Important changes to registration requirements as of 1 February 2023
As of 1 February 2023, the Building Services Board will have enhanced powers to manage the commercial conduct and behaviour of registered building service providers. These changes relate to certain events that occurred on or after this date.
It is important that you are aware of these changes as they may impact your application for registration. View full details of the changes here.
How do I apply?
To apply for registration as a painting contractor you must complete one of the application forms below. Choose the form that best suits your business operations as either an individual (sole trader), partnership or company.
When you have completed the application form submit it and your supporting documentation to Licensing Services with the applicable fees. Your application can be submitted online, by post or in person.
Application forms
Apply online - Painting Contractor Company/body corporate.
Fees
Current application fees for painters can be found in the fee schedule.
If you are submitting your application by post (or in person) and are making payment by credit card, you must complete the Application payment form and attach it to your application.
Applications received without payment will not be accepted.
The department is committed to protecting your personal information it collects, uses or discloses when processing applications and making transactions. Under no circumstances should you include your payment card (credit/debit) details as part of any application submitted online. This includes for payment, proof of ID or within any other supporting documentation such as financial statements that accompany your application.
Changes to application forms
All building service provider initial application forms have been revised and are available above. Older versions of these forms can no longer be accepted when submitting online. Any applications received online that include a form with payment details will be deleted.
Automatic mutual recognition and Mutual recognition
If you are registered or licensed as a painter elsewhere in Australia or New Zealand, and want to carry out painting work in Western Australia, you can find out more information about having your licence recognised in WA.
Obligations of registered painting contractors
Show moreBuilding and Energy is responsible for regulating painting and decorating work and the Building Services Board (the Board) is responsible for registering painting contractors for work with a value of $1000 or more, in prescribed areas of Western Australia.
The building services Acts set out the obligations that registered service providers must adhere to.
General registration obligations
Written notice must be given to the Board within seven days of any of the following occurring:
- You change your address.
- There is a change in your eligibility.
- You are suffering financial difficulty.
- You have been charged with a serious offence.
- You are convicted of an offence against the law of the Commonwealth or another jurisdiction.
- You no longer have an eligible nominated supervisor.
Notify Licensing Services within 14 days if the business address or contact details change.
Contracting
The Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (the Act) regulates contracts between anyone undertaking home building or associated work for a home owner where the value of the fixed price contract is between $7,500 and $500,000. Limited provisions apply to cost plus contracts. The following requirements apply:
- Notice for the home owner - You must provide the owner with a copy of the ‘Notice for the Home Owner’.
- Home building work contract - Contracts must be in writing, contain all the terms, conditions and provisions of the agreement, show the date and be signed by both parties.
- Deposits and progress payments - Deposits must not exceed 6.5 per cent of the total cost of the work and progress payments must only be for work actually performed or materials already supplied.
- Contract variations - Variations must be in writing, show the date and be signed by both parties. You must give a copy to the home owner before the variation work commences.
- Price rises - ‘Rise and fall’ clauses are prohibited under the Act.
- Workmanship defects - You are liable to make good any defects in home building work where notified in writing within four months of practical completion.
Painting work
All painting and decorating work must carried out in accordance with AS/NZS 2311:2009 or the paint manufacturers’ specifications and to good trade practice.
Signage requirements
You must ensure your sign is located in a prominent position on the site and be able to be read by members of the public from outside the site, is of reasonable dimensions and written in clearly legible letters and numerals. It must contain the name, registration number and contact telephone number of the contractor and the name and registration number of the nominated supervisor of the contractor.
Advertising requirements
You must include the registration number of the registered painting and decorating contractor and nominated supervisor (where applicable) in all published advertising and display a sign at sites that complies with the legislation when carrying out painting and decorating work.
Supervision requirement
Ensure painting and decorating work is properly managed and supervised by the contractor, and where applicable, the nominated supervisor.
Compliance audit program
The compliance audit program monitors that:
- relevant standards are being met through proficient and workmanlike trade practices;
- legislative obligations are being complied with; and
- painters and decorators are protecting their interests by ensuring they comply with their contractual and workmanship obligations and instilling in the public confidence in the painting and decorating profession.
A written notice of an audit will be issued to the registered painting and decorating contractor to allow adequate time to retrieve the relevant or required documents ready for the audit.
During the audit, the registered painting and decorating contractor will have an opportunity to discuss any compliance related matters.
Building and Energy officers are bound by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety's Code of Conduct. Any information obtained during the audit will remain confidential unless the Board or Building and Energy is required to disclose the information by law.
Inspections of painting and decorating work will also be conducted. The sites will be selected from current or recently completed work being undertaken.
Generally, an audit conducted at your office may take approximately two hours, depending on the size and nature of the business.
What happens after an audit is completed?
The Building Commissioner acknowledges compliance efforts and will support registered painting and decorating practitioners and contractors who are endeavouring to comply with their requirements. When necessary, actions taken for non-compliance may include formal warnings and prosecutions seeking the imposition of penalties. Where warranted, the use of public warning to protect the public from serious non-compliance will be considered along with disciplinary action.
Information will be gathered and collated and will be then communicated with the industry.
Other inspections
Site inspections can occur randomly without notice, as a result of other audit activities and in response to complaints.
Further information
Obligations of registered painting contractors
Further information regarding your obligations is located on our website. Copies of the building services acts are available on the Parliamentary Council's Office website.
Painting contractor scope of work
Show moreThe below information provides a description of activities which Western Australia (WA) registered painting contractors are permitted to perform. If you are a WA licensee visiting another state under AMR, you are only allowed to perform the activities listed below.
Licence identifier: PC00 – PC00000
Scope of work
To contract for and arrange for the carrying out of painting work valued at $1,000 or more which is the application of paint (which includes varnishes and stains), wall paper or a similar substance or material to a building or fixture within a defined area of the state.
Does not include:
- industrial painting;
- the application of paint to a floor, path or driveway composed of concrete or a similar material;
- the application of a protective coating to a building which has first been treated by abrasive blasting or mechanical cleaning, if both processes are undertaken by the same contractor; or
- signwriting.
Specific activities
- applying paint by brush and roller;
- applying paint by spray;
- applying texture coat paint finishes by brush, roller and spray;
- applying stains and clear timber finishes;
- applying wall paper; and
- applying decorative finishes.
Compliance requirements in WA
To get a WA registration
- Must be registered as a painting practitioner
- Must not be currently insolvent (if previously insolvent must demonstrate financial capacity)
- Must have appropriate arrangements in place to manage and supervise painting services
- Must pay an application fee
To keep a WA registration
- Must maintain appropriate arrangements to manage and supervise painting services
- Must renew the registration every three years
They must comply with the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011, Building Regulations 2012, and Building Services (Registration) Regulations 2011, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Regulations 2011. Home Building Contracts Act 1991 and Home Building Contracts Regulations 1992.
