Workers laying tiles on an outdoor patio under sunl ight
Whether landscaping work needs a QBCC licence depends on whether it is structural, and on the value of the job.

Yes, if the work is “structural landscaping” and valued over $3,300. This covers retaining walls, decking, paving, fences, pergolas and similar structures. Purely non-structural gardening, such as mo
wing, planting and mulching, generally does not need a QBCC licence.

Landscaping sits in a grey area for a lot of homeowners and tradespeople because the word covers everything from mowing a lawn to building an engineered retaining wall. QBCC does not licence “landscaping” as a single activity. It licenses structural landscaping, a defined scope of building work, separately from ordinary garden maintenance, which is not licensed at all.

This guide explains what counts as structural landscaping, when the $3,300 threshold applies, which licence classes cover the work, and how to avoid the mistakes that catch out landscapers and homeowners in Queensland.

Table of Contents

1. Does Landscaping Work Need a QBCC Licence?

A construction worker measuring tiles o utdoors with precision tools
Measuring the scope and value of the job is the first step in working out whether a QBCC licence is required.

In Queensland, a person must hold a QBCC licence to carry out structural landscaping building work valued over $3,300, including labour and materials. This is the same general threshold that applies to other building work under the QBCC Act, and it applies whether the work is done by a business or an individual contracting directly with a homeowner.

The key word is “structural.” QBCC’s structural landscaping licence classes exist specifically because landscaping regularly crosses into genuine building work, retaining soil, supporting structures, altering drainage, rather than staying purely decorative or horticultural. If you are unsure which broad licence category applies to your business, compare the main QBCC licence options before you go further.

Type of work Typical licensing position What to check first
Retaining wall, deck or paving over $3,300 Generally needs a structural landscaping licence class. Whether the total job value, not just labour, exceeds $3,300.
Mowing, mulching, planting, weeding Generally not licensed building work. Whether any structural element is being added to the quote.
Retaining wall over 1m or with load above it May need engineering certification and a higher-class licence. Height, load and local council approval requirements.
Garden edging on level ground Not usually treated as a retaining structure. Whether it is genuinely retaining a level change or just decorative.

An ABN is not a licence

Having an ABN and public liability insurance shows a business is registered for tax, not that it is authorised to perform structural building work. A QBCC licence is a separate, legal requirement.

2. What Counts as “Structural Landscaping”?

A focused mason wearing protective gear , laying stone tiles outdoors
Structural landscaping covers hard, built elements of a garden, not the plants and lawn around them.

QBCC’s structural landscaping licence classes cover a defined scope of work under the QBCC Regulation. In broad terms, the scope includes preparing, fabricating and erecting the hard structural elements commonly found in a landscaped property, rather than the softer horticultural side of a garden.

  • ✓Carports, decking, fences, gazebos and pergolas.
  • ✓Retaining walls that do not require engineering certification under local law, and ornamental structures.
  • ✓Preparing the site and laying paving or concrete not intended for vehicle traffic.
  • ✓Surface and subsoil drainage systems for landscaping work, and irrigation installation.
  • ✓Installing prefabricated sheds with an associated concrete slab, and constructing tennis or other sporting courts.

Because fences and decking sit inside this same scope, a structural landscaping licence overlaps with other trade classes. If your work is mostly fencing, compare the dedicated guide on QBCC Builder licences to see where structural landscaping sits alongside the Builder classes.

The 1-metre rule is a different question

Whether council building approval is required for a retaining wall depends on height and load, commonly a 1-metre threshold. That is separate from whether a QBCC licence is required. A wall under a metre can still need a licence if the job is valued over $3,300.

3. The Two Structural Landscaping Licence Classes

Overhead view of architectural b lueprints and a contract with pen on grass
The right licence class depends on whether you want to personally perform the work or manage and subcontract full projects.

QBCC issues two licence classes that cover structural landscaping, and the difference between them matters when you are deciding which one to apply for.

Licence class What it allows Best suited to
Structural Landscaping (trade) Personally perform the listed trade works; limited to retaining walls that do not need engineering certification. Hands-on landscapers doing the physical work themselves.
Builder Restricted to Structural Landscaping Broader scope: contract directly with clients, subcontract to other trades and manage larger or more complex projects end to end. Businesses running multiple crews or managing bigger landscaping projects.

Both classes share the same retaining wall limitation: neither covers walls that require engineering certification under local law. Very large or engineered walls need separate design and certification regardless of which of these two licences you hold. If your business also wants to take on general trade work beyond landscaping, compare the QBCC Trade Contractor licence pathway to see how the classes sit together
.

Operating as a company?

A landscaping company needs its own licence and a nominee supervisor holding the matching individual class, separate from any licence a director holds personally. See the QBCC Company & Nominee Licence page for the company pathway.

4. Gardening Work That Does Not Need a Licence

Man using grass cutter to trim grass in a su nny outdoor garden
Routine garden maintenance work stays outside the QBCC licensing system because it does not alter or build structures.

Not everything a “landscaper” does is licensed building work. Ordinary garden maintenance and softscaping generally sit outside QBCC’s definition of building work entirely, regardless of value, because no structure is being built, altered or removed.

  • ✓Mowing, edging and general lawn care.
  • ✓Planting trees, shrubs and garden beds, and laying turf.
  • ✓Mulching, weeding, pruning and general garden tidy-ups.
  • ✓Garden edging that sits on level ground and does not retain a change in height.

The line gets blurry the moment a job mixes both categories, for example a $30,000 garden makeover that includes a small retaining wall. The structural component of a mixed job still needs a licence even if most of the work is exempt softscaping. When a quote combines gardening with any retaining wall, decking, paving or drainage work, treat the whole job as needing a licensed assessment.

Mixed jobs need the structural test applied first

If any part of the scope retains soil, forms a structure, or alters drainage, assess that part against the licensing rules before assuming the whole job is exempt gardening.

5. How to Apply for a Structural Landscaping Licence

A construction worker uses a power saw t o cut stone tiles outdoors
Technical skill has to be backed by documented experience and qualifications before QBCC will grant a licence.

The eligibility criteria differ slightly between the trade and Builder Restricted classes, but most structural landscaping applications need the following elements prepared and checked before lodgement.

  • ✓A Certificate III in Landscape Construction, an equivalent qualification, or substantial documented experience without formal qualifications.
  • ✓A minimum of around 4 years’ relevant industry experience, or around 2 years if you already hold a related trade qualification such as carpentry.
  • ✓An approved managerial qualification if the class you are applying for requires one.
  • ✓Financial information to meet Minimum Financial Requirements for a contractor-type licence.
  • ✓The completed application form, referee report and identity evidence, and a pass on the fit-and-proper-person check.

Use the QX Checker to sense-check your application before you lodge it, and see the QBCC licensing FAQs for answers to broader licensing questions.

No quoting before the licence is granted

You cannot lawfully quote or contract for licensed structural landscaping work under a contractor licence until QBCC has actually granted it, no matter how far along the application is.

6. Common Mistakes Landscapers and Homeowners Make

A worker in protective gear lays paving stones on a wet day
Rushed jobs and unclear scopes are where most licensing mistakes creep into landscaping projects.
Mistake Why it causes problems How to avoid it
Treating the whole job as exempt gardening A structural element inside a bigger job still needs a licence, even if most of the work is planting or turf. Assess the structural component of a mixed quote separately.
Confusing the 1-metre council rule with the licensing rule A wall under 1 metre can still need a QBCC licence if it is over $3,300. Check licensing and council approval as two separate questions.
Applying for the trade class when managing subcontractors The Structural Landscaping (trade) class is for personally performing the work, not managing other trades. Apply for Builder Restricted to Structural Landscaping if you plan to subcontract and manage larger jobs.
Building an engineered retaining wall under a standard licence Neither structural landscaping class covers walls requiring engineering certification. Engage an engineer and confirm the correct licence class for taller or loaded walls.
Assuming an ABN and insurance are enough to trade legally Neither substitutes for a QBCC licence to carry out structural building work. Ask directly for the QBCC licence number and class before signing a contract.

7. How QBCC Express Helps Landscaping Businesses

Close-up of a gardener' s hands trimming bushes with orange pruning shears outdoors
Getting the licence class and evidence right the first time keeps landscaping crews working without compliance interruptions.

Landscaping licensing is easy to get wrong because the boundary between exempt gardening and licensed structural work is not always obvious on paper. QBCC Express helps landscaping businesses and companies work through that boundary before it causes a compliance problem.

Support area What it covers
Structural vs non-structural assessment Reviews your typical scope of work to confirm what actually needs a licence.
Licence class selection Matches trade versus Builder Restricted classes to how you actually run projects.
Experience and qualification evidence Helps structure referee reports and experience evidence to fit QBCC’s criteria.
Company and nominee structuring Sets up company licensing and nominee arrangements for landscaping businesses that trade as companies.

Start with the QBCC licence options page to confirm the right pathway for your business.

Get the scope confirmed before you quote

The safest habit for any landscaping business is confirming which parts of a job are licensed before the quote goes out, not after a client has already signed.

8. FAQs

Do I need a QBCC licence to mow lawns or plant a garden?

No. Routine gardening such as mowing, planting, mulching and pruning is generally not licensed building work, provided no structural element like a retaining wall or deck is involved.

Does a retaining wall always need a QBCC licence?

If the retaining wall work is valued over $3,300, yes, it generally needs a licence in the structural landscaping class. Walls requiring engineering certification also need separate design input and
a higher-class licence.

What is the difference between the two structural landscaping licences?

The trade class lets you personally perform the listed work. Builder Restricted to Structural Landscaping is broader: it allows contracting directly with clients, subcontracting to other trades, and
managing larger projects.

Does garden edging need a licence?

Garden edging that sits on level ground and simply contains mulch or defines a bed shape is not usually treated as a retaining structure. A sleeper or block course that genuinely holds back a change
in ground level is a small retaining wall and is assessed accordingly.

Is council approval the same thing as a QBCC licence?

No. Council building approval for a retaining wall is usually assessed against a height and load threshold, commonly around 1 metre. The QBCC licensing requirement is a separate question based on the
$3,300 value threshold and the scope of structural work.

Can my company use my personal structural landscaping licence?

No. A company is a separate legal entity and needs its own QBCC licence and a nominee supervisor holding the matching individual class, even if a director is personally licensed.

Where should I start if I am unsure which landscaping licence I need?

Start with the QBCC licence options page or contact QBCC Express with the type of landscaping work and typical project value you take on.

Ready to confirm your landscaping licence class?

Get clarity on whether your scope of work needs a licence, and which class fits how you run your projects, before your next quote goes out.

Book a free consultation with QBCC Express