South Australia Electrical Penalties From 15 January 2026: What Triggers a $5,000 Fine?

From 15 January 2026, South Australia’s Consumer and Business Services (CBS) says a $5,000 expiation fee applies to working unlicensed, working outside licence conditions, or advertising for work you are not licensed to perform (industry changes guidance). Figures checked 1 October 2026. The amount is an example expiation within wider reforms, not the maximum penalty for every electrical offence.

Which electrical conduct is listed under the $5,000 expiation?

CBS identifies the following conduct:

The title’s “fine” refers here to an expiation fee. Before accepting electrical work, check that your current licence covers it and that you can meet its conditions. Before advertising, check that the work offered falls within what your licence authorises.

The CBS campaign summary does not explain every licence-specific condition that could place a person outside their licence. The wording of the individual licence and the current regulator guidance therefore matter.

What other $5,000 expiations appear in the reforms?

The $5,000 examples are not confined to electrical licensing and advertising. Under the same reforms, CBS also lists:

• $5,000 for demanding or requiring payments you are not entitled to.
• $5,000 for using a contract that does not comply with the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA).

These are additional examples from the wider building and construction reforms. They should not be treated as substitutes for checking whether a particular law and obligation apply to your work.

Is $5,000 the maximum under the new reforms?

No. CBS describes a wider set of offences and enforcement options. The campaign page lists new offences involving:

• Unlicensed work.
• Hiring unlicensed subcontractors to undertake licensed work.
• Using another contractor’s licence number.
• Falsely claiming to be licensed or registered.

The $5,000 examples should not be read as a complete penalty amount for every one of those offences. CBS’s Table of Amended Penalties is identified as the detailed list of increased expiations and new offences.

Other penalty exposure includes:

• A $20,000 expiation fee for carrying out building work without building indemnity insurance (BII), when required.
• Higher penalties for false or misleading information supplied to regulators or consumers, contract breaches and advertising violations.
• Repeat-offence increases of up to $150,000 for individuals and $550,000 for companies.
• Magistrates Court penalties of up to $550,000 for offences under laws governing the building and construction industry, including electricians.

The individual and company repeat-offence figures and the Magistrates Court figure are separate parts of CBS’s summary. They are not automatic tariffs for a particular electrician or project.

How can enforcement affect these matters?

CBS announced in June 2026 that it had established a dedicated Building Industry Response Team. Its stated targets include:

• Unlicensed building work.
• Misleading or improper advertising.
• Failure to obtain BII.
• Improper demands for payment.

CBS says increased compliance activity and enforcement can be expected, including expiation notices where breaches are identified. Some offences may instead be handled through an infringement notice for faster enforcement.

The campaign summary says authorities have up to 2 years to prosecute offences and, in certain cases, up to 5 years with Ministerial approval. Which route applies depends on the alleged conduct and the statutory process.

What should electricians, contractors and hirers check?

• Licence: Confirm that the electrical work is covered by the current licence and its conditions.
• Advertising: Make sure claims about being licensed, registered or authorised for the work match the actual licence.
• Subcontractors: If hiring a subcontractor, check their status through CBS’s Licensing Public Register.
• Contracts and payments: Review contractual and payment obligations before agreeing to the work.
• BII: Check whether building indemnity insurance is required for the building work.
• Questions: CBS’s contact number is 131 882.

Insurance does not replace licensing compliance. For an insurance question, check the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), including its scope, exclusions and claims conditions. This is general information, not financial or legal advice; check the current regulator page and your policy’s PDS before deciding how a particular obligation or cost is treated.

Sources

• South Australia’s building and construction industry changes | Consumer and Business Services

FAQ

Is every case of unlicensed work automatically charged $5,000?

CBS lists unlicensed work as a $5,000 expiation category, but it does not say that every case is charged automatically. It says expiation notices may be used where breaches are identified.

Can an electrical offence attract more than $5,000?

Yes. CBS says repeat offences can attract increases of up to $150,000 for individuals and $550,000 for companies. It also says the Magistrates Court can impose penalties of up to $550,000 for relevant building and construction offences.

Does electrical insurance make unlicensed work compliant?

No. Licensing and insurance are separate. Check the regulator’s requirements for the work and the policy’s PDS for insurance cover; the CBS campaign does not state whether a particular penalty, expiation fee or enforcement cost is insured.

How can someone check a subcontractor’s licence?

CBS says people hiring subcontractors should verify their licensing through its Licensing Public Register. Questions for CBS can be directed to 131 882.