- Crisafulli Government delivers new Queensland Housing Code to streamline design and siting rules for the first time in over 15 years.
- Modern Homes Standards updated to reduce costs and add flexibility.
- Practical reforms to help build more homes faster while maintaining accessibility and energy-efficiency standards.
- Crisafulli Government is delivering more building reforms to make it easier to build more places for Queenslanders to call home.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering practical reforms that will make it easier to build in Queensland with the release of a new Queensland Housing Code and updated Modern Homes Standards.
After a decade where the former Labor Government allowed building regulation to become increasingly complex and disconnected from the practical realities of delivering homes, the Crisafulli Government is restoring common sense to the system.
These reforms deliver on the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to implement key recommendations from the Queensland Productivity Commission’s inquiry into construction industry productivity, and reflect direct feedback from builders, designers, certifiers, local governments and consumers.
As part of the Crisafulli Government’s Building Reg Reno program, these reforms will reduce unnecessary red tape, improve consistency and support the delivery of one million homes by 2044.
Unchanged for more than 15 years, the new Queensland Housing Code provides contemporary and consistent design and siting standards for detached houses and secondary dwellings and establishes modern standards including building height, setbacks, privacy, car parking, site cover and private open space.
It will replace outdated provisions of the Queensland Development Code that have remained largely unchanged since 2010, resulting in three-quarters of councils having different housing requirements across Queensland.
Local governments will be able to adopt the Queensland Housing Code during a three-year transition period commencing on 1 September 2026, supported by guidance, implementation assistance and a streamlined planning scheme amendment pathway.
The updated Modern Homes Standards address practical implementation challenges identified by builders, homeowners, designers and certifiers, while maintaining appropriate accessibility and energy-efficiency outcomes.
Key Modern Homes Standards practical reforms include:
- A 5-star energy-efficiency rating for homes under 50 square metres, instead of the current 7-star requirement.
- A 6-star energy-efficiency rating for homes with raised-floor construction, such as traditional Queenslander-style homes.
- A new “ramp-ready” option for elevated homes, allowing a compliant ramp to be installed when it is needed in the future.
- Greater flexibility in accessible bathroom design.
- New practical solutions to support compliance with step-free entry, weatherproofing and termite-management requirements.
- A final extension of the narrow-lot exemption from liveable housing requirements until 30 September 2029.
Minister for Housing and Public Works Sam O’Connor said the reforms would remove unnecessary barriers to housing delivery while maintaining appropriate standards for Queensland homes.
“Queensland desperately needs more homes, but for too long outdated and unnecessarily complex rules has made it slower and more expensive to build,” Minister O’Connor said.
“The former Labor Government spent a decade making things harder while failing to update the basic rules needed to support new housing supply, leaving Queensland with outdated provisions, inconsistent requirements across councils and standards that did not always work in practice.
“The Crisafulli Government is taking a different approach by listening to the people who design, approve and build homes and delivering practical reforms that make it easier to build in every corner of Queensland.
“Our new Queensland Housing Code delivers modern and consistent design and siting standards, giving builders, homeowners and councils greater certainty and helping applications move through the system more efficiently.
“We’ve done the work to sensibly update the Modern Homes Standards so they maintain accessibility and energy-efficiency outcomes, but also include practical solutions that reflect Queensland’s climate, traditional housing styles and the realities of construction.
“These changes are about common sense, maintaining appropriate standards without imposing unnecessary costs or making perfectly good homes harder to build.
“Labor talked a lot about housing supply while construction productivity fell and building rules got more complicated on their watch. The Crisafulli Government is getting on with delivering reforms to unlock supply, reduce costs and make Queensland the building capital of the nation.”
Housing Industry Association Executive Director Queensland Michael Roberts said the Queensland Housing Code and updated Modern Homes Standards represented a significant step forward for housing delivery in Queensland.
“HIA has long advocated for practical housing regulation that delivers community outcomes without adding unnecessary construction costs, and we welcome the Crisafulli Government listening to industry,” Mr Roberts said.
“For many years we’ve called for a contemporary, consistent Queensland Housing Code that replaces the patchwork of differing requirements builders face across local government areas. Greater consistency means greater certainty for builders, designers and homeowners.
“The updated Modern Homes Standards also strike a sensible balance by maintaining important accessibility and energy-efficiency outcomes while introducing practical pathways that better reflect the realities of building homes in Queensland.”
Master Builders Queensland Deputy CEO Michael Hopkins said the reforms responded to practical issues raised by builders and would help deliver more workable outcomes on the ground.
“We welcome the Crisafulli Government listening to industry and making practical changes that will help address the cost increases and the many implementation issues that builders have experienced since the NCC changes were introduced,” Mr Hopkins said.
“Greater flexibility for small homes, raised-floor Queenslander-style homes and accessibility requirements will help reduce unnecessary costs for builders and consumers, and make it easier for industry to deliver the homes Queenslanders need.
“The new Queensland Housing Code is also an important step towards a more efficient and productive system that supports increased housing supply by simplifying approvals, reducing costs, and delivering greater certainty for everyone involved. We look forward to working with local councils to implement the Code.”
Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Alison Smith welcomed the modernisation of the Queensland Housing Code.
“The Queensland Housing Code provides councils with a contemporary framework that supports greater consistency while recognising the importance of local planning outcomes,” Ms Smith said.
“The transition period and implementation support will assist councils as they consider adoption of the Code within their communities.”
The Modern Homes Standards amendments are proposed to commence on 14 August 2026.
Both reforms will be supported by guidance materials, practical examples and targeted communication for industry and local government stakeholders.
