How much does CIDB registration cost, and how long does it take?
Public bodies may only award construction work to contractors on the Construction Industry Development Board register, and Grade 1 is open to anyone: no turnover, no track record, no capital. The CIDB charges R450 per class of works and activates a complete Grade 1 application in about 48 working hours. What stops people is the paperwork around it, and the grade only lets you bid up to R500 000 per contract.
Independent, not a government body. ProperSA is a private company. Everything in this guide can be done directly with the authority at its own fees; our service fee pays for it to be prepared, lodged and followed up for you.
The fees
- CIDB fee: R450 per class of works, paid to the CIDB. Register for the classes you actually tender in and add others when a tender calls for them.
- Grade 1 service fee: ProperSA charges R1 490 for the classes chosen with you, the pre check of your CSD number, CIPC record and tax compliance status, and the application submitted on the CIDB’s online register.
- Grades 2 to 9: R2 990, because those grades are assessed on financial statements and signed track record evidence. Grades 2 to 9 also pay the CIDB an annual fee.
- Certified documents are only required from Grade 2 upwards; nobody should charge you to certify documents for a Grade 1 application.
How long it takes
- Grade 1: the CIDB’s own activation time for a complete online application is about 48 working hours.
- Grades 2 to 9: up to 21 days, because the financial and track record evidence is assessed.
- What delays it: no Central Supplier Database number, the wrong class of works, or a tax compliance status that will not verify. A non compliant SARS status stops the grade being issued and later stops it being renewed.
What you can bid for
- Grade 1 allows public contracts up to R500 000 per contract in each class of works held, which covers most municipal maintenance, small building and repair work.
- The registration lasts three years; you renew and requalify for your grade. A restriction to tender anywhere, or a listing on the Register of Tender Defaulters, stops registration.
Frequently asked questions
How much does CIDB Grade 1 registration cost?
The CIDB charges R450 per class of works. ProperSA charges R1 490 to choose the classes, pre check the CSD, CIPC and tax status, and submit the application, with the CIDB fee at cost on top.
How long does CIDB registration take?
A complete Grade 1 application activates in about 48 working hours on the CIDB register. Grades 2 to 9 take up to 21 days because the evidence is assessed.
What can a Grade 1 contractor tender for?
Public construction contracts up to R500 000 per contract, in each class of works the contractor holds.
Do I need a CSD number first?
Yes. The Central Supplier Database number, the CIPC record and a valid SARS tax compliance status are checked before the grade is issued, and the tax status is checked again every year.
How long is a CIDB grade valid?
Three years, after which you renew and requalify. Grades 2 to 9 also pay an annual fee and update their particulars each year.
From the Construction Industry Development Board Act 38 of 2000 and the CIDB’s published registration requirements and fees as recorded on the ProperSA CIDB registration page, read on 15 October 2026. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Figures were checked on 15 October 2026; authorities change fees and rules, so confirm anything you rely on.