Building and construction

Regulating the sector

State and territory governments regulate building and construction activities in Australia.

We collaborate with state and territory governments to promote nationally consistent regulations through the National Construction Code (NCC).

We do this through the Building Ministers’ Meeting and the Australian Building Codes Board.

Australian Building Codes Board

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is a standards writing body that is responsible for the National Construction Code (NCC).

It also administers and manages the WaterMark and CodeMark Certification Schemes.

The ABCB is a joint initiative of the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, and the building and plumbing industries. The ABCB operates under an intergovernmental agreement between all Australian governments.

CodeMark Certification Scheme

The CodeMark Certification Scheme is a voluntary third-party building product certification scheme.

It supports the use of new or innovative building products in specified circumstances in Australia, by providing a nationally accepted process for demonstrating compliance with the NCC.

WaterMark Certification Scheme

The WaterMark Certification Scheme is mandatory for plumbing and drainage products of a certain type.

It ensures products are fit for purpose and appropriately authorised for use in plumbing and drainage installations.

The NCC requires WaterMark certification of any products listed on the WaterMark Schedule of Products.

National Construction Code

States and territories adopt and enforce the NCC. The NCC contains minimum building, plumbing and construction requirements for:

• safety and health
• amenity and accessibility
• sustainability.

Each jurisdiction regulates:

• licensing building practitioners
• certifying buildings
• enforcing building regulations
• identifying non-compliant building products

The government will work with states and territories to pause further residential changes to the NCC until the end of the National Housing Accord period (mid-2029), following finalisation of NCC 2025.

• This excludes essential safety and quality changes, and it maintains the strong residential standards adopted in 2022, including 7-star energy efficiency.
• The timing and content of the next edition of the NCC will be for the Building Ministers’ Meeting to consider.

Premises Standards

We also review the Disability (Access to Premises — Buildings) Standards 2010 every 5 years.

The Premises Standards specify how public buildings must provide access for people living with disability.

See the Premises Standards review

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