Businesses that store hazardous materials in South Australia need a licence from SafeWork SA once they hold more than set amounts of LPG, flammable liquids, or toxic and corrosive substances. Annual fees run from $129 to $11,483, depending on the substance and how much is kept on site.
Do you need a licence to store hazardous materials in South Australia?
SafeWork SA says a licence is required for LP gas (Class 2.1), flammable liquids (Class 3), toxic substances (Class 6) and corrosive substances (Class 8) once certain limits are exceeded. Licences for hazardous materials in South Australia last one year, and a variation to a licence runs until the next renewal. The amounts below come from SafeWork SA’s fee schedule for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
The cost of keeping hazardous materials in South Australia is worked out by adding together the capacity of each substance within each class table. The fees are exempt from GST under Division 81 of the GST Act. For LPG, a 45-kilogram cylinder counts as 109 litres of water capacity.
What it costs, class by class
What you pay to keep hazardous materials in South Australia depends on the class of substance and the total storage capacity at each premises.
LPG (Class 2)
| Total LPG capacity at the premises | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Over 560 litres, up to 20 kilolitres | $247 |
| Over 20 kilolitres, up to 100 kilolitres | $698 |
| Over 100 kilolitres | $1,131 |
Flammable liquids, including petrol (Class 3)
| Total capacity at the premises | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Over 120 litres, up to 1 kilolitre | $129 |
| Over 1 kilolitre, up to 25 kilolitres | $247 |
| Over 25 kilolitres, up to 250 kilolitres | $607 |
| Over 250 kilolitres, up to 2,500 kilolitres | $2,075 |
| Over 2,500 kilolitres, up to 10,000 kilolitres | $6,980 |
| Over 10,000 kilolitres | $11,483 |
Toxic and corrosive substances (Classes 6 and 8)
For these classes the fee is based on the maximum volume in litres and mass in kilograms, added together, that the licence allows the premises to keep.
| Combined litres and kilograms | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 | $129 |
| Over 1,000, up to 25,000 | $247 |
| Over 25,000, up to 250,000 | $604 |
| Over 250,000, up to 2,500,000 | $2,075 |
| Over 2,500,000 | $6,980 |
Moving dangerous goods on the road
SafeWork SA notes that transporting dangerous substances can affect the environment and the surrounding community, which is why they are classified as dangerous for transport by road, rail, air or sea. Transport is handled separately, under the Dangerous Substances (Dangerous Goods Transport) Regulations 2023. Operators can apply for exemptions, approvals and determinations, and each of the following carries a $436 fee:
- an exemption from a provision of the regulations for transport by vehicle
- approval of a tank vehicle design
- approval or variation covering transport and storage
- a determination or variation (charged per determination or variation)
Separate licences apply to the people and vehicles doing the moving. A dangerous goods driver licence costs $32.25 for one year or less, $63 for more than one and up to two years, and $99.50 for more than two years. A dangerous goods vehicle licence costs $199, $404 or $604 for the same three terms.
Selling petrol? That needs its own licence
A licence to store hazardous materials in South Australia, including Class 3 motor spirit, does not let you sell that fuel. Anyone intending to sell Class 3 motor spirits to the public must also apply for a licence to sell petroleum products. SafeWork SA lists the fee for a retail licence to sell petroleum products at $332 for each premises, for a two-year term.
New owner, new application
If a site holding hazardous materials in South Australia changes hands, the new owner cannot simply inherit the licence. They must lodge a new application to keep a dangerous substance, with a site plan and proof of the change of ownership, such as a letter of surrender from the previous owner.
What to have ready before you apply
Anyone applying to keep hazardous materials in South Australia must supply, for each dangerous substance stored, its name, its class, the quantity, the packing group and how it is stored. They must also provide a detailed site plan showing buildings, fences, roads, ignition points, fire extinguishers, drainage and bunding, and signage.
The application forms themselves are lodged through external sites linked from the SafeWork SA page. Applicants are expected to be familiar with the Dangerous Substances Act 1979 (SA) and the Dangerous Substances (General) Regulations 2017.
Limits and fees are set by SafeWork SA and are updated each financial year, so check the current schedule before you store or move hazardous materials in South Australia.
General information only, not legal advice. Check the official source before acting.
Source: SafeWork SA, Dangerous substances: transport and storage licences and SafeWork SA fee schedule 2026-27 (PDF)
