General NCC

The National Construction Code (NCC) is a performance-based code which sets the minimum required level for the safety, health, amenity, accessibility and sustainability of certain buildings. It is Australia’s primary technical design and construction provisions. The NCC is prepared and maintained by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) on behalf of the Commonwealth and state and territory governments. 

The NCC applies primarily to new buildings, including houses. It does not generally apply to existing buildings unless they are being altered, extended, or undergoing a change of use.

Since 2016, the National Construction Code (NCC) has notionally been updated on a 3-year cycle, with adoption typically on 1 May of the relevant cycle year. However, both the 2022 and 2025 editions had delayed implementation.

The ABCB Office develops new and revised NCC content, with the support of technical advisory and review committees, as well as targeted working groups. 

Regulatory impact analysis is undertaken with full consultation and decision regulatory impact statements developed where it is anticipated there will be substantial cost implications. 

Following the development process, the ABCB provides recommendations to building ministers on what should be included in the NCC for decision at the Building Ministers’ Meeting (BMM).

The National Construction Code (NCC) is given legal effect through its adoption into the regulatory frameworks of each state and territory.

State and territory legislation mandates the application of the NCC to the design and construction of new buildings, structures, and plumbing systems. In some cases, the NCC may also apply to existing buildings—particularly when they undergo renovation, alteration, or additions.

Each jurisdiction has the authority to modify the NCC to suit local conditions. This may involve excluding, substituting, or altering specific provisions.

On 24 August 2025, the Minister for Housing confirmed she will work with states and territories to pause new residential regulation changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) until mid-2029, following consideration of NCC 2025. This pause will apply except for essential safety and quality changes.

The government has always worked closely with the states and territories to deliver its housing agenda, noting the states and territories are responsible for regulating the building industry. 

Any changes to the NCC must be agreed by Building Ministers. The government will continue to engage jurisdictions to work towards national consistency in building regulations.

The provisions and timing of NCC 2025 will be a decision for the Building Ministers’ Meeting, which will likely occur before the end of 2025.

In the meantime, practitioners should continue to work in accordance with the current version of the NCC and the adoption timeline applicable in their jurisdiction.

The National Construction Code (NCC) is divided into 3 volumes, each covering different types of building systems:

• Volume One covers technical design and construction requirements for Class 2 to 9 buildings. This includes multi-residential, commercial, industrial and public assembly buildings, along with their associated structures.
• Volume Two covers technical design and construction requirements for Class 1 and Class 10 buildings. This includes certain residential buildings (e.g. houses, townhouses) and non-habitable structures (e.g. garages, sheds, carports).
• Volume Three covers technical requirements for the design and construction of plumbing and drainage systems in both new and existing buildings. It applies to all building classes whenever plumbing work is carried out. It also applies to sites where water services are constructed independently of buildings. 

The National Construction Code (NCC) is available for free on the ABCB website. 

You can download PDF copies of NCC 2022 from the NCC editions page on our website. To download, click the icon on the left side of the volume you’re after. 

You can find previous editions of the National Construction Code (NCC) under the NCC editions tab. 

Printed copies of the National Construction Code (NCC) are available from several commercial suppliers. You can find a list of these providers on the ABCB website.

The National Construction Code (NCC) is available to access and use for free on the ABCB website.

The NCC is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence. This means you are free to share and adapt the content, provided appropriate credit is given to the ABCB as the original author of the NCC. 

The ABCB doesn’t provide access to the Australian Standards referenced in the National Construction Code (NCC).

The cost of standards varies depending on the document. To obtain Australian Standards, you can purchase them from the following sources:

• Standards Store or call 1800 035 822
• Accuris (formerly Techstreet)
• Intertek Inform (formerly "SAI Global") or call 131 242 

Please note: Access to the full text of Australian Standards typically requires a purchase or subscription. Standards Australia offers online access to select standards for personal, non-commercial purposes through our Reader Room at no cost. Access is limited to online viewing only, downloading, printing, or sharing is not permitted.

Alternatively, some public and university libraries provide access to standards. Check with your local library. 

You can find information about the legal requirements in your area by contacting your local building or plumbing authority. Each state and territory has its own regulations, so it's best to check directly with the relevant department. You'll find contact details and links to each jurisdiction on the ABCB website. 

The National Construction Code (NCC) applies across Australia, but some clauses may be varied or added to by individual states and territories. These variations are clearly listed in the NCC. In the PDF version, you’ll find variations at the back of each NCC volume. In the NCC online, any applicable variations for each section, part, type or clause are shown in a clickable override. If your state or territory is not listed for a particular clause, then the standard NCC provision applies.

The National Construction Code (NCC) is given legal effect through building or plumbing legislation set out by your state or territory government, or other statutory authority. Acts and regulations set out the legal framework and administration mechanisms for the NCC, to support the design and construction of buildings and plumbing and drainage systems.

You’ll find more information on the ABCB website. 

The ABCB is responsible for maintaining and updating the NCC at a national level. However, enforcement and administration of the NCC is managed by the state and territory governments. 

If you're concerned about the quality of work done by your builder, you should contact the building administration in your state or territory. They can provide advice on your options and the appropriate steps to take. Your local council or building certifier may also be able to assist with guidance specific to your situation. This may include issues related to defects, extensions, renovations, maintenance and compliance.

Learn more about the ABCB’s roles and responsibilities.

Find contact details for your state or territory building administrator. 

The ABCB does not provide advice on individual products or their compliance. 

To ensure your product meets the relevant NCC provisions, Australian Standards and testing requirements, you should consult a building certifier or surveyor. They can advise on the specific compliance pathways applicable to your product, based on its intended use and the relevant provisions of the National Construction Code (NCC).

Learn more about the ABCB’s roles and responsibilities.

The National Construction Code (NCC) is typically updated every 3 years. The next scheduled edition was NCC 2025. However, its timing will be determined by the Building Ministers’ Meeting, expected to occur before the end of 2025.

On 24 August 2025, the Minister for Housing announced that she will work with states and territories to pause new residential regulation changes to the NCC until mid-2029, following the finalisation of NCC 2025. This pause will apply except for essential safety and quality changes.

Under normal circumstances, the next regular edition would have been NCC 2028. With this pause, that schedule will be pushed back by one year. This pause is intended to provide industry with greater certainty and time to invest in productivity-enhancing activities, by reducing the frequency of regulatory change.

If you believe you've found an error in the National Construction Code (NCC), please let us know via the contact form on our help and support page.

If you think a provision in the National Construction Code (NCC) is inadequate or ambiguous, you can suggest a change through the Proposal for Change (PFC) process.

Please note:

• PFCs should focus on technical improvements.
• Proposals involving public policy or requiring government direction are not considered through this process.

Submitted proposals are reviewed by the relevant building or plumbing technical committee. If a proposal is found to have merit, it may be recommended for inclusion in a future Public Comment Draft of the NCC.

The ABCB administers the NCC on behalf of the states and territories, which are responsible for regulating the built environment. We recommend confirming NCC interpretations with the relevant state or territory building authority.

Yes. NCC 2022 may be used to train artificial intelligence (AI) systems under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC-BY-4.0).

This includes:

• Text from NCC 2022 Volume One, Volume Two, and Volume Three, including amendments.
• Technical provisions and explanatory information published as part of NCC 2022.

The machine-readable XML version of NCC 2022 is available for download via the ABCB page on data.gov.au.

Conditions of use:

• You must provide appropriate attribution to the ABCB as the original source.
• You must not imply endorsement by the ABCB of any AI system or its outputs.
• You must ensure that any third-party content included in NCC 2022 is not reused without separate permission, as it may not be covered by the CC BY licence.

Attribution example:

Content sourced from the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 provided by the Australian Building Codes Board under the CC BY 4.0 licence.

For more information on the licence, visit the Creative Commons website.

The ABCB has published a machine-readable XML version of NCC 2022 to support data-driven applications, research, and AI development.

You can download the XML files from the ABCB’s page on the Australian Government’s open data platform data.gov.au.

What’s included?

• Structured XML data for NCC 2022 Volume One, Volume Two, and Volume Three

Who can use it?

Anyone — including developers, researchers, educators, and commercial entities — may use the XML data, provided they:

• give appropriate attribution to the ABCB
• do not imply endorsement by the ABCB
• comply with the terms of the CC BY 4.0 licence.

Attribution example:

NCC 2022 XML data provided by the Australian Building Codes Board under the CC BY 4.0 licence.

Can I use this data to build apps or train AI?

Yes. The XML format is ideal for:

• AI training and natural language processing
• searchable databases
• custom applications and tools
• academic research and analysis.

Please note: Only NCC 2022 content is currently available in this format and under this licence. Other ABCB publications may have different licensing terms.

The Glossary within the National Construction Code (NCC) provides definitions for all terms used in the NCC. 

For a broader list of commonly used building and plumbing terms, you can also refer to the National Dictionary of Building and Plumbing Terms, available at www.constructiondictionary.com.au.

Prior to the introduction of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) in 1990, building requirements were managed individually by each state and territory. One of the key references from that period is the Australian Model Uniform Building Code (AMUBC) 1970.

For historical reference, the NCC website includes archived material from the Australian Uniform Building Regulation Coordination Council (AUBRCC) dating back to 1990. For building requirements prior to this, you should contact the relevant state or territory building control authority. They may hold records or guidance specific to older buildings.

Learn more about The Australian model uniform building code.