Standards, codes and guidelines


These are the principal design and construction documents for assets which will be handed back to the ACT Government. These documents can be used for non- ACT Government assets however will be at the discretion and risk to the person or entity referencing their use. For further detail or enquiry please contact the following email TCCS.RoadStandards@act.gov.au.

See active travel planning for information on the Active Travel Plan, planning tool and design guide. This includes information for the planning and design of walking, cycling, and micromobility in the ACT.

These documents provide engineering direction, guidance and advice supplementary to the Design Standards. These documents address specific issues that are not covered by the current design standards or technical specifications.

These documents provide direction, guidance and advice relative to Landscape works and are supplementary to the Design Standards. These documents address specific issues that are not covered by the current design standards or technical specifications.

These documents provide a reference or policy function and should be used in conjunction with the relevant associated documents or process.

The ACT Transport Impact Assessment (TIA) Guidelines 2016 has been superseded by the ACT TIA Guidelines 2025. The 2025 Guidelines are effective from 1 July 2025 for a 12-month trial period. Any transport impact assessments undertaken on or after 1 July 2025 must follow the 2025 TIA Guidelines. Please provide any feedback on the 2025 Guidelines via tccs.dcdevelopmentcoordination@act.gov.au. The Guidelines will be updated following the trial, incorporating industry feedback.

Watch the briefing session undertaken on 15 May 2025 and 22 May 2025 informing of the ACT Transport Impact Assessment Guidelines 2025.

These documents provide advice relating to work and submission processes for assets being handed to the ACT Government.

These documents provide advice relating to building applications and construction related issues for assets being handed to the ACT Government.

Legacy documents

Please note the following documents have been replaced by the Municipal Infrastructure Technical Specifications and Municipal Infrastructure Design Standards and are provided for legacy reasons only.

Previous documents are provided for legacy reasons only, due to being relevant for some existing, or completed but still relevant contracts. Legacy documents should not be used with new contract works where assets will be handed back to the ACT Government.

Please contact us via email if you have any questions.

Design Standards for Urban Infrastructure

Please note the following documents have been replaced by the Municipal Infrastructure Design Standards and are provided for legacy reasons only.

Design Standards for Street Lighting

Canberra Central Design Manual

TCCS Standard Drawings

Please note the following documents have been replaced by the Municipal Design Standard Drawings and are provided for legacy reasons only.

Standard Drawings for Street Lighting

Standard Specification for Urban Infrastructure Works

Please note the following documents have been replaced by the Municipal Infrastructure Technical Specifications and are provided for legacy reasons only.

Standard Specification for Street Lighting

For a full printable copy of the Streetlight Draft Standards Drawings please see Design Standards for Urban Infrastructure - Street Lighting Section 12 Drawings (PDF 9.8 MB)

These documents have been released as part of a Controlled Rollout Review. These documents should not form part of any contract works for assets which will be handed back to the ACT Government, unless specifically directed by relevant authorities. For further detail or enquiry please contact the following email TCCS.RoadStandards@act.gov.au.

All assets handed over to the Territory must be designed and constructed in accordance with relevant design standards, technical specification, guidelines, codes and content of Post-development Approval submissions.

Approved products

Industry webinar video

The following is a pre-recorded industry webinar video which provides further detailed explanation of the recent major updates to the Municipal Infrastructure Standards, Municipal Infrastructure Technical Specifications and the Municipal Design Standard Drawings.

If you have difficulty accessing the information in the video please contact TCCS.RoadStandards@act.gov.au

Please note that there are broken links within some of the documents above. When new documents are available, these links will be repaired. We apologise for any inconvenience this might cause.

Development control code

The Development Control Code for Best Practice Waste Management in the ACT 2019 (PDF 3MB) and Waste and Recycling Management Plan (Editable PDF 1.6MB).

This Code replaces the 2016 version of the Code (PDF 6.7MB). To facilitate a transition to the new Code, development applications based around the requirements of the 2016 code will be accepted until Friday, 3 May 2019. While either the 2016 or 2019 Code may be used, the Code selected must be used in its entirety.

To assist applicants in calculating waste and recycling allocations, please see the Allocation Calculator (Excel 61KB)

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

To see how we are building stronger relationships with the Traditional Custodians of the ACT view the Reconciliation Action Plan.