Rules, Regulations & Information
Technical Building Rules for Construction Work
No development, including building work, can be undertaken in South Australia without an appropriate development approval being obtained from the relevant authority after an application and assessment process.
In most cases the relevant authority is the local council.
The framework for development assessment and for building rules and standards in South Australia is provided by the Development Act 1993 and Development Regulations 2008. The relevant regulations, codes and standards are collectively known as the building rules which provide the basis for assessing building work for the issuing of building rules consent.
The technical documents which are used under the Act and the Regulations are the Building Code of Australia, Minister’s Specifications and referenced Australian Standards, which means that they are also mandatory documents.
For an alternative version of this document contact Building policy services.
About the Building Code of Australia and where it applies
The Building Code of Australia, in the National Construction Code series, is the national technical document which sets the standards for building work.
The Code is produced and maintained by the Australian Building Codes Board on behalf of all Australian governments. The technical standards and provisions within the Building Code of Australia are reviewed to ensure they are appropriate for South Australian conditions. There are a number of variations to the Code’s provisions that must be used in South Australia including Minister’s Specifications.
The Building Code of Australia contains technical provisions for the design and construction of buildings and other structures covering matters such as:
- Structure
- Fire resistance
- Access and egress
- Services and equipment
- Certain aspects of health and amenity
- Energy efficiency
The Building Code of Australia can be viewed free online by visiting the Australian Building Codes Board.