Livable Housing Design by State (2026): Who Requires It, When, and Why Not NSW

Sydney Access Consultants · Updated October 2026

The ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design is called up by NCC Parts G7 (Class 2 sole-occupancy units) and H8 (Class 1a dwellings) where those Parts apply. It sets a basic level of access for new homes and apartments. Most states and territories require it from the dates below. NSW and Western Australia do not. Last checked: 20 October 2026.

The short answer

Livable housing is mandatory under the NCC in the ACT, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, from the dates in the table. It is not a building-code requirement for Class 1a houses or Class 2 sole-occupancy units in NSW or Western Australia. State variations can change, so check the jurisdiction before relying on a date.

State-by-state table

Dates are taken from the ABCB NCC 2022 and NCC 2025 adoption tables. Queensland's phase-in for lots of 12.5 m or less ran to 1 May 2025. Confirm current positions on the ABCB pages and each state regulator's site.

Why NSW is different

What the NCC says for NSW

In the NSW variations, Part H8 and Part G7 are deliberately left blank. The NCC 2025 NSW Part H8 text states: "Part H8 does not apply in NSW, as livable housing design requirements do not apply to Class 1a buildings in NSW." The matching variation applies to Class 2 sole-occupancy units. NSW stays on NCC 2022 Amendment 2 until 1 May 2027.

Why NSW chose not to adopt

The NSW Parliament answer to Question 750 (received 2 August 2023) records that the decision not to adopt was taken by the previous government. The ABCB decision Regulatory Impact Statement estimated about $4,000 per standalone dwelling or townhouse. NSW said it would monitor effects in adopting jurisdictions. The tone here is factual only.

What still applies to NSW housing

A council DCP, consent condition, housing-provider brief or client specification can still require livable features or an LHA level. Specialist Disability Accommodation follows the NDIS SDA Design Standard where funded. AS 4299 adaptable housing applies where a council still calls it up. See livable housing assessments in NSW, adaptable housing (AS 4299) and SDA vs livable vs adaptable.

The six livable housing requirements in plain words

NCC H8P1 (and the matching Class 2 Performance Requirement) requires:

• a continuous step-free path to an entrance door from the street, a garage or carport, or an exclusive parking space;
• at least one level, step-free entrance door;
• internal doors and corridors on the entry level that allow easy movement;
• a toilet on the entry level;
• a shower that can be used independently;
• reinforced bathroom and toilet walls so grabrails can be fitted later without removing linings.

Dimensions come from the ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design. Verify every number against the current Standard before design.

Sloping-site and space exemptions

H8D2 allows clause 1.1 of the Standard (the step-free path) to be set aside where the average slope exceeds 1:14, ramping would exceed the clause limits, there is not enough space, or the level difference cannot be managed. The other five requirements still apply.

Building across state lines

A standard house or apartment design used in NSW and Queensland or Victoria will need different entry, door, corridor, sanitary and wall-reinforcement details in the adopting state. Check the state variation and the edition that applies on the day of certification. For Western Australia work see Perth access reports.

What's coming

NSW adopts NCC 2025 on 1 May 2027. The livable housing provisions themselves are unchanged in NCC 2025. Building Ministers committed in October 2026 to modernising the NCC. We will update this table when anything changes for livable housing.

How Sydney Access Consultants helps

Sydney Access Consultants reviews designs against the livable housing document the project, state or brief nominates, and prepares access reports for common areas. We do not hold Livable Housing Australia assessor registration. See livable housing assessments and access reports for DA and CC. Ask about a review on (02) 9586 3111.

Frequently asked questions

Is livable housing mandatory in NSW?

No. NSW has not adopted the National Construction Code's livable housing provisions. In the NSW variations, Part H8 (houses) and Part G7 (apartment sole-occupancy units) are deliberately left blank, so the ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design is not a building code requirement for new NSW homes or apartments. A project can still be asked to include livable housing features through a planning control, consent condition, housing provider brief or client specification, so check the project's own documents.

Which states have adopted the livable housing design standard?

Under NCC 2022, the livable housing provisions started in Queensland and the Northern Territory on 1 October 2023, the ACT on 15 January 2024, Victoria on 1 May 2024, and South Australia and Tasmania on 1 October 2024. NSW and Western Australia chose not to adopt them. State variations can change, so confirm the current position on the ABCB adoption page and the state regulator's website before relying on a date.

What does the livable housing design standard require?

The standard requires six things in a new dwelling: a step-free path from the street, parking or garage to the entrance; a level, step-free entrance door; internal doors and corridors on the entry level that allow easy movement; a toilet on the entry level; a shower that can be used independently; and reinforced bathroom and toilet walls so grabrails can be fitted later without removing linings. Sloping or tight sites can be exempt from the step-free path, but the other features still apply.

Updated October 2026: earlier versions of this article said NSW followed the national timeline. NSW has not adopted the NCC livable housing provisions.

This page is informational for practitioners. It is not legal advice.