Building Code

Commonwealth, state and territory Building Ministers met on 22 October 2025 to agree the pause and streamlining of the NCC in line with the Commonwealth announcement on 24 August 2025.

Ministers agreed the pause provides a timely opportunity for collaboration between jurisdictions and industry to improve and modernise the NCC by considering how to:

• streamline and use AI to improve its useability
• reduce the regulatory burden on the building and construction industry
• remove barriers to the uptake of modern methods of construction
• improve how code provisions are developed and the timing of future updates.

Key reforms agreed for inclusion in NCC 2025 include:

• water management in commercial and apartment buildings to prevent water ingress
• carpark fire safety provisions for commercial and apartment buildings
• commercial energy efficiency reforms including efficiency improvements and mandatory on-site solar photovoltaic systems to support net zero ambitions
• sanitary facilities including an increase in the number of female facilities in single auditoria buildings
• residential condensation mitigation provisions

Ministers agreed further electric vehicle (EV) charging provisions and residential changes would not be introduced in NCC 2025. This approach maintains the significant improvements in residential energy efficiency standards and the provision of infrastructure to support EV charging in commercial buildings adopted in NCC 2022. Voluntary embodied carbon provisions will be published as an ABCB guidance document.

Further information can be found in the published Communiqué.

The ABCB released NCC 2025 on 1 May 2026.

States and territories can adopt NCC 2025 from 1 May 2026, subject to jurisdictional implementation arrangements. Further information is available at NCC 2025 state and territory adoption information.

In South Australia the Building Code is adopted as part of the Building Rules under the PDI Act and variations to the Code may be gazetted by the Minister.

South Australia will adopt the Building Code within NCC 2025 on 1 May 2027.

This ensures the building and construction industry has time to adjust to the new requirements, minimising changes and costs to major projects in design.

Further advice on the adoption of NCC 2025 in South Australia will be provided as details are finalised.

NCC 2022 Amendment 2 will remain in force as the Building Code under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 until 30 April 2027.

South Australia adopted the Plumbing Code within NCC 2025 on 1 May 2026. Further information is available from the Office of the Technical Regulator.

The Building Ministers Meeting (BMM) oversee the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) who have the primary role of publishing the NCC.

BMM met in August 2022 and agreed that the new NCC 2022 edition will be published on 1 October 2022, and subject to transition arrangements the NCC will have a national adoption date of 1 May 2023.

ABCB have released a second stage preview containing the final provisions that were resolved for the increased stringency for residential energy efficiency and the additional condensation mitigation measures.

The energy efficiency and livable housing provisions are among the significant changes to the NCC that will have considerable impact on the construction industry. The Building Ministers considered transitional arrangements for these requirements and have agreed that they will commence nationally on 1 October 2023. This means that although the new NCC will be in effect nationally from 1 May 2023, the energy efficiency provisions from NCC 2019 Amendment 1 will be able to be used up until 30 September 2023.

Further information is available on the Building Ministers Meeting in the Communique and on the ABCB website in relation to the NCC.

From 1 May 2025, the NCC is to be read in light of amendments outlined in NCC 2022 Amendment 1. Amendment 1 contains variations and additions for Western Australia, a variation for Tasmania and minor corrections.

From 29 July 2025, the NCC is to be read in light of the amendments outlined in NCC 2022 Amendment 2. Amendment 2 aligns the NCC with recent amendments to the Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010 (Premises Standards).

Further information about the amendments is available from the ABCB website.

In South Australia the Building Code is adopted as part of the Building Rules under the PDI Act and variations to the Code may be gazetted by the Minister.

The unique circumstances facing South Australia required the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 provisions to be tailored to our state by introducing a longer transitional period for some provisions.

In accordance with the national decision, the main provisions were adopted on 1 May 2023 in South Australia. This includes all provisions except for the livable housing and energy efficiency provisions, with related condensation management requirements.

The transitional arrangements reflect the current building and construction environment in SA including challenges of market capacity, supply chain disruption and workforce uncertainty, along with the additional pressures that the River Murray floods rebuilding effort have placed upon the sector.

Following the Ministerial Liaison Group meeting on 6 November 2023, the Minister for Planning confirmed agreed outcomes of the NCC 2022 Implementation Working Group, which were the result of a significant amount of effort by all involved.

The livable housing design and energy efficiency provisions apply to new homes in South Australia from 1 October 2024.

Ministerial Building Standard MBS 007 Modifications to the Building Code of Australia outlines how the NCC 2022 livable housing and energy efficiency provisions apply to new building work in South Australia.

MBS 007 (Amendment 1) addresses editorial errors and omissions and provides further clarification on the energy efficiency requirements for Class 2 buildings and the livable housing design standards for sanitary compartments and shower areas. Amendment 1 was gazetted on 6 September 2024.

To assist industry with the transition to the new provisions, MBS 007 (Amendment 2) clarifies the requirements for lodgement of applications, and delays the implementation of the new provisions for alterations and additions to existing Class 1 buildings until 1 May 2025. Amendment 2 was gazetted on 26 September 2024.

MBS 007 (Amendment 3) removes the Class 9 bushfire protection requirements in Volume One of NCC 2022 until state-based bushfire-related initiatives are completed. No changes were made in relation to the NCC modern homes provisions. Amendment 3 was gazetted on 12 December 2024.

MBS 007 (Amendment 4) further delays the implementation of the new provisions for alterations and additions to existing Class 1 buildings and extends the concessions for small and irregular allotments until 1 May 2026. Floor area allowance for small homes manufactured off site was increased to 70 square metres. Amendment 4 was gazetted on 27 March 2025.

MBS 007 (Amendment 5) notes adoption of NCC 2022 Amendments 1 and 2, adds a livable housing design concession for Class 2 buildings, updates a referenced standard, removes redundant rainwater tank provisions and clarifies requirements for evidence of suitability, farm buildings and floor wastes. Updated definitions and explanatory diagrams are provided to assist with the application of the small and irregular allotment concessions. Amendment 5 was gazetted on 18 December 2025.

MBS 007 (Amendment 6) extends the concessions relating to additions and alterations, small or irregular allotments and Mt Barker MPNZ energy efficiency. Amendment 6 was gazetted on 23 April 2026.

The livable housing and energy efficiency provisions apply to new building work to existing homes in South Australia from 1 May 2030.

NCC 2019 Amendment 1 energy efficiency (6-star equivalent) provisions will continue to apply as the minimum standard in South Australia for alterations and additions to existing homes until 30 April 2030.

Further information on the new provisions, the transitional arrangements and MBS 013 is available on the NCC 2022 modern homes provisions page.