Building Ministers have agreed this week that no further residential changes to the NCC, except for essential quality and safety measures, will be made until mid‑2029, following the finalisation of NCC 2025. Master Builders NSW commend the Federal and NSW Governments for freezing the National Construction Code (NCC).
Key Outcome: No New Residential NCC Changes Until Mid-2029
Following the Commonwealth’s 24 August announcement, Building Ministers have officially paused all non-essential residential changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) until mid-2029.
This means:
- Building compliance will continue under the current NCC 2022 provisions. No new requirements will apply from 1 May 2026
- No further residential energy efficiency upgrades beyond the 7-star standard introduced in NCC 2022
- No mandatory EV charging infrastructure in new homes
- Embodied carbon reporting remains voluntary – published as ABCB guidance only
“It just got a bit easier for builders to construct the thousands of new homes needed to meet the housing needs of NSW,” said Master Builders ED Matthew Pollock. “Master Builders applauds the leadership of the Premier and his team in pushing the Federal Government and other state and territory governments to freeze the NCC.”
NCC 2025: What’s In (and What’s Not)
The NCC 2025 edition will be published on 1 February 2026, with adoption possible from 1 May 2026 (jurisdiction-dependent).
Included in NCC 2025 (Commercial & Apartments Only):
- Enhanced water ingress prevention in multi-residential and commercial buildings
- Upgraded carpark fire safety provisions
- Mandatory on-site solar PV systems in commercial buildings
- New condensation mitigation measures
Excluded from NCC 2025 (Residential):
- Any residential energy efficiency changes
- EV charging infrastructure mandates
- Mandatory embodied carbon provisions
A Once-in-a-Generation Chance to Streamline the NCC
With the residential pause locked in, Ministers have launched a major NCC modernisation project, including:
- AI-powered search and plain-English drafting to help tradies and small businesses
- Reducing regulatory burden on builders
- Removing barriers to modern methods of construction (MMC) – think prefab, volumetric, 3D printing
- Reviewing the frequency and process of future NCC updates