Livable Housing Design in National Construction Code 2022

Background

In April 2021, a majority of building ministers agreed to include minimum accessibility provisions in the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022. These are known as livable housing design requirements for residential housing and apartments.

The decision followed regulatory impact assessment by the Australian Building Codes Board and extensive public consultation.

Ministers gave consideration to the feedback from industry, advocates and the lived experience of members of the community affected by the lack of accessible housing.

There is an undersupply of accessible housing in Australia, which these minimum requirements will help to address.

The previous voluntary approach to apply livable housing design guidelines has not led to significant increases in accessible housing stock.

Homes that meet livable housing design requirements benefit all members of the community including:

• those with mobility limitations
• those transitioning through life stages, such as young families with young children
• the elderly
• people with temporary injuries, as well as those who assist them.

What's included

Livable housing design includes basic accessibility elements that are critical to ensure future flexibility and adaptability of the home.

These requirements include:

• a step-free entrance into the home
• doorways and hallways which facilitate unrestricted movement between spaces
• more space in the bathroom with provision to support installation of grab rails, or similar if required in the future.

To find out more about Livable Housing Design, go to the Australian Building Codes Board website and read:

• Volume One (Part G7)
• Volume Two (Part H8) 
• Standard for Livable Housing Design.
• Livable Housing Design Handbook.

Refer to the NT Guidelines for Livable Housing Design PDF (383.3 KB) for information on application to dwelling extensions/alterations and exemptions for step-free path requirements.

Read more on the Northern Territory Government website.

History of livable housing design

2017

Building ministers direct the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) to undertake a regulatory impact analysis on the possible inclusion of accessibility requirements for residential housing in the NCC.

September 2018

ABCB releases accessible housing options paper for public comment.

July to August 2020

ABCB public consultation on minimum accessibility standards for housing in the NCC 2022.

April 2021

Majority of building ministers agree to include minimum accessibility standards, known as livable housing design, for residential housing and apartments in the NCC 2022.

May 2022

Preview of NCC 2022 released for public comment, including livable housing design.

1 October 2022

NCC 2022 released to provide industry time to understand new requirements ahead of effective date of 1 May 2023 (and transition period for livable housing design to 1 October 2023).

January 2023

Following advice from an implementation advisory committee, the revised and finalised ABCB Standard for livable housing design is released.

20 to 24 March 2023

1 May 2023

NCC 2022 commences, allowing for transition period for livable housing design, which will commence on 1 October 2023.

1 October 2023

NCC 2022 Livable Housing Design requirements commence.

For more information

Find out more call 08 8999 8985 or email bas@nt.gov.au.