Roofing licence in Australia: roof plumbing vs roof tiling per state

What it is

Roofing is two licensed trades, not one. Metal roofing, gutters, downpipes, flashings and box gutters are roof plumbing work, regulated under each state's plumbing licensing regime. Clay and concrete roof tiling is treated as roof tiling, regulated through general building or trade contractor licensing. The split matters because the qualification, the licensing body, the insurance line and the audit consequences are different.

A roofer who lays Colorbond and runs gutters is doing roof plumbing and needs a roof plumbing licence in NSW, QLD, VIC, WA, SA, ACT and TAS. A roofer who lays concrete or terracotta tiles is doing roof tiling and falls under a separate trade licence in NSW and QLD, and inside the broader builder framework elsewhere. A roofer who does both needs both endorsements.

Roofing licences by state

NSW

NSW Fair Trading issues two separate roofing licences under the Home Building Act 1989. Roof Plumbing covers fixing, installation, renovation, alteration, repair and maintenance of guttering, downpipes, roof flashing and metal roof coverings. Roof Tiling covers all types of roof tiling including metal roof tiles, clay and concrete tiles. Both are required where the residential building or trade work is valued over $5,000 in labour and materials including GST. To get a NSW Roof Plumbing licence the applicant needs Certificate III in Plumbing (Roofing) CPC32420 or equivalent. To get a Roof Tiling licence the applicant needs the Certificate III in Roof Tiling.

Queensland

QBCC issues a Roof Tiling licence and a separate Roof and Wall Cladding licence. Roof Tiling covers cutting and fixing roof tiles, including tiles of concrete, clay, metal or similar material. Roof and Wall Cladding covers selection and installation of roof cladding other than terracotta and concrete roof tiles, including Colorbond and metal sheet roofing, plus associated flashings. Roof plumbing involving gutters, downpipes and rainwater goods sits under the QBCC's plumbing and drainage licensing. The QBCC threshold for building work is $3,300.

Victoria

Victoria registers roof plumbers through the Building and Plumbing Commission, formerly the VBA, under the Plumbing Class of Roof (Stormwater). A licensed roof plumber must hold the registration plus the prescribed units, complete an additional two years of practical experience and pass the BPC non-apprentice registration exam. Every roof plumbing job in Victoria over $750 in value requires a Compliance Certificate lodged with the BPC. The Compliance Certificate is valid for six years and a copy goes to both the property owner and the BPC. Roof tiling is treated as a domestic building work activity and is performed by a registered Domestic Builder rather than under a standalone roof tiling licence.

Western Australia

WA issues plumbing licences through the Plumbers Licensing Board administered by Building and Energy. Roof plumbing work covering metal roofing, gutters, downpipes and rainwater goods is licensable plumbing work and requires a Tradesperson Plumber or Plumbing Contractor licence in the appropriate class. Tile roofing in WA falls under general building contractor registration through DMIRS for jobs over $20,000 rather than under a dedicated roof tiling licence.

South Australia

SA distinguishes roof plumbing from roof tiling at the regulator level. Roof plumbing, including metal roofing materials such as Colorbond, is performed by a licensed plumbing worker and contractor under the Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995 (SA) administered by CBS. Roof tiling using clay or concrete tiles is treated as building work and folds into the Building Work Contractor framework for work over $12,000.

Roof plumbing vs roof tiling distinction

The roof plumbing vs roof tiling distinction is what TradeLens audits flag most often on roofing scope.

A roof plumber's licence does not cover clay or concrete roof tiling. A roof tiler's licence does not cover metal roofing, gutters or downpipes. In NSW the two trades hold separate Fair Trading licences. In QLD they sit under different QBCC licence classes. In VIC roof plumbing sits inside the plumbing licensing regime under the BPC while roof tiling sits inside the Domestic Builder framework.

The grey area is metal roof tiles, which look like tiles but are sheet metal product. NSW treats metal roof tiles as roof tiling. QBCC's roof tiling licence explicitly covers tiles of metal or similar material, while the Roof and Wall Cladding licence covers metal sheet roofing. The audit risk is engaging a roof plumber for a metal tile job in NSW or engaging a roof and wall cladder for a metal tile job in QLD, with the wrong trade licensed for the wrong product.

Penalties for unlicensed roofing

In NSW the maximum penalty under the Home Building Act 1989 for residential trade work without the relevant licence is $22,000 for an individual and $110,000 for a corporation. Unlicensed plumbing work attracts additional penalties under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2011 (NSW). In Queensland the QBCC issues infringement notices and prosecutes unlicensed contracting and plumbing work. In Victoria roof plumbing without a current registration is an offence under the Building Act 1993 and the unissued Compliance Certificate exposes the homeowner under defect insurance.

TradeLens triggers

A TradeLens audit on a residential job flags roofing risk when:

• The roofing subcontract is for Colorbond and gutters but the engaged contractor holds a roof tiling licence only.
• The roofing subcontract is for terracotta tiles but the engaged contractor holds a roof plumbing licence only.
• The Victorian job has metal roof plumbing over $750 and no Compliance Certificate has been issued by the registered roof plumber.
• The NSW job has metal roof tiles installed by a roof plumber rather than a roof tiler.
• A WA job has roof plumbing performed by a person who is not licensed by the Plumbers Licensing Board.

The remediation if caught before completion is a licence check and re-engagement under the correct trade. The remediation if caught after is uninsurable roof defects, with statutory warranty insurance refusing to respond to claims on work performed by an unlicensed practitioner.