NSW’s Building Bill 2026 – The Construction Law Perspective: Approvals, Prefabricated Buildings, Penalties, Duty of Care

The Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026 (NSW) (Building Bill) will reshape building regulation in New South Wales. Passed by the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) on 28 May 2026, and introduced to the Legislative Council (Upper House) on the same date, it consolidates approvals, certification and practitioner obligations into one regime.

In doing so, it establishes a ‘one-stop-shop’ regime that seeks to enhance accountability and public confidence through stricter regulation of certifiers and new obligations for building practitioners, while promoting housing affordability and supply through Australia’s first regulatory framework for modern methods of construction, including prefabricated and modular buildings.