Yes. Under section 47 of the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004, a construction occupations licensee working for a client must show the client their insurance, even if the client has not asked for it. This requirement is stated by the ACT Government’s City and Environment Directorate on its construction licence responsibilities page (figures checked 1 October 2026).
What does section 47 mean in practice?
The disclosure is proactive. A licensed builder should not wait for a client to ask before showing the relevant insurance.
The rule applies when a construction occupations licensee is working for a client. Builders are among the occupations covered by the licensing requirements and obligations under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004.
A construction occupations licence and insurance are separate matters. A licence does not, by itself, demonstrate that the builder has suitable insurance for the proposed work.
What should a client ask the builder to show?
A practical request would be:
Please show me evidence of your insurance for this work and explain where the relevant policy terms are recorded.
The client may then check:
- the identity of the insurer or policy;
- whether the insured person or business matches the builder or contracting entity;
- whether the policy period covers the proposed work;
- the relevant limits, exclusions and excess;
- whether the policy was in force when the work was to occur; and
- whether a certificate of currency is available.
These are practical ways to verify cover, not additional documents formally prescribed by the regulator statement. That statement requires the licensee to show their insurance but does not specify a minimum cover amount, excess, document type or fixed disclosure time.
What should a licensee do before starting work?
A builder can make compliance straightforward by preparing the relevant insurance information before client work begins. Useful steps include:
- identifying which policy relates to the work;
- keeping the applicable PDS and available insurance evidence ready to show;
- checking that the contracting entity and work described in the policy are consistent;
- explaining any relevant limitations without promising that a claim will be covered; and
- having a process for informing the client if the available insurance information changes.
Because the regulator statement does not prescribe one method, a licensee should ask their insurer or broker what evidence is appropriate if the requirements are unclear.
Does a current construction licence prove the builder has insurance?
No. The regulator’s construction professionals list allows clients to check whether a licence is current, including any endorsements, conditions or restrictions. That is a licence check, not a substitute for seeing evidence of insurance.
Clients should therefore make two separate checks:
| Check | What it establishes |
|---|---|
| Construction professionals list | Licence status and any recorded endorsements, conditions or restrictions |
| Insurance evidence and PDS | The policy terms that may apply to the proposed work |
A licence entry should not be treated as proof that insurance remains current or responds to a particular claim.
What if the builder has not shown insurance?
Ask the builder to identify and show the relevant insurance before relying on their licence status as evidence of professional cover. If the builder says the licence is enough, explain that section 47 refers to insurance as a separate disclosure.
If clarification is needed, the Construction and Work Place Licensing team can be contacted on 02 6207 8096 or at cwpl@act.gov.au.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Check the regulator’s current page and the policy PDS for the requirements that apply to your engagement.
Sources
FAQ
Must an ACT builder wait until I ask before showing insurance?
No. Section 47 applies when a construction occupations licensee is working for a client and requires the licensee to show their insurance even without a request from the client.
What information should I ask to see?
Ask for practical evidence of the relevant policy and the PDS. The regulator statement does not prescribe a particular document or set a minimum cover amount, so the builder should explain which evidence applies to the proposed work.
Is a current construction occupations licence enough?
No. The construction professionals list can help clients check licence status, endorsements, conditions and restrictions. Insurance is a separate disclosure under section 47.
Does section 47 say how much insurance the builder must have?
The cited regulator statement does not specify a cover amount or excess. The client should check the builder’s insurance evidence and PDS for the terms that apply to the work.
Does the rule apply before I hire the builder?
The cited statement applies to a licensee working for a client, but it does not explain when a client relationship begins in every situation, including a preliminary quote. Clients who want certainty before engagement can request insurance details early.