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Licences and rules

Roofers in South AustraliaSince November 2025, smaller jobs follow lighter rules.

In South Australia, domestic building work, repairs included, needs a building work contractor licence from Consumer and Business Services (CBS). Since 10 November 2025, jobs under $20,000 count as minor work, with no written contract or indemnity insurance required. Above that, you get a contract, a 5 per cent deposit cap and, for council-approved work, building indemnity insurance.

Under or over $20,000 in SA

Under $20,000 (minor work)$20,000 or more
LicenceStill required, for the builder and any tradesRequired
Written contractNot legally requiredRequired, signed by both, with the Form 1 notice
DepositBe wary of paying a large oneNo more than 5%
Building indemnity insuranceNot requiredRequired for council-approved work
Statutory warrantiesApplyApply

What changed on 10 November 2025?

The minor work threshold rose from $12,000 to $20,000, moving many roof repairs out of the formal contract rules. Statutory warranties still cover them, and court action for a breach must start within 5 years of completion.

Indemnity cover changed on the same day. It now covers defective work up to $250,000 where the builder dies, disappears or becomes insolvent.

CBS has detected forged certificates, so check yours at bii.sa.gov.au. Work can't start until you and the council have a copy. Don't pay extra or staged amounts in advance; they aren't covered.

What to look for on an SA roofer's licence

SA building licence numbers start with BLD. Each licence lists the work the holder can contract for, and some cap the contract value, so check the conditions cover roofing at your price.

Gutters and stormwater drains can be plumbing work, which must be done by a registered plumber working for a licensed business.

Search the CBS register (secure.cbs.sa.gov.au/OccLicPubReg/LicenceSearch.php) and ask for the licence card, which carries photo ID. See our licence check guide.

Contracts of $20,000 or more

The contract must be written, legible and signed by you both, include the builder's licence number, and come with Form 1. You can end it within 5 clear business days of signing by written notice, sent by certified mail or handed over in person. Beyond the deposit, the builder can only ask in writing for progress payments on finished work. On cost-plus contracts, their margin is capped at 15%.

Before you sign in South Australia

  • BLD number checked on the CBS register, with conditions covering roofing
  • Licence number on the quote and any contract
  • No payments ahead of the work
  • Ask your council whether the job needs development approval

Asbestos in SA homes

SafeWork SA says a home built or renovated before the mid-1980s is highly likely to contain asbestos, including in the roof and eaves. Home renovators don't legally need a licence to remove it, but SafeWork SA recommends a licensed removalist, and says friable asbestos should go to one. Never clean an asbestos cement roof with high-pressure water or by scrubbing. Waste can't go in bins or hard rubbish: double wrap it, label it and take it to a licensed disposal site.

Disputes with an SA roofer

CBS has an online building disputes advice form and offers conciliation, with compulsory conferences for serious matters. Court claims of $12,000 or less are minor claims in the Magistrates Court. Report a suspected unlicensed roofer to CBS on 131 882.

What Adelaide roofs deal with

Hail, mostly. The 22 January 1991 hailstorm brought stones up to 10 cm that damaged roof tiles across Adelaide. Since the 1970s Colorbond steel has dominated, replacing painted iron and cement or clay tiles. In designated bushfire-prone areas, Ministerial Building Standard MBS008 adds requirements.

A note on our SA sources

Several CBS and SA Government pages blocked our automated checks, so we read archived copies captured between late 2025 and September 2026. A 2025 amendment act adding licence offences had passed but not started when last captured. Confirm current rules with CBS before you sign.

What we'd do in SA

Under $20,000 the law asks for less paperwork, so we'd ask for it anyway: a written quote with the scope, the BLD number and a small deposit. Over $20,000, check the indemnity certificate yourself before handing over the 5%. Our guide to roofing quotes lists what a good quote includes.

Want a roofer to take a look?

Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.

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Questions

Straight answers.

A roof restorer knocked on my door. What are my rights?
Door-to-door sales of home improvements like roof restoration fall under consumer law's unsolicited agreement rules, including a 10 business day cooling-off period.
How long do I have to claim for faulty roof work?
Court action for breach of the statutory warranties must start within 5 years of completion. Indemnity claims are usually possible up to five years too, but only if the builder has died, disappeared or gone insolvent.
Is plumbing work certified in SA?
Yes. Plumbing work must be certified with an electronic certificate of compliance, and CBS says warranty claims on it can be made up to five years after it's finished.
Related help

Helpful next

How to check a roofer's licenceWho licenses roofers in each state, the dollar thresholds, and the register to search.Roofing quotes explainedWhat a roofing quote should say, how to compare two, and each state's deposit and contract rules.Roof restorationClean, repair, rebed and recoat. When it's worth doing, and what a good quote covers.Hail damage roof claimsHail just hit? What to photograph, when to claim, cash or repairs, and the door-knockers to avoid.Roofers in AdelaideWhat's different about Adelaide roofs, the jobs that come up most, and how we match you with a roofer who specialises in your job.

Where this information comes from

Every fact and rule on this page comes from the sources above, checked on the dates shown. How we write and check these pages.

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