National Construction Code update
On 1 May 2026, the final version of NCC 2025 was published by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB). This summary includes details about state and territory timelines, key changes, the inclusion of all-gender facilities as DTS, and further resources. We also provide an update on the NCC modernisation project.
National Construction Code (NCC) 2025
Access the NCC 2025 volumes in both PDF and NCC Online format here.
State & territory adoption timeline
On 1 May 2026, the final version of NCC 2025 was published by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB). All states and territories have responded to the changes with their own timelines for adoption, with some announcing immediate adoption, others signalling a 12-month transition, and one jurisdiction ruling out adoption altogether.
See further information on state and territory adoption here.
Key changes
The NCC 2025 strengthens water management provisions, updates carpark fire safety provisions, includes significant changes to commercial energy efficiency provisions, improves condensation mitigation provisions, and includes new Performance Solutions for structural reliability and fire safety.
See the ABCB’s information hub for detailed information on key changes.
All-gender facilities
After collaborative advocacy from many in the architecture profession, including the ACA, the NCC 2025 has introduced a voluntary Deemed‑to‑Satisfy (DTS) option for some buildings to include separate and self-contained all-gender bathrooms.
The ABCB offers additional context to this change: “Safe, private, and inclusive public toilets are essential for enabling all people to participate fully in community life.
All gender bathrooms are available to everyone and can accommodate people with medical conditions who may require access to a private facility, and parents/carers with young children. They can also be a good option when there is a high volume of bathroom use.
This change supports the continued provision of male‑only and female‑only facilities, while also giving building owners and developers a compliant pathway to provide all gender facilities that can be used by the entire community.”
The NCC 2025 also includes increased female toilet ratios and mandatory sanitary product dispensers in new commercial and public buildings.
NCC 2025 resources
The ABCB will run a series of four free NCC 2025 webinars from 25–30 June 2026. Places are limited. Register here.
NCC modernisation
Back in March 2026, the ACA welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the Treasury’s Discussion Paper, Streamlining and Modernising the National Construction Code (NCC), a core productivity instrument within Australia’s built environment, with direct influence over housing supply, compliance costs, insurance exposure, construction innovation and investment certainty.
The ACA supports targeted reform that reduces regulatory friction while maintaining the safety, durability and public confidence that Australians rightly expect from their built environment. See our advocacy update for information on our nine key recommendations, including the introduction of free Australian Standards.
On 30 April, the Commonwealth Housing Minister released an interim report for the NCC Modernisation Project, outlining five reform directions to modernise the NCC and its governance. These will guide the next phase of the project, which will focus on deepening the evidence base, testing potential reform options, and assessing implementation impacts, and inform the final report.
Treasury has now clearly recognised that paywalled Australian Standards are a structural barrier to compliance, productivity and equity, and is moving towards a model where standards referenced in regulation are freely or more easily accessible. While not yet fully committed, this marks strong alignment with our advocacy on this issue and an encouraging shift towards government-funded access as part of broader NCC reform.
Watch this space!