Previous history
The National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 replaced the NCC 2019 in South Australia effective 1 October 2024, and mandates the ABCB Silver Level Standard for Livable Housing Design, with concessions and exemptions for particular types and sizes of buildings and regarding certain amenities.
If you applied for land division to create small or irregular allotments prior to 1 January 2024, you may be entitled to some of those concessions for construction on those allotments provided that you apply for building rules consent before 1 January 2027.
Ministerial Building Standard 007 Amendment 5 (issued in December 2025) in South Australia provided that development applications for alterations and additions to existing Class 1 homes lodged before 1 May 2026 could be assessed under the less stringent NCC 2019 provisions.
Changes and timeframes
The NCC 2025 was published by the ABCB on 1 May 2026, and provides changes to the Livable Housing Design Standard.
Ministerial Building Standard 007 Amendment 6 (issued on 23 April 2026) confirms that Volumes One and Two of NCC 2025 (including these changes to the Livable Housing Design Standard) will be adopted in South Australia effective 1 May 2027, with some qualifications.
You may still be entitled to concessions in relation to construction on small or irregular allotments created by land division applications made prior to 1 May 2027.
The ability to assess development applications for alterations and additions to existing Class 1 homes under NCC 2019 provisions has been extended to applications lodged before 1 May 2030.
Volume Three (the Plumbing Code) of NCC 2025 has been adopted in South Australia effective 1 May 2026.
If you have any questions about the application of Standards, or defects claims which reference Standards, please contact us for advice. If you are a HIA member, we offer the first half hour of advice free of charge.
