How to comply with the National Construction Code
Find out about the National Construction Code and what you need to do to ensure you comply with it when undertaking building or plumbing work.
What is the National Construction Code?
The National Construction Code (NCC) is a uniform set of technical provisions for the design, construction and performance of buildings and plumbing and drainage systems throughout Australia. It is published and maintained by the Australian Building Codes Board, on behalf of and in collaboration with the Australian Government and each State and Territory Government.
It is a performance-based code that sets minimum requirements in relation to structure, fire safety, access and egress, accessibility, health and amenity, and sustainability.
The NCC is made up of the:
- Building Code of Australia (BCA), being Volumes One and Two and the ABCB Housing Provisions (given effect through the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979)
- Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA), being Volume Three (given effect through the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2011).
Copies of the NCC can be downloaded for free from the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) website.
The current edition of the Code is NCC 2022 Amendment 2, which came into effect on 29 July 2025.
NCC 2022 Amendment 2 included amendments to align with the amended Premises Standards, which is made under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
How to comply with the NCC
Compliance with the NCC is achieved by meeting the relevant Performance Requirements.
This can be done by:
- complying with the prescriptive deemed-to-satisfy provisions
- the development of a performance solution, or
- a combination of both.
Find out how to comply with the Code
Proposing a change to the NCC
The NCC is amended every three years and technical proposals to change the NCC are considered during this cycle.
Find more information on the NCC Proposal for Change process on the ABCB website.
The Building Code of Australia
The Building Code of Australia (BCA) is a component of the NCC and consists of two volumes:
- BCA Volume One contains technical design and construction requirements for all Class 2 to 9 buildings (for example, multi-residential, commercial, industrial, and public assembly buildings) and their associated structures.
- BCA Volume Two contains the technical design and construction requirements for certain residential (for example, ingle dwellings, townhouses and small shared accommodation buildings) and non-habitable buildings and structures
All new building and new building work in NSW must comply with the NCC.
Before issuing a Complying Development Certificate or Construction Certificate, the council or registered certifier must be satisfied that the plans and specifications for the proposed building comply with the relevant edition of the BCA.
The NCC 2022 Amendment 2 amended the previous version of the BCA. Importantly, NCC 2022 Amendment 2 being the current version came into effect on 29 July 2025.
What edition of the BCA applies?
Complying development certificates
Applications for a Complying Development Certificate that are lodged on or after 29 July 2025 must be assessed against NCC 2022 Amendment 2.
Construction certificates
Applications for most Construction Certificates that are lodged on or after 29 July 2025 must be assessed against NCC 2022 Amendment 2.
On 3 February 2023, amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Development Certification and Fire Safety) Regulation 2021 commenced which changed how the edition of the BCA is determined for construction certificate applications for multi storey buildings subject to multiple construction certificate applications.
Further information about how the changes apply to construction certificate applications for multi storey buildings can be found on the certifier responsibilities page.
The Plumbing Code of Australia
The Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA) is a component of the NCC and is the code which all plumbing and drainage work in NSW must comply.
The PCA sets out the requirements for the design, construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration and maintenance of plumbing and drainage installations.
For further information about the Plumbing Code of Australia (NCC Volume Three), please visit the Plumbing code standards and notes page.
More information
More information about the NCC can be found on the Australian Building Codes Board website.