ACT NCC 2025 Transition: Which Code Applies to Your Building Approval?

The ACT has moved to adopt the National Construction Code 2025 (NCC 2025) in stages. For anyone with a project in design or approval, the question is no longer whether NCC 2025 applies, but which edition your building approval will be assessed against.

The transition period

According to the ACT planning website, NCC 2025 commenced on 1 May 2026 but is not mandatory until 1 May 2027. During the transition, a building approval can comply with either:

• NCC 2022 and the ACT 2022 Appendix; or
• NCC 2025 and the ACT 2025 Appendix.

From 1 May 2027, building approvals must comply with NCC 2025 and the ACT 2025 Appendix.

The development application exception

The ACT has also said that projects with a development application or works approval application lodged before 1 November 2026 may continue to seek building approval under either code until that application expires. If you lodged before that date, confirm the expiry date of your application and plan your building approval around it.

What is different in NCC 2025

The ACT Government has pointed to stronger energy efficiency requirements for commercial buildings, improved waterproofing and drainage, condensation and mould measures for new homes, upgraded carpark fire safety, and increased female toilet ratios. The ACT has said it will vary the NCC so that existing buildings needing building approval are exempt from the improved waterproofing and drainage requirements. The Minister has also said the transition period will be used to monitor other jurisdictions before deciding on any further ACT variations, so the final ACT 2025 Appendix may still change.

How to decide which edition to use

• Work out your timeline first. If building approval will be lodged well before May 2027, either edition is open to you. If it may slip past that date, design to NCC 2025 now.
• Pick one edition and stay with it. Your BCA report, access report and any Performance Solutions should all state the edition and ACT Appendix they were assessed against.
• Check the cost and design impact. Energy, waterproofing and carpark fire provisions can affect layout and budget. A BCA review at concept stage is cheaper than redesign later.
• Staged projects need a plan. Later stages may be approved after the mandatory date even if Stage 1 was not.

Government sources describe these dates slightly differently, so always confirm the current position on the ACT planning website before committing to a strategy. Our BCA consultancy team can map the NCC edition and Appendix to your specific project and flag the provisions most likely to affect it.