MSC Quarterly: Victoria Adopts NCC 2025: What It Means for Energy Compliance

The Victorian Government has confirmed it will adopt the National Construction Code 2025 from 1 May 2026, with the announcement made by Harriet Shing on 30 March 2026.

This update introduces a clear divide in how energy requirements are evolving across sectors.

Commercial Buildings (Section J / Class 3–9)

The most significant changes are focused on commercial buildings, where the trajectory toward net zero continues to accelerate.

Key changes include:

• Mandatory on-site Solar PV in many scenarios

• Stronger emphasis on energy performance and emissions reductions

• Increased focus on electrification readiness, supporting the transition away from gas

• Updates to DTS pathways and modelling methodologies

Overall, this represents a continued tightening of compliance expectations, with a clear policy direction toward low-carbon and fully electric buildings.

Residential Buildings (Class 1 & Class 2)

For residential projects, the key message is stability.

There are no changes from NCC 2022 requirements, meaning:

• 7 Star NatHERS remains the benchmark

• Whole of Home (WOH) requirements remain unchanged

• Glazing, insulation, and building fabric settings are consistent

• Cooling load caps remain unchanged

This provides certainty for designers, builders, and developers currently working within the NCC 2022 framework.

The Big Picture

We’re seeing a clear split:

• Residential = Pause + Stability

• Commercial = Push toward net zero

  
  

Working on Residential projects? → Stay the course.

Working on Commercial projects? → Start planning now, the bar is rising.

For further information or enquiries, feel free to contact the team at MSC.