LBP classes & Areas of Practice

Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) licensing is broken into 6 classes, and most of those have sub-categories called “Areas of Practice” (AoPs). The rule that matters on site: an LBP can only carry out or supervise Restricted Building Work within their licensed class and area, so it pays to know exactly where your licence sits.

The 6 LBP classes

Each class covers a different slice of the build. Some are split into Areas of Practice that each need their own competency assessment.

• Design (D1, D2, D3) — D1 covers simple residential, D2 moderate complexity, and D3 complex residential up to 3 storeys. NZ Registered Architects and Chartered Professional Engineers are automatically Design-class LBPs.
• Carpentry — the most common class and the “default builder” licence. Covers structural framing, foundations (where simple), weathertightness and internal linings. No sub-AoPs; it covers everything within scope.
• Site (Site 1, Site 2, Site AOP) — Site 1 supervises simple residential builds, Site 2 moderate complexity, and Site AOP complex multi-trade. Includes site management and supervision of subbies.
• Foundations — concrete and masonry foundation work, including piles, slab on grade and foundation walls. A specialist class; most carpentry LBPs also hold it.
• Roofing — AoPs are Metal Roof, Tile Roof and Membrane Roof. Each AoP requires a separate competency assessment.
• External Plastering — stucco and plaster cladding systems. A specialist class, often subbie work.
• Bricklaying and Blocklaying — brick veneer and concrete masonry. A specialist class.

What counts as Restricted Building Work (RBW)

Restricted Building Work is the safety-critical work that only an LBP can carry out or supervise. It breaks down like this:

• Structure — foundations, framing, roof structure and retaining walls over 1.5m.
• Weathertightness — cladding, flashings, roof underlay and wall underlay.
• Fire-rated walls — intertenancy and boundary walls.
• Some other safety-critical items, such as smoke alarms in some scopes.

Your responsibilities as an LBP

Holding the licence comes with ongoing obligations, not just the work itself:

• Carry out or supervise all RBW within your class.
• File a Record of Work (RoW) with council within 5 working days of completing each RBW item.
• Keep current by paying the annual licensing fee ($300–400).
• Accumulate Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points each year.
• Comply with the LBP Code of Ethics.
• Notify changes such as criminal convictions or disciplinary findings.

Working as an LBP in practice

A few things worth knowing day to day:

• Anyone can search the LBP register at lbp.govt.nz for any practitioner.
• Display your LBP number on your signage and invoices.
• The owner can complain to the Building Practitioners Board, with sanctions ranging from a warning to licence cancellation.
• Each Record of Work is a public record and supports the consent and CCC.
• Owner-builder exemption: an owner can do their own RBW on their own home without an LBP (Schedule 1A item 24) — but the work must still comply with the Code, and a council inspector still inspects.