South Australia regulates building work through Consumer and Business Services (CBS). Roofing falls inside “specified building work”, which means anyone performing roofing work for another person over the licensing threshold must hold a Building Work Contractor's Licence (BLD prefix).
What the BLD licence covers
The Building Work Contractor's Licence is the SA permission to carry out residential and commercial building work for hire. For roofing, this includes new roofs, replacement, restoration, repairs, gutters, and re-roofing. The licensee is responsible for compliance, workmanship, and consumer obligations under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 and Regulations 2011.
Threshold
Building work over the prescribed contract-value threshold in SA must be performed under a written contract by a licensed contractor. The contractor must provide a Building Indemnity Insurance (BII) certificate to the homeowner before deposit is paid or work commences. Work under that threshold has lighter rules but a licensed contractor is still strongly recommended. The threshold figure is set by regulation and updated periodically - confirm the current amount with Consumer and Business Services SA before you sign.
Net assets requirement
Individual licence applicants doing specified building work (including roofing) must maintain a minimum of $10,000 in net assets. Below that threshold, a restricted (subcontractor) licence is available.
How to verify a licence
Use the CBS Public Register at consumerandbusinessservices.sa.gov.au. Search by name, company, or licence number. The register shows current status, scope, and any disciplinary history. We verify every contractor in our network this way before introductions.
What if a roofer is unlicensed?
Performing building work over the threshold without a licence is an offence under the Act. Penalties include fines (currently up to $20,000 for natural persons; higher for body corporates) and the work being voidable. As a homeowner, you have limited recourse if an unlicensed contractor breaches the contract or does poor work.
Public liability insurance
Separate from the BLD licence. Public liability covers third-party injury or property damage. Most Adelaide roofers carry $20M public liability. Ask to see the current certificate before signing.
Building Indemnity Insurance (BII)
SA-specific. Required for residential building work over the prescribed threshold. BII covers the homeowner if the contractor dies, disappears, or becomes insolvent before completing the work. The contractor purchases it from an approved insurer and provides the certificate to you. Insist on it before paying deposit.
Working at heights
Separate compliance regime under SafeWork SA. From 1 July 2026, all work above 2 metres is classified as high-risk construction work and requires a Safe Work Method Statement. The contractor (not you) is responsible for working-at-heights compliance.
Asbestos work
If the work involves cement-sheet (AC) roofing, a Class B licensed asbestos removalist is required for bonded asbestos over 10m2. Class A for friable. Standard BLD licence does not cover asbestos work - it's a separate licence.