NSW will adopt the new National Construction Code (NCC 2025) on 1 May 2027, providing the state’s building industry with more time to adjust to the new requirements so it can continue to deliver the homes the state needs.
The NCC is Australia’s primary set of building standards covering essential health, safety, amenity, and sustainability requirements, published by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) in collaboration with the Australian and State and Territory Governments. NCC 2025 implements new provisions for the commercial construction sector and a small subset of essential quality and safety improvements for residential building.
The ABCB recently published a preview version of the NCC 2025 detailing the changes to the code, which will be available for adoption by State and Territory Governments from 1 May 2026.
NSW’s 12-month transition period to commencing NCC 2025 will provide the construction industry with more time to adjust to the changes so they can continue to build homes while ensuring key amendments in the code can still be applied to new building work without significant delay. It will also minimise future compliance risk and disruption to projects set to commence early next year.
NSW also plans on making a number of variations to the NCC 2025, to ensure changes align with the NSW Government’s policy settings and have minimal impact on the residential construction sector. The variation process will also ensure that the new provisions do not conflict with requirements set out in state legislation and the technical building, plumbing and drainage requirements applicable in NSW.
The NSW variations to the NCC will include giving apartment building owners undertaking remedial building works the choice to utilise the waterproofing requirements set out in either the current edition of the NCC or the new NCC 2025.This flexibility is expected to keep costs down for homeowners.
Additionally, under the package of variations, the new energy efficiency standards in the NCC 2025 will not apply to the common areas of apartment buildings.
Information on all NSW variations will be available when the full suite of the NCC 2025 is published on 1 May 2026.
To view the preview version of the NCC 2025, please visit: https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/news/2026/ncc-2025-preview-now-available
Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong said:
“The Minns Labor Government is focused on building more homes to buy and rent for the people of NSW.
“We are working in lockstep with the construction industry to ensure these homes are high-quality, safe and sustainable. The NCC 2025 represents sensible and reasonable steps towards that goal.
“We want to make sure this does not cause disruption to the construction sector’s ability to deliver homes and meet housing demand in NSW, which is why we have provided a 12-month transition period to the new NCC requirements.
“This transition period will also minimise future compliance risk by allowing industry to plan for the changes in the NCC 2025 and factor them into their new projects ahead of time.”
MEDIA: Simone Maddison | Minister Chanthivong | 0429 122 179 | Published Wednesday 25 March 2026
www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/nsw-to-adopt-new-national-construction-code-may-2027