On this page:

Building and renovating

For a complete list of the available checklists on the Consumer Affairs Victoria website, see Checklists for building and renovating

Here is a selection of checklists from the series:

Your Home

Your Home is Australia’s independent guide to designing, building or renovating homes to ensure they are energy efficient, comfortable, affordable and adaptable for the future.

Sustainability Vic

Sustainability Vic promotes environmental sustainability across Victoria. Go to Energy efficiency and reducing emissions for resources about energy efficiency when building, renovating, buying or renting, and how to reduce energy bills in your current home.

Planning assessment

Planning laws define the ways that land in the council area can be used or developed for private residential, commercial or public use.

Victorian Building Authority

The VBA's Building Practice Notes explain different parts of the building legislation, making it easier to find and understand the information relevant to you.

What is the National Construction Code?

The National Construction Code (NCC) sets out the requirements for the design and construction of buildings in Australia, including plumbing and drainage work. It sets the minimum required level for the safety, health, amenity, accessibility, and sustainability that most types of new building designs must comply with.

The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) and Building Ministers’ Meeting (BMM) act on behalf of the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to produce and maintain the NCC which is updated triennially.
Collectively, Volume One and Two of the NCC are titled the Building Codes of Australia (BCA). Volume Three makes up the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA).

Volume One: Class 2 to 9 buildings

Volume Two: Class 1 and 10 buildings

Volume Three: Plumbing and drainage work associated with all classes of buildings

For information on:

Building standards in Victoria

NCC requirements are given legal effect in Victoria through the Building Act 1993, Victorian Building Regulations 2018, and Victorian Plumbing Regulations 2018. These regulations set out the framework for the regulation of building construction, building standards (including NCC) and the maintenance of specific building safety features in Victoria.

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) regulates practitioner building and plumbing compliance standards as set out in the NCC. For more information visit: Victorian Building Authority

Your appointed building surveyor is responsible for issuing the building permit and ensuring your proposed building design is compliant with the
Victorian and national building standards. Find more information on how building surveyors support the building and design process.

What has changed in the NCC 2022

In 2022 significant changes and updates took place to the NCC affecting Australian building and plumbing standards which impact the building industry and homeowners undertaking building or plumbing work which include:

Energy efficiency

  • Increase from 6 to 7-star National Home Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
  • Minimum thermal performance requirements
  • Introduction of new Whole-of-Home appliance performance calculator
  • Electric vehicle readiness provisions for carparks

Condensation

Updates to building envelope, wall construction, condensation management, roof ventilation and exhaust system provisions

Livable housing

New livable housing requirements for Class 1a buildings (houses and townhouses) and Class 2 sole-occupancy units (individual apartments)

Lead in plumbing

New requirements for lead free plumbing products containing copper alloy - intended for use in contact with drinking water from 1 September 2025

Early childhood centres

New provisions addressing the difficulties associated with evacuating young occupants from upper levels of multi-storey buildings. Note:  some requirements apply for all early childhood centres

Waterproofing and weatherproofing

Innovative solutions for weatherproofing of external walls and new Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) Provisions in Volume Two for waterproofing of wet areas

Fire safety of external walls

Clarifications to interpretate concessions from non-combustibility requirements and provisions that prevent fixing of certain bonded laminated cladding panels by adhesive only

NCC new structure and clause referencing system

A revised, more user-friendly NCC reference structure format to improve the searchable function

For further details on Accessible housing requirements:

Changes to the NCC 2022

The main provisions of NCC 2022 commenced on 1 May 2023. However, due to the significant scale of these changes, some of the requirements will be subject to an extended transition to give industry time to prepare.

Key dates for NCC 2022 implementation are:

1 May 2023

Energy efficiency, condensation management and livable housing provision transitional period began

1 May 2024

Mandatory commencement of updated condensation management, energy efficiency and new livable housing provisions

1 May 2026

Low lead evidence of suitability requirements for plumbing products commences

For information visit: National Construction Code (NCC) 2022

Further information for homeowners

If you are a homeowner designing or building a new home in Victoria, Consumer Affairs Victoria have more information on new homes, existing dwellings or what to do if you experience issues building and renovating at www.consumer.vic.gov.au/

Page last updated: 26/10/23