From 1 July 2026, Building Commission NSW fees will increase by approximately 4.4 per cent in line with movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

 

This is part of the Commission’s automatic annual indexation process, designed to ensure statutory fees keep pace with inflation and remain consistent and predictable for industry. The aim is to avoid large, irregular jumps in costs and instead apply modest annual adjustments that can be factored into business planning.

 

What is changing

From 1 July 2026, updated fees will apply to a range of licensing, registration and regulatory services, including:

 

• Contractor licences, supervision and tradesperson certificates

• Design and building practitioner registrations

• Building and development certifier registrations and related services

• Building work levy

• Plumbing and drainage inspection fees

• Electrical and gas approval related fees

 

The revised fee amounts for each category will be published on the Building Commission NSW website from 1 July 2026. Members should refer to the updated schedules when preparing applications, renewals and project costings that fall on or after that date.

 

What this means for members

The 4.4 per cent increase will flow through to a range of common interactions members have with the regulator, including licence renewals, new licence applications, DBP scheme registrations, certifier renewals and certain levy and inspection charges.

 

MBA members should:

• Review upcoming licence and registration renewals that fall close to 1 July and be aware that fees will be higher for transactions processed on or after that date.

• Factor the increased statutory fees into project costing, client proposals and any passthrough disbursements where Building Commission fees are itemised.

• Update internal templates, checklists and guidance material that reference specific dollar amounts for fees or levies, once the new schedules are published.

For builders working across multiple schemes (for example, Home Building Act licences, design and building practitioners, and certifiers), the cumulative impact of the CPI adjustment should be considered in forward budgeting for the 2026–27 financial year.

 

Why are fees indexed?

The Commission’s fee indexation framework is intended to:

• Maintain the real value of fees over time by adjusting them in line with CPI

• Provide greater predictability and transparency for the industry

• Support stable funding for regulatory oversight, inspections and compliance activity

While the percentage change is modest, early awareness allows businesses to adjust their pricing, renewal strategy, and cash flow planning in advance of the new financial year.

 

Communicating with clients and stakeholders

Members may wish to:

• Inform clients that certain statutory fees are indexed annually and may increase slightly from 1 July 2026

• Make it clear in quotes and contracts that government fees are subject to change and may be adjusted in line with CPI

• Ensure office and estimating staff, contract administrators and accounts teams are aware of the new fee start date and know where to find the updated schedules. This can help avoid confusion where clients notice small differences between estimated and final statutory charges around the start of the financial year.

 

Further information

Updated fee schedules will be available on the Building Commission NSW website from 1 July 2026.

If members require further information or clarification on specific fee categories, they can contact Building Commission NSW.

MBA NSW will continue to monitor regulatory and cost changes affecting members and will provide further updates where there are material impacts on licensing, registration or building compliance requirements.