Roofer Trade License (Dachdecker)
Key Facts
- Type: Regulated trade (Handwerk)
- Qualification: Master exam (Meisterpruefung)
- Registration cost: Free (€0)
- Exam fees: Covered by the federal government since July 2023
- Start immediately: Yes, upon registration
- Growth area: Photovoltaic roof integration
What This Trade Covers
- Pitched roof construction and repair (tiles, slate, metal)
- Flat roof systems (bitumen, EPDM, PVC membranes)
- Roof insulation and waterproofing
- Attic conversions (roof structure modifications)
- Storm damage repair and emergency services
- Solar panel mounting structures (substructure only)
Photovoltaic Opportunity
Roofers can install PV mounting substructures as part of roofing work. The electrical connection requires an Elektrotechnik license (§94 Z.14). Many roofers partner with electricians for full-service PV installations.
Qualification Alternatives
- Master exam (Meisterpruefung) for roofers
- HTL diploma in building technology + 3 years experience
- Individual assessment (§19 GewO) with extensive experience
- Qualified manager (§39 GewO)
Vollstaendige deutsche Version →
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Can roofers install solar panels?
Roofers can install PV mounting substructures. The electrical connection requires an Elektrotechnik license. Partnerships are common.
Is storm damage repair a good business model?
Yes, emergency storm repair services command premium rates and provide immediate revenue.
Qualification: how to prove it
Dachdecker is a regulated trade under §94 Z.9 of the Austrian Trade Act (GewO 1994). The standard route is the master craftsman exam (meisterprüfung).
- Examined by: Meisterprüfungsstelle WK
- Exam modules: 5
- Exam fee: €0 — exam fees are covered by the federal government
If you cannot sit the exam, these routes are open to you:
- Individual assessment under §19 GewO
- Appointing a qualified managing director who holds the master craftsman certificate
Registering the trade
- Cost: Free — registration itself carries no fee
- Where: District administrative authority (Bezirksverwaltungsbehörde)
- Decision within: max. 3 months
- Typically takes: 1-5 Werktage (bei vollstaendigen Unterlagen)
- Start trading: immediately on registration — you do not have to wait for the decision
You can register in these ways:
- Online via GISA (the trade register)
- Online via USP (the business service portal)
- In person at the authority
Who may register
- Minimum age: 18
- Citizenship or residence: Austria, EU, EEA or Switzerland
- Clean record: no disqualifying convictions (checked by the authority)
Documents to bring
- Photo ID
- Master craftsman certificate (Meisterprüfungszeugnis)
- Criminal record certificate
Terms shown in German are the ones printed on the Austrian forms — you will meet them exactly like this at the authority.
Where to go, by province
| Province | Competent authority |
|---|---|
| Vienna | Magistrat der Stadt Wien, MA 63 |
| Lower Austria | Bezirkshauptmannschaft |
| Upper Austria | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat |
| Salzburg | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Salzburg |
| Carinthia | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Klagenfurt/Villach |
| Styria | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Graz |
| Tyrol | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Innsbruck |
| Burgenland | Bezirkshauptmannschaft |
| Vorarlberg | Bezirkshauptmannschaft / Magistrat Bregenz |
Legal basis: GewO 1994 §94 Z.9 . Last reviewed April 2026. This is not legal advice.