Tasmania

Tasmania has agreed to implement the new National Construction Code, with the Livable Housing Design Standards coming into effect on 1 October 2024.

The Tasmanian Government has put in place both a staged implementation and exemptions.

The proposed exemptions include:

• Small buildings less than or equal to 60 square metres that are built offsite, and worker and tourist accommodation.
• Allotments having a frontage of less than or equal to 10 metres, or irregular allotments with an area of less than 300 square metres.
• The requirement to install a toilet on the entry level where there are no habitable rooms located on that level.

The proposed implementation dates are:

From 1 October 2024 compliance will be required with provisions relating to:

• Reinforcement of bathroom and toilet walls;
• Step-free shower access;
• Front door width

From 1 October 2025 compliance will be required with provisions relating to:

• Internal doors and corridor width;
• Toilets to have circulation

From 1 October 2026 compliance will be required with provisions relating to:

• Step-free, level entry

The Building Better Homes campaign is seeking information about how exemptions and phased implementation will be monitored and reported in Tasmania.

What to do next

You can email the Minister for Building and Construction and let them know:

• you support the government’s enactment of the Livable Housing Design standards to make sure there are more accessible houses in Tasmania
• accessible housing must be developed without any exemptions or concessions monitoring is needed to make sure houses are being built to the Standards