Building Your Construction Business in Malta: Licence, Setup and Growth
In Malta you cannot build, demolish or excavate for clients without a contractor licence. This guide covers that licence first, then the business setup, the site rules you will work under and the habits that help a small firm grow.
Updated 2 November 2026 · 6 min read
The BCA contractor licence comes first
Before you price a single job, check that you hold, or can get, a licence for the exact activity you plan to offer.
The Construction Industry Licensing Regulations (L.N. 166 of 2023) list three service activities that need a licence: demolition, excavation and piling, and construction. Licences are issued by the Construction Industry Licensing Committee, set up under the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
SourceAn applicant must be a natural person over twenty-one who is habitually resident in Malta or another EU Member State, or an entity. The Committee must also be satisfied that the applicant meets the criteria for the activity, shows sound knowledge of the listed subjects, and is of good repute and conduct and of appropriate financial standing.
Source| Requirement | Natural person (sole trader) | Entity (company) |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | A mason's licence and at least three years in construction work | A mason's licence with three years in construction, or three years in construction management with references from two building projects |
| People on the payroll | Not specified for the applicant | At least one full-time licensed mason with the equivalent masonry certification, unless the applicant holds it |
| Block laying | Not listed for the applicant | The applicant is at least a Level 3 certified block layer |
| Equipment | A list of all certified equipment to be used | A list of all certified equipment to be used |
| Supervision | All works supervised by a licensed mason or someone with equivalent certification | All works supervised by a licensed mason or someone with equivalent certification |
As published in L.N. 166 of 2023, from 1 January 2025 every worker a licensed contractor engages for construction works must be a licensed mason or hold a Level 3 block laying certification (or an equivalent the Committee accepts), or work under the constant supervision of someone who does. The licence holder must also keep the works covered by insurance against loss or damage to any person, including bodily harm to employees.
SourceAt the time of writing (November 2026), licences under these regulations are valid for two years and the renewal application is due no later than ninety days before the licence expires. The Committee can ask a licensee to attend courses before renewal.
SourceLegal notices get amended. Before you apply, download the latest application form and guidance from the BCA, and ask your accountant or perit to check you meet every criterion.
Sole trader or limited company
Some builders start alone and incorporate once they take on a crew, bigger contracts and bigger risks. The choice changes your liability and how you register with Jobsplus, so think about it before you sign your first large contract.
Business 1st lists four common registration options: self-employed or sole trader, partnership, limited liability company and cooperative. For a sole trader, the owner is fully responsible for all business debts if the business fails.
SourceJobsplus treats a registered company as a separate legal entity, so a sole owner registers as an employee of the company with the designation Managing Director or Director. The engagement form needs the company number from the Malta Business Registry, the VAT number, and a PE number if the company has employees.
SourceBusiness 1st runs a one-stop shop where services from Malta Enterprise, the Malta Tax and Customs Administration (VAT and tax), Jobsplus and the Malta Chamber of SMEs are available, and its site lists incentives such as the SME Fund and Malta Development Bank schemes.
SourceSite rules you will plan every job around
Your programme, your quotes and your neighbours' patience all depend on the Construction Management Site Regulations. Build them into your timeline instead of finding out halfway through a job.
Works that can be heard outside the site may not start before 7am and must stop by 8pm. Hydraulic hammers on excavators and pneumatic drills are only allowed between 7.30am and 4pm, and no construction works may be carried out on Sundays or public holidays. Emergency works are allowed, with the Authority informed during its first hour of business.
SourceBetween 15 June and 30 September, demolition and excavation are not allowed in tourism zones set by the competent authority for tourism, unless an exemption is granted.
SourceThe client must appoint a site manager and give the Authority their name, ID number and signed declaration before works start. The site manager can be the client, the project supervisor, a perit or another competent person. If nobody is nominated, the client is treated as the site manager.
SourceExplain this to private clients early. Some do not know they have a role under the regulations, and a contractor who walks them through it looks organised and wins trust.
Quotes, contracts and cash flow
Construction businesses rarely fail for lack of work. They fail because money goes out for materials, plant and wages weeks before it comes in. Protect yourself at the quoting stage.
Hire plant before you buy it. A machine you own costs money every week it stands in a yard. Buy once you can show steady use from booked work, and keep the certification for each piece of equipment you list on your licence.
Growing from small jobs to bigger contracts
Clients choose builders on proof. A photo of a straight, clean wall or a well-propped slab says more than a logo. Start a record of every finished project, with the client's permission, before you think you need it.
- Keep a project file for each job: photos at each stage, the scope, and a short note from the client when it is done.
- Build relationships with periti. They recommend contractors, and they remember the ones who follow drawings and turn up when the slab is due.
- Offer clearly scoped packages for common work, such as a roof replacement or a back yard extension, with exactly what is and is not included.
- Pick a niche you do well, such as small residential projects, restoration of old houses of character or works in Gozo, and say so plainly.
- Invest in your crew's certification. The licensing rules expect it, and a trained team lets you run two sites at once.
Subcontract finishing trades you do not cover, and keep their details on file. A dependable gypsum and plastering team or electrician makes your handover faster.
Get found by people planning a project
People planning a build often search for contractors before they even call their perit. Put your licence activity, your area and photos of finished work where they can see them. Listing on Tminta is free, so list your business and let clients call or WhatsApp you direct.
Smaller jobs coming in that you do not want? Our guide to setting up as a handyman in Malta shows where minor works stop.
Questions people ask
How do I get a construction licence in Malta?
Apply to the Building and Construction Authority for a construction licence under the Construction Industry Licensing Regulations. As a sole trader you need a mason's licence and construction experience, a list of your certified equipment, and the capacity to have every site supervised by a licensed mason. Companies have extra criteria. Check the current BCA form and guidance before you apply.
What time can construction start in Malta?
Works that can be heard outside the site may not start before 7am and must stop by 8pm. Hydraulic hammers and pneumatic drills are limited to 7.30am to 4pm, and there are no construction works on Sundays or public holidays. Emergencies, and exemptions approved by the Authority, are the exceptions.
Do I need a licence for small building jobs?
Minor works, such as opening or closing apertures or removing and building walls, are covered by the construction licence under the licensing regulations. If you take on that kind of work, even as part of a renovation, you need the licence. Pure finishing trades are a separate question, so check with the BCA for your specific work.
How can a construction company in Malta find more work?
Show finished projects with photos and short client notes, keep good relations with periti who recommend contractors, and offer clearly scoped packages for common jobs. Answer enquiries quickly and put your quote in writing. A profile listing your licence activity, area and work photos helps people who are searching before they call a perit.