Do you need termite protection where you live?
Part 3.4 of the National Construction Code requires termite management where subterranean termites are a known risk, and its note to clause 3.4.1(1) says termites are not considered to be a risk in Tasmania.
Lines are drawn from the places each source names; the regulator’s map is the boundary.
The national rule
The National Construction Code’s termite risk management part applies where a Class 1 or 10 building is constructed in an area where subterranean termites are known to present a potential risk of attack.
Both halves of that test matter: the area’s termite risk, and a primary building element that is susceptible to attack.
Where termites are prevalent, the code requires a termite management system complying with AS 3660.1.
AS 3660.1 sits in a trilogy of standards. Part 2 deals with existing buildings, and Part 3 with the assessment of termite management systems.
A termite management system is intended to minimise the risk of termite damage to the primary elements of a building through a concealed route.
A barrier has a limit: installing a barrier will not stop termite activity from occurring on the site.
Clause 3.4.1(2) adds a practical rule. Where only some of the primary elements are susceptible to termite attack and the rest are built from termite resistant materials, only the susceptible elements need a system.
That same clause 3.4.1(2), in its note at 3.4.1(2)(c), counts masonry as not subject to termite attack. It keeps one caveat: termites may still gain entry through mortar and other joints.
Source: National Construction Code 2025, part 3.4; WoodSolutions, moisture guide; QBCC, termite management systems for homeowners and builders; National Construction Code 2022, part 3.4.
Where the rule stops: Tasmania, and parts of Victoria
Inside Part 3.4, an explanatory note to clause 3.4.1(1) says termites are not considered to be a risk in Tasmania and a lesser risk in parts of Victoria.
The appropriate authority may have records of termite activity for each area, and may be able to advise on whether termite risk management is needed.
Most states and territories are still at a moderate to very high risk of attack, and some areas around Melbourne are low risk.
Victoria keeps its own layer.
In Victoria, if you are building, extending or renovating inside an area the local council has designated as subject to termite infestation, the work must include some form of termite management.
The Victorian Building Authority’s advice is to check with the council.
Source: National Construction Code 2022, part 3.4; CSIRO, managing termites; Victorian Building Authority, termites.
The tropical north, and one termite the south does not have
Business Queensland ranks the Coptotermes species as the most economically important and widespread subterranean termites, and the giant northern termite, Mastotermes darwiniensis, as the most destructive of them all.
The giant northern termite’s country is tropical northern Queensland and northern Australia.
The giant northern termite is a particularly voracious species above the Tropic of Capricorn.
And across the mainland, the risk of termite attack rises heading north, highest in the subtropics and tropics.
Size is part of why. Most subterranean termites run from 3mm to 7mm long, and soldiers of the giant northern termite can grow to 13mm.
WA’s Building and Energy says stone barriers are not suitable for tropical northern areas, because the large termites living there can get through a standard granite chip barrier.
In Queensland, the risk of primary building elements being damaged by subterranean termites must be minimised, with a 50 year design life.
Source: Business Queensland, subterranean termites; CSIRO, managing termites; WA Building and Energy, termites and your home; QBCC, termite management systems for homeowners and builders.
Side by side
The three positions together:
| Where you are building | What the code requires | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Most of Australia | The National Construction Code requires a termite management system where subterranean termites are a known risk and an element is susceptible | The standard the system has to meet is AS 3660.1 |
| Tasmania, and parts of Victoria | The code’s note says not considered a risk in Tasmania; a lesser risk in parts of Victoria, per the explanatory note to clause 3.4.1(1) | The appropriate authority may hold records of termite activity for the area |
| The tropical north | The giant northern termite is the most destructive of the subterranean termites | The CSIRO puts the giant northern termite above the Tropic of Capricorn |
Source: National Construction Code 2025, part 3.4; WoodSolutions, moisture guide; QBCC, termite management systems for homeowners and builders; National Construction Code 2022, part 3.4; WA Building and Energy, termites and your home; Business Queensland, subterranean termites; CSIRO, managing termites.
What to check on your own house
The National Construction Code asks for a durable notice, fixed somewhere prominent so future owners find it, advising which termite management system is installed and that it should be inspected and maintained.
In Queensland, that notice is usually inside the electrical meter box.
The QBCC’s inspection advice is a licensed contractor checking at least every 12 months, and more often in high risk areas.
A Queensland Government guide advises owners to check the building every three to four months for signs of termite activity.
If you do find termites, Victoria’s Building Authority advises engaging an approved pest controller. It also warns against surface spray and ripping out floorboards, because either can reduce the chances of an expert treating the main nest.
The classic indicator is a mud gallery. Physical barriers either block termites or push them into building shelter tubes in the open, where an inspection can see them.
Source: CSIRO, managing termites; National Construction Code 2025, part 3.4; QBCC, protecting against termites; QBCC, termite management systems for homeowners and builders; Queensland Government, termites in buildings; Victorian Building Authority, termites.
Where you live changes who does the work
Queensland adds a licence on top of the trade. Termite advice, a report on a termite management system, or the installation of one needs a technician licensed by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).
That sits on top of the pest management technician licence.
The QBCC’s number is 139 333, printed in Queensland Health’s seeking pest management services guide.
Source: Queensland Health, seeking pest management services.