About building consents
What is a building consent?
If you are constructing, altering, demolishing or removing a building you probably need a building consent.
A building consent is the authorisation for you to start building work. It is official consent from a Building Consent Authority (BCA) or Council, to undertake building work.
The BCA is required to grant a building consent where the BCA is "satisfied on reasonable grounds" that the work, if properly completed in accordance with the plans and specifications, and other supporting information, will comply with the Building Code. Satisfied on reasonable grounds means having enough evidence or justification to believe something to be true or valid. It implies a level of confidence based on sound reasoning or facts, rather than on speculation or assumption.
As well as a building consent, you may require approvals under other legislation such as the Resource Management Act 1991, local bylaws, or approval from Fire and Emergency New Zealand or Heritage New Zealand. For some activities you may also need a Resource Consent from Northland Regional Council (we will let you know if you need a resource consent when we’ve assessed your building consent application).
The Building Act describes building work as:
work—
for, or in connection with, the construction, alteration, demolition, or removal of a building; and
(ii) on an allotment that is likely to affect the extent to which an existing building on that allotment complies with the building code; and
(b) includes sitework
This also includes temporary structures such as marquees, grandstand seating and stages.
You need a building consent to:
You need a building consent to:
- structural building - including additions, alterations, re-piling and some demolitions
- plumbing and drainage where an additional sanitary fixture is created (some repair and maintenance may be exempt)
- relocating a building
- installing a woodburner or air-conditioning system
- retaining walls higher than 1.5 metres (3.0 metres in rural area if designed by a chartered professional engineer)
- fences or walls higher than 2.5 metres, and all swimming pools and their associated fences
- decks, platforms or bridges more than 1.5 metres above ground level
- sheds greater than 30 square metres in floor area (sheds between 10 and 30 square metres will still need the help of an LBP or engineer or must use lightweight material in accordance with Acceptable Solution (B1/AS1)
- some earthworks
You may need a building consent for change of use of an existing building. See change of use for more information.
Some building work does not require a building consent. This is known as exempt work.
The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) have published extensive guidance information about building work that does not require a building consent. Before referring to this information please ensure you check with the Planning Team to see whether the building work will require resource consent.
Related Information
- MBIE: Check if you need a consent
- MBIE: Restricted Building Work
- MBIE: Getting Started
- Licensed Building Practitioners website
- Building Act 2004
- New Zealand Building Code
- Resource Management Act 1991
- Application for exemption (PDF)
- Notification of Exemption from Building Consent (PDF)
- Form 2A LBP Certificate of Design Work Application
- Form 2B Statutory Declaration of Owner/Builder