a contractor’s MR adjusts the fee, and QBCC says it will contact the applicant with the adjusted amount.
The dated fee statements on the two pages are different: the Structural Landscaping page records an increase on 1 July 2026, while the Builder restricted page records an increase on 1 July 2025. Both pages also state that fees and charges increase each year on 1 July, so the relevant QBCC page should be checked before payment.
The Structural Landscaping page also lists an optional printed certificate identifying the licence held for an additional $35.18. QBCC states that specific fees, charges and prices can be obtained from the regulator on request.
How do you apply and what happens after lodgement?
Both pages set out the same basic sequence:
- Confirm that the licence class covers the intended scope of work.
- Identify the required licence type.
- Gather supporting documents.
- Download and complete the application form.
- Pay the fees and lodge the application.
The Structural Landscaping page says most application types are usually fully processed within a few weeks and advises allowing around 8 weeks. Processing can take longer where financial information requires analysis, a non-prescribed technical qualification needs comparison mapping, claimed experience must be assessed against the class scope, experience verification is problematic, or a fit-and-proper assessment is needed. Fee-payment problems, an incomplete form, high application volumes, requests for additional information and other reasons can also add time.
If approved, the Structural Landscaping page says QBCC posts a printed licence card and licence letter showing the licence number and scope of work. If that application is unsuccessful, QBCC says it refunds the licence fee but retains the application-processing cost. The cited Builder restricted page does not state the same processing-time or refund terms, so confirm those details rather than assuming the Structural Landsaping position applies.
A licence scope and insurance cover are separate checks. This is general information, not financial or legal advice: check the relevant QBCC regulator page before applying and your policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for the activities, exclusions, conditions and limits that apply to your work.
Sources
- Structural landscaping (trade) | Queensland Building and Construction Commission
- Builder restricted to structural landscaping | Queensland Building and Construction Commission
FAQ
Are QBCC Structural Landscaping and Builder restricted interchangeable?
No. Their published descriptions overlap, but each expressly names work that is not named in the other. Compare the full intended job, including structures, drainage, irrigation, site work, plans and any applicable limits or exclusions.
Which scope expressly includes irrigation, playground equipment and water features?
The published Builder restricted to structural landscaping scope expressly includes irrigation for landscaping works, installing or constructing playground equipment, and ponds and water features.
Do both classes have the same prefabricated-shed limit?
Yes. Both descriptions cover installing prefabricated sheds, including associated concrete slabs, with a floor area of not more than 10m².
Can Builder restricted cover plans and specifications?
The cited scope covers plans and specifications for the licensee’s personal use or for building work performed personally by the licensee. It does not expressly describe plans for work to be performed by someone else, so ask QBCC before relying on that class for a different arrangement.
How long does a QBCC application take?
The Structural Landscaping page says most applications are fully processed within a few weeks but advises allowing around 8 weeks because some applications require further assessment. The cited Builder restricted page does not provide the same timing guidance, so confirm the expected process directly with QBCC.
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