Australia’s architectural profession is experiencing its most significant period of regulatory reform in decades. While all states are implementing changes aimed at improving building quality, sustainability, accessibility and consumer protection, each jurisdiction has adopted its own individual approach. Architects practising across multiple states need to understand these key differences.
A national shift towards greater accountability
Across Australia, governments are responding to several common challenges: building defects, housing supply pressures, sustainability targets, consumer protection concerns and the need for more accessible housing. The implementation of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 has created a baseline of reform nationally, while individual states have introduced additional measures reflecting local priorities.
While architects in every jurisdiction face higher compliance obligations, the nature of those obligations varies considerably. Here we summarise the key reforms for each jurisdiction.
Victoria: Building quality, consumer protection and electrification
Victoria is currently undertaking some of the most comprehensive building reforms in Australia, with a strong focus on consumer protection and quality assurance.
A major change affecting architects is the reform of registration requirements under the Architects Act 1991 (Vic). Architects are now required to:
- Renew registration by 30 June each year.
- Provide evidence of professional indemnity insurance.
- Demonstrate compliance with continuing professional development (CPD) requirements by achieving 20 hours of learning every registration year.
- Declare they remain a fit and proper person to practise.
- Face automatic expiry of registration if renewal obligations are not met within the prescribed period.
Victoria has also significantly strengthened its building regulatory framework. The creation of the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) consolidates regulatory oversight and “expands the state’s ability to investigate defects, issue rectification orders and resolve disputes”. These reforms place increased emphasis on documentation quality, specification accuracy and project coordination.
The introduction of a developer bond scheme is a significant change for all participants in the residential construction industry. Developers of qualifying residential apartment projects will be required to lodge a bond equal to 2% of total build cost to help fund the rectification of serious defects identified after completion.
Perhaps the most significant upcoming change is Victoria’s building electrification agenda. From January 2027, all new homes and most new commercial buildings will be required to be all-electric, fundamentally changing building services design and sustainability strategies. Architects will need to consider electrical capacity, plant locations and building performance much earlier in the design process.
Victoria’s regulatory reforms signal a clear policy objective: higher-quality buildings, stronger consumer protections and a rapid transition towards low-carbon building design.
New South Wales: Practitioner accountability and defect prevention
New South Wales continues to lead Australia in regulating building practitioners and addressing building defects through legislative reform.
The state’s regulatory framework has been transformed by reforms initially introduced through the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020. Although the legislation is now being consolidated within the new Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Act 2026, the fundamental objectives remain unchanged: greater accountability, improved compliance and stronger oversight of practitioners.
For a detailed overview of these reforms and their practical implications, see our previous article “NSW Building Reform Passes Parliament: What Changes Now for Construction Professionals?”
For architects, these reforms have introduced a significantly higher level of responsibility for design documentation. Regulated designs must be declared and lodged, with increased scrutiny of design changes during construction. Architects are required to strictly document critical building elements before construction can start and demonstrate that designs comply with statutory requirements. In response to increased personal liability risk, Bellrock has developed an insurance solution for firms and their registered design practitioners.
The new Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Act 2026 also modernises the approvals system, replacing construction certificates with “building approvals” and occupation certificates with “completion approvals”. While some changes are procedural, they reflect a broader effort to create a simplified and consolidated regulatory framework.
NSW has also strengthened professional competency requirements. Registered architects must complete a minimum of 20 hours of CPD annually, including formal learning activities and mandatory content covering topics such as sustainability, the National Construction Code and understanding Country.
Among all Australian jurisdictions, NSW arguably places the greatest emphasis on practitioner accountability. Consequently, constant project management of design and documentation, record keeping and compliance have become critical risk-management functions within architectural practices.
Queensland: Accessibility and energy efficiency through NCC reform
Queensland’s most significant architectural reforms have come through the implementation of NCC 2022 and the state’s Modern Homes program.
The introduction of liveable housing standards has had a profound impact on residential design. New homes are now required to incorporate accessibility features such as step-free entrances, wider circulation spaces and future adaptability measures. These provisions reflect changing demographic trends and the need to accommodate an ageing population.
Queensland has also adopted higher energy-efficiency standards for residential development. Designers must now achieve more demanding performance outcomes through improved building envelopes, enhanced thermal performance and whole-of-home energy assessments. These reforms aim to reduce household energy costs while supporting broader climate objectives.
Another notable development is the introduction of condensation-management requirements. Architects are increasingly required to address moisture control, ventilation and building envelope performance as part of their design process. While condensation was historically viewed as a southern Australian issue, it is now a formal compliance consideration in Queensland.
Condensation risk is significant in any “cladding” remediation project, and we have not yet seen the full scope of consequences. We are recommending the architect approach these projects with caution and insist that other appropriate consultants be brought into these projects.
Architects involved in façade remediation or combustible cladding projects should also consider the findings discussed in our article Landmark Cladding Decision Narrows Liability for Manufacturers, which highlights the importance of project-specific design, certification and compliance decisions when assessing liability for building defects and façade-related claims.
The Board of Architects of Queensland has also reinforced professional competency requirements through mandatory CPD obligations linked to annual registration renewal. Practising architects must complete at least 20 hours of CPD annually, including a minimum amount of formal learning.
Queensland’s reforms have largely focused on improving building performance and housing quality rather than introducing the practitioner-liability framework seen in NSW.
Western Australia: NCC implementation and planning reform
Western Australia has a different reform model, with significant activity occurring through both building regulation and planning policy.
A major area of change has been the adoption of NCC 2022, including several state-specific variations designed to address Western Australia’s unique conditions. Following investigations into the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Seroja, new structural requirements and state variations affecting buildings in Wind Regions B and D have been introduced, affecting architectural detailing and building resilience strategies.
WA has also implemented a range of state-specific variations related to energy efficiency, stormwater management, glazing and construction methods. Architects must be aware of these modifications, particularly when working on projects outside metropolitan Perth.
Perhaps the most influential reforms for residential architects are occurring through the Residential Design Codes (R-Codes). Updates introduced in 2024 have streamlined development controls and expanded opportunities for secondary dwellings, including new exemptions for compliant granny flats. These changes are intended to support housing diversity and increase supply.
A broader review of the R-Codes is currently underway, with further reforms expected to focus on simplifying planning controls, increasing housing density and reducing development complexity. These reforms could reshape residential design practice across the state over the coming years.
Western Australian architects continue to be subject to ongoing CPD and professional competency obligations under the Architects Act 2004, including a minimum of 20 CPD points, annual renewal requirements and professional indemnity insurance obligations.
Conclusion
Although the national goals of architectural regulation are increasingly consistent across Australia, each state has chosen a different path.
Victoria is leading reforms focused on building quality, electrification and consumer protection. NSW focuses on practitioner accountability, personal liability and defect prevention measures. Queensland’s reforms are largely centred on accessibility, sustainability and residential design performance, while Western Australia is combining NCC implementation with significant planning reform and housing supply initiatives.
The common themes are unmistakable: greater accountability, stronger sustainability requirements, increased competency expectations and higher standards of building performance. Firms that embrace these changes proactively will be best positioned to navigate the risks in Australia’s ever evolving regulatory framework.
For architects seeking to stay ahead of these changes, Bellrock’s articles on Professional Indemnity Insurance Market Trends, NSW Building Reform and Cladding Liability Developments provide valuable additional context on how regulatory reform is influencing professional risk across Australia.
