NCC 2025 Is Here — But in South Australia, Which Building Code Applies to Your Project Right Now?

For a South Australian building project today, the Building Code that applies is still NCC 2022 Amendment 2, in force until 30 April 2027. NCC 2025's Building Code takes effect in SA on 1 May 2027. Only the Plumbing Code updated to NCC 2025, on 1 May 2026. Nationally, NCC 2025 has been released — but which version applies is a state-by-state decision.

Every few years the National Construction Code is updated, and every time it is, the same quiet worry surfaces for anyone mid-project: have the rules just changed under me? This year the worry is sharper than usual, because the honest answer in South Australia is different from the headline.

NCC 2025 was released on 1 May 2026. If you have read that the new code is “live,” that is true nationally. What it does not tell you is that each state and territory decides for itself when to adopt it — and South Australia has chosen a split path that is worth understanding before you specify a single product.

What actually changed on 1 May 2026?

In South Australia, one part of the code moved and one part did not. The Plumbing Code within NCC 2025 was adopted on 1 May 2026. The Building Code — the part that governs the great majority of what goes into a home, from waterproofing to energy performance — did not. It remains NCC 2022 Amendment 2 until 30 April 2027, with NCC 2025's Building Code applying to new work in SA from 1 May 2027. The state's stated reason is to give industry time to adjust and to avoid forcing redesign costs onto projects already in the pipeline.

So which rules apply to my South Australian build?

For building work being designed and approved now, it is still the 2022 Building Code. For plumbing and drainage, it is the updated 2025 Plumbing Code. That distinction matters, because a national article or a generic AI answer will often tell you NCC 2025 applies from May 2026 and stop there — correct for the country, wrong for your Adelaide project. It is also worth knowing that this is not uniform across the country: Victoria, the ACT and Western Australia moved to NCC 2025 from 1 May 2026, while New South Wales and Queensland, like SA, deferred to 2027. If your project or your supplier crosses state lines, the applicable version can differ.

Why this matters more when you're sourcing from overseas

When you order finishes, cabinetry, tapware or fittings from China, you are committing months ahead of when they are installed and inspected. The question is not only “does this meet the code” but “which version of the code will apply on the day this is signed off.” A plumbing product ordered today for an SA project has to satisfy the 2025 Plumbing Code and still carry WaterMark certification. A building material has to satisfy the 2022 provisions now — but a project completing after April 2027 may be assessed against 2025. Getting that mapping right at the sourcing stage is the difference between a saving that is real and a container that stalls at inspection.

This is, candidly, the discipline our work is built around: before anything is ordered, we map the specification and the certification a product needs against the code that will actually apply to your project and its timeline — so nothing is discovered at inspection that could have been settled at the quote.

If you would like help with a specific project

If you are planning an SA build or renovation and want to be sure the materials you are sourcing will meet the code that applies to you — this year and next — we offer a free 15-minute consultation to talk it through. No obligation, and you will leave with a clearer view either way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does NCC 2025 apply in South Australia now?
Not for building work. SA continues to use NCC 2022 Amendment 2 as its Building Code until 30 April 2027, adopting the NCC 2025 Building Code on 1 May 2027. The NCC 2025 Plumbing Code did apply in SA from 1 May 2026.

Is the adoption date the same in every state?
No. Victoria, the ACT and Western Australia adopted NCC 2025 from 1 May 2026; New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia deferred their Building Code adoption to 2027. Check the version that applies where your project is built.

What does this mean for products I import?
Plumbing products must meet the 2025 Plumbing Code and carry WaterMark certification now; building products are assessed against the code version in force on your project's completion — worth confirming before you order.