A summary of recent and upcoming changes from MBIE

Changes to occupational licensing

    • Improving the complaints and disciplinary processes for Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs), electrical workers and plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers
    • Progressing work on a new waterproofing licence class for LBPs
    • Allowing for the creation of codes of ethics for licensed electrical workers and licensed plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers

    The changes to occupational licensing aim to take effect in 2026

    Find out more about occupational licensing here.

    Small standalone dwellings

    Work is underway to enable small standalone dwellings to be built without a building consent. The building consent exemption is expected to be in force by early 2026.

      The proposed building consent exemption will allow small standalone dwellings up to 70 square metres in size, commonly known as granny flats, to be built without a building consent if:

      • It has a simple design and meets the Building Code
      • Building work is carried out or supervised by licensed building professionals
      • Homeowners notify their local council before they commence building and once it is completed.

      Until the law changes by early 2026, granny flats will still need a building consent.

      Overseas products and standards

      The Building (Overseas Building Products, Standards, and Certification Schemes) Amendment Bill giving effect to these changes was passed by Parliament on 2 April 2025.

        By the end of July 2025, a new pathway for streamlining compliance with the Building Code will be in place and enable more than 12,000 essential products – such as plasterboard, cladding and insulation – to be more widely accepted for use by BCAs.

        The changes will also enable the recognition of overseas certified building products and methods from later this year.

        Read more here.

        New self-certification scheme for tradies and businesses

        Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced that the Government has agreed on a new scheme allowing trusted builders to sign off their own work.

          MBIE will now proceed with detailed policy work and engagement with the sector to explore options for the design of a new self-certification scheme including:

          • Oversight and monitoring of the scheme
          • The extent to which BCAs would be removed from the assurance process and the role of insurance
          • Developing a more detailed criteria for the regime and an assessment of costs and benefits

          View the full article.