Yes, if you are doing it as a business or as part of your job. In NSW, anyone who sells, installs, maintains, repairs or services security equipment such as CCTV cameras and alarm systems, or advises on it, must hold a Class 2C (Security Equipment Specialist) licence under the Security Industry Act 1997. A business that provides those services must also hold a master licence. A homeowner installing cameras or an alarm on their own property is not carrying on a security business and does not need a security licence. Any fixed cabling connected to the phone or internet network must still be installed by an ACMA-registered cabler.
Updated September 2026. This guide explains which NSW licence covers CCTV and alarm work and whether DIY homeowners need one. It covers what a master licence means for a business, how to check an installer’s licence on the NSW Government register, and how the separate national cabling registration fits in. It is general information, not legal advice. If your situation is unusual, check with the NSW Police Security Licensing and Enforcement Directorate (SLED) or a solicitor.
What the law says
Security work in NSW is regulated by the Security Industry Act 1997 and the Security Industry Regulation 2016. SLED, part of the NSW Police Force, administers the licensing scheme.
Section 4 of the Act lists the “security activities” that need a licence when they are carried on in the course of conducting a business or in the course of employment. They include:
- installing, maintaining, repairing or servicing security equipment
- selling security equipment, apart from basic household or automotive security items sold at approved retail outlets
- providing advice about security equipment, including product advice.
The Act defines security equipment broadly. It covers safes and vaults, and any mechanical, electronic, acoustic or other equipment designed or adapted to provide or enhance security or to protect property. CCTV cameras, recorders, intruder alarms, sensors, keypads and electronic access control all fall within it. Section 7 makes it an offence to carry on a security activity without the right licence. The maximum penalty is 500 penalty units, two years’ imprisonment, or both.
NSW security licence classes
The Act sets out three classes of licence: master licences for businesses, Class 1 licences (sometimes called manpower licences) and Class 2 licences (technical licences). The NSW Police Class 2 licence page describes each subclass. The table below summarises them, with the ones relevant to CCTV and alarm work marked.
| Licence | What it authorises | Relevant to CCTV and alarms? |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2A Security Consultant | Identifying and analysing security risks and recommending solutions and strategies | For independent security risk consulting |
| Class 2B Security Seller | Selling security equipment and advising on it, and brokering security contracts. Does not authorise installation, maintenance or repair | For sales only |
| Class 2C Security Equipment Specialist | Selling, installing, maintaining, repairing, servicing and advising on security equipment, including CCTV, alarm systems and barrier equipment, and working as a locksmith | Yes, this is the installer licence |
| Class 2D Security Trainer | Training, assessment and instruction in security activities (not firearms) | No |
| Class 2E Private Investigator | Investigation and surveillance work as a private investigator | No |
| Class 1A to 1F | Guarding and crowd control (1A), bodyguard (1B), cash-in-transit (1C), guard dog handler (1D), monitoring centre operator (1E), armed guard (1F) | 1E applies to staff monitoring alarms and cameras in a monitoring centre |
| Master licence MA | A self-employed individual who holds a Class 1 or Class 2 licence, providing their own services | Yes, for a sole-trader installer |
| Master licence MB, MC, MD, ME | Providing up to 3 (MB), 14 (MC) or 49 (MD) licensed people on any one day, or an unlimited number (ME) | Yes, for an installation business with staff |
A person can hold more than one subclass. Under section 24, a licence remains in force for up to five years. SLED does not require applicants to provide evidence of formal training for a Class 2C licence. However, it expects licence holders to have the skills and qualifications to do the work safely.
Electricians, handymen and apprentices
Being a licensed electrician is not enough. SLED’s own FAQ answers the question directly. An electrician who installs security cameras for clients needs a Class 2C licence.
The published exemptions are narrow. Builders and handymen may fit basic security items such as locks during general building or home maintenance work. The exemption does not extend to CCTV cameras or to tradespeople specifically hired to install security equipment. Apprentices and trainees in a recognised training program can do Class 2 work while supervised by a Class 2 licence holder.
Do DIY homeowners need a licence?
No security licence is needed to install cameras or an alarm on your own home. The Act only applies to security activities carried on in the course of a business or employment. A homeowner mounting their own cameras is not doing either. The same applies to plug-in Wi-Fi cameras and battery doorbells.
Two other sets of rules still apply to DIY work.
- Cabling rules. Fixed cabling in walls and ceilings that connects to your phone or internet service is regulated nationally (see below). Plugging in ready-made leads is not.
- Surveillance and privacy law. This covers where cameras point, audio recording and notice to employees. Our guide to CCTV laws in NSW covers these rules in detail.
What a master licence means for a business
A business cannot lawfully provide people to do security work unless it holds a master licence. Section 7(1) of the Act covers this, and it applies whether the installers are employees or subcontractors. The NSW Police master licence page explains that each technician the business sends must also hold the right Class 1 or Class 2 licence. So a legitimate CCTV or alarm business needs two things: a master licence for the business and a Class 2C licence for each person doing the work.
Master licences are issued to a specific individual, corporation or government agency. SLED’s FAQ notes that they cannot be transferred. Under section 32, only a master licence holder may advertise security services, and advertisements must show the licence number. For online advertising, a direct link to the number is enough.
How to check a security licence in NSW
- Get the licence number. Ask for the business’s master licence number and the technician’s individual licence number. It should appear on the quote, website or advertising.
- Search the register. Use the Verify NSW security industry register, which NSW Police links to for licence checks. You can search by licence number, name or ABN/ACN.
- Check the details. Confirm the status is “Current”, the licence type matches the work, and the name matches the business or owner you are dealing with.
- Ask to see the technician’s licence card. Under sections 35 and 36, a Class 2 licensee must produce their licence on request to anyone they deal with while carrying on security work. They must also wear it visibly while doing that work.
The separate cabling rule: ACMA registration
A NSW security licence covers the security work itself. It does not cover telecommunications cabling. That is regulated nationally by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) under the Telecommunications (Cabling Provider) Rules 2025. The ACMA’s summary states that telecommunications, fire, security and data communications cabling must be done by a registered cabler.
The ACMA’s guide to cabling in your home or office lists monitored security systems and fire alarms among the work a registered cabler does. The type of registration depends on the job:
- Restricted registration covers simpler work in homes and small businesses, including cabling that connects behind an alarm panel or modem.
- Open registration is needed for work that terminates at a patch panel or distribution frame. With a structured cabling competency, it covers the Cat6 network that links IP cameras to a recorder and switch.
The ACMA’s page on categories of cabling registration has the details.
To check a cabler, ask to see their registration card and confirm it with the issuing registrar. There are four: ACRS, ASIAL, FPA Australia and TITAB. The ACMA’s find a registered cabler page explains how. At the end of the job, the cabler must give you a written statement certifying that the work complies with the Wiring Rules.
For a typical professionally installed CCTV or alarm system with fixed cabling, you should therefore expect three things: a master licence for the business, a Class 2C licence for each technician, and ACMA cabling registration for whoever runs the cable. Our CCTV installation cost guide explains how to compare quotes on price and scope.
Frequently asked questions
Does an electrician need a security licence to install CCTV?
Yes. NSW Police confirms that anyone who installs, maintains, repairs or services security equipment for clients needs a Class 2C licence, whether or not they are also a licensed electrician.
Do I need a licence to install cameras on my own house?
No security licence is needed for DIY work on your own property. Fixed cabling connected to the telecommunications network still needs a registered cabler, and NSW surveillance laws still apply.
Which licence do I need to sell CCTV but not install it?
A Class 2B (Security Seller) licence covers selling and advising. It does not cover installation, which needs Class 2C. A business also needs a master licence.
Is a security licence the same as a cabling registration?
No. A security licence is issued by NSW Police under state law. Cabling registration is a national scheme overseen by the ACMA and managed by four authorised registrars. Most CCTV and alarm installs involve both.
What happens if I use an unlicensed installer?
The installer commits an offence under the Security Industry Act. You also lose the protection of a police-checked, accountable contractor. Check the licence on the NSW register before work starts.
Mac-Tek Telecom installs CCTV, alarm and intercom systems and access control across Penrith, Parramatta, Blacktown, Mount Druitt, St Marys and Western Sydney, operating under NSW Security Master Licence 100034. Book a free site assessment or call 0411 126 995, and ask us for our licence details when we quote.
