Introduction
There’s been genuine confusion among NSW builders since the freeze announcement — does it mean BASIX is changing, staying the same, or disappearing altogether? The short answer is that BASIX isn’t going anywhere, and the NCC freeze actually works in favour of certainty for NSW builders rather than against it. This guide breaks down exactly what the pause covers, why BASIX sits outside it, and what NSW builders and homeowners should actually expect through to 2029
What Is the NCC Freeze?
In October 2025, Australia’s Building Ministers formally agreed to pause further residential changes to the National Construction Code — the ncc freeze — until at least mid-2029, with exceptions only for essential safety and quality measures. The decision followed the Commonwealth’s announcement in August 2025 and was confirmed once NCC 2025 was finalised, with the freeze applying specifically to the residential provisions NCC 2025 would otherwise have introduced. For NSW builders, the practical effect is that the 7-star energy efficiency and Whole of Home requirements introduced under NCC 2022 remain the residential standard for years to come, with no further residential energy efficiency changes scheduled before mid-2029
Is BASIX Changing Because of the Pause?
Will I Still Need a BASIX Certificate After the Pause?
Does the Pause Remove the 7-Star BASIX Requirement?
Why Is BASIX Different From the NCC?
Can BASIX Requirements Still Change Before 2029?
Should NSW Builders Wait Before Applying for BASIX?
What NCC 2025 Actually Changes (and What It Doesn't)
NCC 2025 was published in February 2026 with state-by-state adoption from May 2026, but its scope was deliberately narrowed to commercial and multi-residential reforms — water ingress management, carpark fire safety, mandatory on-site solar for commercial buildings, and condensation mitigation. Residential provisions, including anything that would have affected BASIX or the 7-star standard, were explicitly excluded and deferred under the freeze. NSW builders working on commercial projects will see these changes; those working on houses under BASIX won’t.
Adoption of NCC 2025 has also been uneven across the country, which adds a further layer worth being aware of. Victoria, Western Australia and the ACT adopted NCC 2025 from 1 May 2026, while NSW and Queensland deferred mandatory adoption to 1 May 2027, with early voluntary adoption available in the meantime. Because NCC 2025’s changes are commercial-focused, this staggered rollout has no bearing on residential BASIX obligations in NSW — homeowners and builders working on houses can safely disregard the adoption timeline altogether when planning a residential project
Conclusion
For NSW builders, the practical takeaway is simple: BASIX isn’t changing because of the pause, and there’s no compliance reason to delay a project waiting to see what happens. The freeze brings stability to residential requirements nationally, while the state requirement continues operating exactly as it has since its last major update. Torple’s BASIX assessment service can keep NSW builders on track with current requirements regardless of what’s happening at the national NCC level. For the official confirmation, see the Building Ministers’ communiqué on ncc.abcb.gov.au.
FAQs
No. BASIX NSW is a separate state-level requirement, and the ncc freeze — which pauses future residential changes to the National Construction Code until mid-2029 — has no effect on it.
Yes. A BASIX certificate remains mandatory for most new homes and renovations in NSW, and this obligation is entirely unaffected by the freeze.
No. BASIX NSW’s thermal comfort standard was already locked in from October 2023 and isn’t part of what the freeze covers, since the freeze only prevents new residential NCC provisions being added before mid-2029.
BASIX NSW is a standalone NSW planning requirement, while the National Construction Code is a national model code. They’re governed by separate processes, so a change (or freeze) affecting one doesn’t automatically affect the other.
Yes, potentially. The pause doesn’t bind the NSW Government, which could still update BASIX independently, though no such changes are currently planned.
No. There’s no compliance reason for NSW builders to delay — current BASIX requirements are stable, and waiting only pushes back approval and construction timelines.