What builders need to know about NCC 2025
The National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 has now been released and will start being adopted by states and territories from 1 May 2026.
For most residential builders, the key message is simple: there are very few new residential requirements, and major changes have been paused until at least 2029.
Here’s a quick overview of what it means for your business.
Residential changes are largely on hold
Building ministers have agreed to pause further residential NCC changes until mid-2029, except for essential safety or quality issues.
That means:
- No new residential energy efficiency changes
- No new EV charging requirements for homes
- The 7-star energy efficiency standard from NCC 2022 remains
The goal is to give builders certainty and stability, allowing the industry to focus on building more homes without constant regulatory change.
NCC 2025 mainly focuses on commercial buildings
Most of the major updates in NCC 2025 apply to commercial and apartment buildings, including:
- Improved water management to prevent water ingress
- Updated car park fire safety provisions
- Stronger commercial energy efficiency rules
- Mandatory on-site solar PV for many commercial buildings
These changes are designed to improve building safety, durability and sustainability.
A few updates still affect residential builders
While there are no major new housing requirements, builders should still be aware of several updates across the code.
Key areas include:
- Condensation management in climate zones 6, 7 and 8
New provisions strengthen how moisture is controlled in walls and roofs, including ventilation requirements and drained wall cavities in certain climate zones. - Updated Australian Standards
Several standards referenced by the NCC have been updated, including changes affecting areas like wind loads and safety barriers. - Waterproofing in multi-residential projects
New Deemed-to-Satisfy options apply to balconies, podiums and similar structures in Class 2 buildings and other commercial buildings.
When the changes take effect
NCC 2025 was published 1 February 2026, but each state and territory decides when to adopt it.
- Victoria: Adoption and mandatory from 1 May 2026.
- ACT: Adoption from 1 May 2026 and mandatory from 1 May 2027.
- NSW: Adoption and mandatory from 1 May 2027.
Transitional arrangements may apply to projects already well underway.
What this means for builders
For most residential builders, the impact is minimal compared to previous code updates.
The key takeaways:
- The 7-star energy efficiency requirements remain unchanged
- No new major residential rules have been introduced
- Builders should still review condensation management and updated standards
- The industry now has greater regulatory certainty through to 2029
NCC 2025 has had a long drawn out history and there is a lot of out-of-date information on the internet about it. It is recommended that you go to a reliable source of information, like the HIA website, for more details.
Keith Ryan
Executive Director – Victoria
Housing Industry Association