Building accessible housing
Queensland has progressed historic reforms that respect the rights of everyone to a home that is safe, adaptable and meets their needs.
In 2022, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) published minimum accessibility requirements for houses (Class 1a buildings) and sole-occupancy units in apartment buildings (Class 2) within the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022.
Within a referenced technical standard, the ABCB Livable Housing Design Standard (LHDS), these requirements reflect the silver level under the Livable Housing Design Guidelines.
Having commenced on 1 October 2023, these requirements ensure new housing is designed to meet the needs of the community, including older Australians and those with disability.
Accessibility features include:
- slightly wider internal doors and corridors
- one step-free access into a bathroom and shower
- an accessible toilet
- reinforcing of bathroom and toilet walls to allow handrails to be installed later.
To assist industry with the LHDS changes, transitional measures such as exemptions and alternative compliance pathways include:
- a time limited exemption to 30 September 2026 from the LHDS in limited circumstances such as certain houses on narrow lots (frontage of 12.5 metres or less where the lot was created prior to 1 October 2023) and certain small pre-built houses under 55 square metres in size that were completed prior to 1 October 2023
- an exemption from compliance for renovations (less than 50% of a house) where it is not practical or reasonable to do so
- an exemption on general repairs and maintenance
- alternative lower-cost pathways for compliance for step-free showers
- an exemption from installing a toilet on the entry level when no habitable rooms exist on that level
- exemptions for step-free entry requirements for small and steep lots, with protections for the iconic Queenslander.
Transitional arrangements also apply to changes of building assessment provisions under section 37 of the Building Act 1975. New homes that are already significantly designed or where construction commenced prior to 1 October 2023 are not impacted by these changes.
More information
- Livable Housing Australia website
- Selling or renting your accessible property
- Finding an accessible property to buy or rent
- Livable housing (ABCB)