Building and trade rules in New South Wales
The regulator is NSW Fair Trading.
Deposit limit
The NSW Government guide says that for contracts of $20,000 or more the maximum deposit is 10% of the contract price. For smaller jobs, confirm the limit with NSW Fair Trading.
Source: NSW Government, checked 11 November 2026.
Contracts and licences
A written contract is mandatory for work over $5,000.
Source: NSW Government
General information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the regulator before you sign. See trade costs >