Costs, Price Factors and 2026 Rules
Does my roofer need a licence? Builder and roofing licence thresholds by state (2026)
State-by-state licence and registration thresholds for roofing and cladding work in Australia, how the job value is measured, roof plumbing rules and how to check a register.
In most of Australia a roofer needs a licence or registration once the job is worth more than a set amount, and some roofing work needs a licence at any value. As at October 2026: Queensland requires a QBCC licence for most building work valued over $3,300 (labour, materials and GST); NSW requires a licence for residential building work over $5,000 (labour and materials, including GST), and specialist work such as plumbing and electrical at any value; Victoria requires registration for domestic building work above its threshold, and metal roofing and roof drainage is regulated plumbing work needing a licensed or registered plumber; Western Australia requires a registered builder for most permit work valued at $20,000 or more. Other states and territories have their own systems. Always confirm the licence on the regulator's public register before you sign.
This guide is part of the roof replacement cost overview. It is general information; check the official regulator for your situation.
How the job value is measured
Thresholds are usually measured on the total value of the work, including labour and materials and GST, not just the contractor's labour. Splitting one roof into several smaller invoices to stay under a threshold does not change the value of the job, and regulators treat that as avoidance. If you supply materials yourself, ask the regulator how their value counts.
State and territory summary
| Jurisdiction | Regulator | Licence or registration trigger for building work | Notes for roofing |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Building Commission NSW | Residential building work over $5,000 incl. labour, materials and GST | Specialist work (plumbing, drainage, gasfitting, electrical) needs a licence at any value; roof plumbing such as gutters and downpipes falls under plumbing rules |
| Victoria | Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) | Registered builder needed to carry out domestic building work under a major domestic building contract (contract price over $10,000; Building Act s. 169F and Domestic Building Contracts Regulations r. 6) | Roofing (stormwater) is a plumbing class: installing metal roof sheets, flashings, gutters and downpipes needs a licensed or registered plumber in that class |
| Queensland | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) | Most building work over $3,300 incl. labour, materials and GST | Some classes need a licence at any value (for example plumbing and drainage); owner-builders up to $11,000 on their own property are exempt |
| Western Australia | Building and Energy, Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety | Registered builder for most permit work valued at $20,000 or more | Roof plumbing is regulated separately by the Plumbers Licensing Board; check the Building and Energy site |
| South Australia | Consumer and Business Services (CBS) | Building work contractors licence for building work; check CBS for current thresholds | Roof plumbing involves plumbing licensing |
| Tasmania | Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) | Licensed building practitioners for prescribed work | Check CBOS for roofing categories |
| ACT | Access Canberra | Licensed builders for work needing building approval and certain other work | Check Access Canberra for licence classes |
| Northern Territory | Building Practitioners Board, with NT Consumer Affairs | Registered building contractors for prescribed residential work | Cyclone-region requirements apply in the Top End |
The Queensland, NSW and WA figures were checked against the regulators' own guidance in October 2026. The Victorian registration threshold and the details for SA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT should be confirmed with the regulator, because they are set in regulations and some have changed in recent reforms.
Victoria: the 2025 change of regulator and roof plumbing
Victoria replaced the Victorian Building Authority with the Building and Plumbing Commission in 2025 (legally the VBA now trades as the BPC), and the VMIA's domestic building insurance role was brought into the BPC. Registration, plumbing licensing, Home Warranty insurance and the domestic building dispute resolution service are now all handled through the BPC. For roofing, the practical point is that a steel roof is usually installed by a plumber licensed or registered in roofing (stormwater), a class the Plumbing Regulations 2018 define to cover metal roof coverings, roof flashings and roof drainage but not non-metallic tiles, timber, concrete, glass, bitumen or slate coverings, who should give you a compliance certificate for regulated plumbing work above the prescribed value. A tile roof may be laid by a roof tiler, but the gutters, valleys and flashings are still plumbing work.
Queensland: QBCC licence classes
Queensland licences are issued by class. Roofing-related classes include roof and wall cladding and roof tiling, and a builder's licence also covers roofing within its scope. The QBCC lists restoring or repairing roofs as insurable residential work over $3,300, so a roof restoration contractor generally needs a licence above that value. Check the class shown on the licence matches the work.
How to check a licence
- Ask for the licence or registration number and the name of the licence holder. A licence in an individual's name does not cover their company; the entity that signs the contract needs its own licence.
- Search the regulator's online register: NSW licence check, BPC practitioner search, QBCC licence search, WA Building and Energy register.
- Check the licence class covers the work, the licence is current, and whether there are conditions, suspensions or disciplinary history.
- Check the name and ABN on the quote match the licence.
- Where home warranty insurance is required, check the certificate on the insurer's or regulator's register. See home warranty insurance thresholds.
Worked example (illustrative)
A Brisbane owner gets a quote of $2,900 plus GST for a roof restoration. Including GST the value is $2,900 × 1.1 = $3,190, under the $3,300 threshold. A second quote for a larger restoration is $3,500 including GST, over the threshold, so the contractor needs a licence and the work needs home warranty insurance. If the first contractor later adds $400 of extra work by variation, the job becomes $3,590 and crosses the threshold too. Ask how a contractor handles that before you sign.
Why unlicensed work costs more later
- You may have no access to home warranty insurance if the contractor was unlicensed, as the QBCC lists work by unlicensed contractors as not insurable.
- In several states an unlicensed contractor has limited rights to recover payment, but that rarely helps a homeowner with a leaking roof.
- Insurers may question claims for damage caused by defective work by unlicensed contractors.
- Regulators can investigate and fine unlicensed contractors, but that does not fix your roof.
Frequently asked questions
My roofer says he works under someone else's licence. Is that allowed?
Generally the entity contracting with you must hold the licence. Subcontractors may work under a licensed builder's supervision, but the contract and licence details should make that clear. Ask the regulator if you are unsure.
Does a handyman need a licence for small roof repairs?
In Queensland handyperson work up to $3,300 that is not electrical or plumbing is exempt. Other states have their own limits. Roof plumbing work may need a licence at any value.
Can I do my own re-roof?
Owner-builder rules vary. Queensland exempts owners doing work on their own property up to $11,000; above that an owner-builder permit is needed. Working at height and asbestos rules still apply to you.
What if the licence check shows a different trading name?
Ask the contractor to explain. The contract should name the licensed entity, and payments should go to it.
Sources
- Queensland Building and Construction Commission — when you need a licence and licence search
- NSW Government building and renovating — Building Commission NSW licence check and contract rules
- Building and Plumbing Commission Victoria — registration, roofing (stormwater) plumbing licences and practitioner search
- WA Government Building and Energy — registered builder requirements
- Consumer and Business Services SA — South Australian building work contractors
- Consumer, Building and Occupational Services Tasmania — Tasmanian building practitioners
