National Construction Code (NCC) 2025: Key Updates and Implementation Pause

Building ministers from across Australia have agreed to a pause on residential changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) until mid-2029, following outcomes from the Federal Government’s 2025 Economic Reform Roundtable. The decision aims to provide greater regulatory certainty and support housing delivery by allowing the construction industry time to consolidate recent reforms.

The next edition of the NCC will be published by 1 February 2026, with states and territories able to adopt it from 1 May 2026. While the code will still be released on schedule, the scope of the 2025 update has been refined to focus primarily on non-residential and essential safety measures.

Residential changes have been deferred, meaning that the provisions introduced in NCC 2022 — including the 7-star energy efficiency and livable housing requirements — will continue to apply for the foreseeable future.

The upcoming NCC 2025 will include targeted updates in the following areas:

• Improved water management for commercial and apartment buildings to prevent water ingress
• Enhanced carpark fire safety provisions
• Condensation mitigation measures
• Energy efficiency reforms for commercial buildings

These changes are considered essential quality and safety measures that cannot reasonably be delayed until the next full NCC update.

Building ministers have also agreed to review how the NCC is developed, implemented, and accessed. The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has been tasked with several key improvement initiatives, including:

• Simplifying and clarifying the structure of the NCC
• Reducing unnecessary regulatory complexity
• Exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve usability and interpretation
• Supporting the uptake of modern methods of construction (MMC)

These actions are intended to make the NCC easier to use, more consistent across jurisdictions, and better aligned with the industry’s capacity to deliver projects efficiently.

Each state and territory will determine its own implementation approach. The ACT Government is yet to confirm whether it will align with the national pause or proceed with earlier adoption of NCC 2025 measures. The decision provides an opportunity for builders, designers, and certifiers to focus on current code compliance while preparing for the limited updates expected in 2026.

Absolute Approvals will continue to monitor the rollout of NCC 2025 and provide guidance to clients as further details become available.