CBOS has recently contacted stakeholders to advise that the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 is now in effect in Tasmania: NCC 2025 | NCC.
Application of NCC 2025 and exemptions
NCC 2025 applies to new building and plumbing designs from 1 May 2026. However, the Building Act 2016 (the Act) contains transitional provisions that may provide exemptions from NCC 2025.
Section 11(5) of the Act allows exemptions from specific provisions of the NCC where:
- a certificate of likely compliance for the work was issued before 1 May 2026; or
- the building surveyor or relevant permit authority certifies in writing that substantial progress had been made on the design of the work before adoption of the provision by the State; or
- substantial progress had occurred before any relevant referenced standard was amended.
In practical terms, NCC 2025 is expected to apply principally to new projects that do not meet the above criteria.
Areas of low‑risk work, or new design work commencing after 1 May 2026, will need to comply with NCC 2025.
Updates and variations in NCC 2025
Practitioners should also be aware that some primary referenced documents have been updated since NCC 2022.
Updates to common primary referenced documents include:
- AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and drainage
- AS 1684 Residential timber framing
- AS 1926.1 Swimming pool safety barriers.
It is important to review the NCC 2025 table of referenced documents to ensure you are working with the current standards.
All existing Tasmania‑specific state variations in NCC 2022 will be carried forward.
The following changes contained in NCC 2025 will not be adopted in Tasmania due to state variations:
- condensation mitigation
- commercial building energy efficiency, and
- sanitary facilities.
Anyone affected by the introduction of NCC 2025 is encouraged to discuss these changes with their building surveyor or relevant permit authority to understand how the transitional arrangements may apply.
Building Amendment Bill 2026
The Building Amendment Bill 2026, which is intended to pause the commencement of NCC 2025 and ensure NCC 2022 continues to apply in Tasmania, has passed the House of Assembly but has not yet passed the Legislative Council, which does not sit again until 19 May 2026.
As the Bill was not passed by both Houses of Parliament before 1 May 2026, NCC 2025 has now commenced.
Further Information
A list of frequently asked questions, and further information on NCC 2025, will be available on the CBOS website: National Construction Code (NCC) 2025
If you have any questions about these changes, please contact CBOS by emailing cbos.info@justice.tas.gov.au or by phoning 1300 654 499.
Further information will be provided following the Legislative Council’s consideration of the Building Amendment Bill 2026.