As of 1st October 2025, Stage 2 of the Livable Housing Design Standard implementation is now in effect across Tasmania, marking another important step towards creating more accessible and inclusive housing.
What’s changed in Tasmania from 1st October 2025
The latest requirements focus on improving internal accessibility with three key changes:
Minimum internal door clear opening width (Part 3)
Internal doorways must now provide a minimum clear opening width of 820mm (i.e. 870mm door leaf) for doors on a path of travel or connecting to habitable rooms, laundries, attached garages, and compliant sanitary compartments on the ground or entry level.
Minimum internal corridor clear width (Part 3)
Internal corridors, hallways and passageways connected to compliant doors must have a minimum clear width of 1000mm, measured between finished wall surfaces.
Sanitary compartment circulation space (Part 4)
Enhanced circulation space requirements within sanitary compartments ensure better accessibility and functionality for all users.
Understanding Tasmania’s three-stage approach
Tasmania has adopted a phased implementation that allows the industry to build expertise progressively:
- Stage 1 (October 2024): Entry door widths (Part 2.1), hobless showers (Part 5), and reinforced bathroom walls (Part 6)
- Stage 2 (October 2025): Internal door and corridor widths (Part 3), sanitary compartment circulation (Part 4)
- Stage 3 (October 2026): All remaining LHDS provisions
This staged approach recognises the practical challenges of implementing comprehensive accessibility standards whilst giving building professionals time to adapt their processes and build the necessary expertise.
The broader Australian context
Tasmania’s announcement highlights the increasingly complex regulatory landscape across Australia. The ACT led implementation in January 2024, followed by Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, while NSW and WA remain the only states yet to adopt LHDS requirements. This creates a genuine patchwork of accessibility requirements that vary significantly depending on where you’re building.
For developers, architects, and builders working across state boundaries, this complexity requires careful navigation. A residential project compliant in one state may not meet requirements in another, making specialist expertise essential for multi-jurisdictional projects.
Creating environments where everyone belongs
At DDEG, we support Tasmania’s progress to more accessible housing design. The LHDS represents a fundamental shift towards designing homes that work for people of all abilities, ages and mobility levels.
These changes help create spaces where everyone can live comfortably and independently. Whether it’s people living with mobility challenges, someone recovering from injury, or older residents who want to age in place, these standards benefit the entire community.
With our national presence, our accessibility consulting team understands both Tasmania’s specific three-stage implementation and the broader jurisdictional variations across Australia. This combination of local knowledge and national expertise is crucial when navigating today’s complex regulatory landscape.
How DDEG can help
Our accessibility consulting services include:
- Early design advice to integrate LHDS Stage 2 requirements from concept stage
- Performance solutions when standard compliance pathways don’t suit your Tasmanian project
- Comprehensive access audits for existing buildings
- Cross-jurisdictional guidance for developers working across multiple states
We take a collaborative approach, working closely with design teams to find solutions that meet local requirements whilst preserving architectural vision and design integrity.
Planning ahead
With Stage 3 implementation approaching in Tasmania in October 2026, now is the time to build these considerations into standard design processes. The buildings we design today will serve Tasmanian communities for generations to come.
Making them accessible from the start is both good practice and increasingly essential for future-proofing investments. This patchwork of state requirements also means developers and architects need specialist partners who understand the nuances of each jurisdiction’s approach.
Ready to ensure your Tasmania projects meet the Stage 2 LHDS requirements?
DDEG provides accessibility consulting services across Australia, with deep local knowledge of state-specific requirements, including Tasmania’s unique three-stage approach. Contact us by calling 1300 470 578 or email us at info@ddeg.com.au.