Consultation opens on discussion paper for improving building inspection policies
Published Friday, 5 December 2025
The State Planning Commission has released a discussion paper on inspection policies as part of its ongoing review of Practice Directions 8 and 9 under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016.
The Department for Housing and Urban Development is inviting feedback on the discussion paper, particularly from councils and the building industry, which will be used to inform future updates to practice directions aimed at improving building safety and aligning with national best practice.
The discussion paper focuses on key areas for investigation, including:
- introducing an enhanced risk-based approach suggested by the Australian Building Codes Board – this includes changes to mandatory inspection requirements for different classes of building works, or more substantial revision of inspection requirements
- the findings of the Consumer and Business Services (CBS) Building and Construction Industry Review
- inspection requirements for class 1a buildings to encourage more inspections during construction instead of at completion
- reviewing the use of Metropolitan Adelaide versus Greater Adelaide for the purpose of council timeframes for undertaking inspections
- whether there should be any changes to mandatory notifications
- an alternative approach for councils to require certification or other documentation in lieu of undertaking physical inspections which may also include guidelines for virtual inspections.
Though the Commission has identified key areas for investigation in the discussion paper, it is also interested to hear any ideas for reform that may benefit the industry and South Australian community.
This is an opportunity for councils and the building industry to inform how practice directions can better support better quality building inspections.
Feedback is invited on the discussion paper from 5 December 2025 to 19 February 2026 and can be made via YourSAy survey, email to the PlanSA submissions inbox, or by post.
