Building Consents

You must get a building consent from your local council before you start building. If you are in a hurry to get underway, you may want to lodge your application as soon as your working drawings are finalised, while you are still finalising the building contract.

  • Building consent application forms must be filled in and lodged with your plans
  • A fee is payable based on the value of the work. Projects should be processed within 20 days, but in reality it can take longer
  • Don’t start work without a consent – even for small renovations. It will cause major problems for you when you come to sell your house

Under the New Zealand Building Code, the owner is responsible for obtaining the building consent and for obtaining a certificate of code compliance (CCC) when the work is completed. The owner also has an obligation to subsequent owners to comply with the New Zealand Building Code.

Most owners do not have access to the relevant Building Code information – which is large, expensive and spread across many different published documents. So the government is proposing that all new homes will need to be constructed by, or under the supervision of, a licensed building practitioner.
If you are building, or intending to build, it is recommended that, if you are not familiar with the detailed Building Code requirements, you employ the services of an expert to ensure all work is code compliant.

Know the Act before you act
As of 2004, the building industry is governed by new legislation. The Building Act 2004 replaces the Building Act 1991 and sets standards and procedures for building work.

If you're building a new home or renovating, it will pay to have at least a rudimentary understanding of the implications of the Act, especially if you’re doing the work yourself. Remember, councils can make property owners fix work not complying with the Building Code, so mistakes or omissions are costly.

During the course of your project, you, or the building/design/project management professional you engage, will work in conjunction with your building consent authority (BCA). Most local councils are BCAs.
BCAs issue consents, perform inspections and approve or decline code compliance certificates (CCCs) at the end of the construction process.

Plan to meet the requirements

  • Whether you're planning to build a new home or undertake renovations, the same basic process applies. From go to whoa, you or your project manager will need to arrange the following checks:
  • PIM (Project Information Memorandum) – a report that tells you everything you need to know about your site
  • Building consent – before work commences, you will need to provide your BCA with plans and specifications to ensure your home will meet the New Zealand Building Code standards.
  • Inspections – throughout the building process, regular inspections are required to establish that work done conforms to the submitted plans and specifications
  • CCC – once the work is complete you will need to apply for a CCC. It's peace of mind for you and future owners that work has been done to the required standards  

Who needs a building consent?
Generally, simpler projects that don't affect the overall structure of the home are exempt, but it pays to check. For those jobs that do require consent, no work can begin on the project until consent has been granted.

Does require a consent:

  • Structural building
  • Building relocation
  • Plumbing and drainage – except repair and maintenance of existing installations
  • Swimming pools
  • Fences or walls over 2 metres, and all swimming pool fences
  • Installing a wood burner or an air conditioning system
  • Retaining walls higher than 1.5 metres
  • Decks, platforms and bridges more than 1 metre above the ground
  • Sheds over 10 square metres in floor area

Doesn’t require a consent:

  • Patios or decks at ground level
  • General household maintenance, such as replacing guttering or minor fascia repairs
  • Trellis under 2 metres high
  • Small sheds
  • Small garden ponds

The Building Act covers building work, but be aware that there are other laws that could affect your project. These include council bylaws, the Resource Management Act and the laws relating to particular plumbing, gas and electrical work.

The new Building Act is not designed to be a hindrance to the smooth completion of your project. But in light of recent problems that have affected many homeowners, it is designed to ensure that what is built today and tomorrow will last well into the future.