Who sets the rules
Sydney Roofs Repair arranges roof work through independent local roofing contractors across Sydney, and we encourage every owner to understand the basic rules before work starts. Roofing in NSW sits under several layers of regulation:
- Licensing and consumer protection for residential building work, administered through NSW Fair Trading under the Home Building Act. Building regulation in NSW has been restructured in recent years, so check current guidance on the NSW Government website.
- Technical requirements in the National Construction Code and the Australian Standards it references.
- Planning controls set by councils and the NSW Government, covered in our council approval guide.
- Work health and safety and asbestos rules, enforced by SafeWork NSW.
This guide gives an overview. It is general information; for advice on a specific job, check with the relevant agency.
Contractor licensing
NSW Fair Trading requires a contractor licence for residential building work valued at more than $5,000 including labour and materials. Roofing commonly falls within this. Separate licences or qualifications can apply to plumbing and drainage work, electrical work and asbestos removal.
What to do: check the licence on the NSW Government online register. Confirm the licence is current, covers the type of work, and matches the business name on your contract.
Written contracts
Under NSW home building rules, residential building work above certain values needs a written contract with specific content, such as the scope, price, payment terms and statutory warranties. NSW Fair Trading also sets limits on deposits.
What to do: read NSW Fair Trading's guidance on home building contracts before signing. Make sure the scope is detailed and the payment schedule ties payments to completed stages.
Home building compensation cover
For residential building work above $20,000, NSW Fair Trading requires the contractor to have home building compensation cover in place for the job. It protects owners if the contractor cannot complete the work or fix defects because of death, disappearance or insolvency.
What to do: ask for the certificate before paying any deposit.
Statutory warranties
The Home Building Act provides statutory warranties for residential building work, covering matters such as proper workmanship and suitable materials, for set periods depending on whether a defect is major. These apply regardless of what the contract says.
The National Construction Code and Australian Standards
The National Construction Code sets minimum performance requirements for buildings, including roofs. It references Australian Standards for detailed methods, including standards for metal roofing, roof tiles, pliable membranes such as sarking, and roof drainage. Requirements cover things like wind resistance, weatherproofing, fire safety, energy efficiency and drainage capacity.
Manufacturers also publish installation instructions for their products, and product warranties generally depend on following them.
What to do: ask the contractor which standards and manufacturer specifications the work will follow, especially for sarking, fixings, minimum pitch and gutter capacity.
Bushfire construction
On land mapped as bushfire-prone, new work may need to meet the Australian Standard for construction in bushfire-prone areas, tied to the site's bushfire attack level. This can affect roofing materials, sarking, gaps and gutters.
Work health and safety
Roof work is high-risk. SafeWork NSW treats construction work with a risk of a fall of more than two metres as high-risk construction work, which requires a safe work method statement and appropriate controls such as edge protection, scaffolding or fall-arrest systems.
What to do: ask how the contractor will manage fall risks on your job. Edge protection should be in place before work starts on most roofs.
Asbestos
Asbestos removal is regulated by SafeWork NSW. Removing more than 10 square metres of bonded asbestos requires a licensed removalist, and notification and clearance requirements apply to licensed work. Asbestos waste must go to a facility licensed to accept it.
What to do: if your roof might contain asbestos, see our asbestos roof page and ask for the removalist's licence details separately from the roofer's.
Plumbing and drainage
Gutters, downpipes and the stormwater connections they drain into are part of the roof drainage system. Connections to stormwater can involve licensed plumbing and drainage work under NSW law. Ask who will carry out this part of the job and under which licence.
If something goes wrong
Raise problems with the contractor in writing. If that fails, NSW Fair Trading offers complaint handling and dispute resolution for home building work, and the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal can hear building disputes. Keep records: contract, invoices, photos and correspondence.
An owner's compliance checklist
Before work starts:
- Contractor licence checked on the NSW Government register.
- Written contract with scope, price, payment stages and start date.
- Home building compensation certificate received, if required.
- Public liability insurance confirmed.
- Approvals obtained or confirmed not needed.
- Asbestos status known, and removalist licence checked if relevant.
- Safety arrangements for work at height discussed.
At handover:
- Product names, colours and profiles recorded.
- Warranties and any compliance documents received.
- Asbestos clearance and disposal records, if relevant.
- Final invoice matches the contract and any approved variations.
Related guides
Read about roof replacement permits and council approval, and see our cost page for budgeting.
General information for Sydney property owners. It does not replace an inspection of your roof, and rules change: check with your council, NSW Fair Trading or SafeWork NSW as relevant before acting.