Building consents

Introduction

When you are constructing a new building, doing additions or internal or external alterations to your home (or any other buildings on your property) you will need to consider both building and planning controls.

A building consent allows you to carry out building work in accordance with the consent, associated plans and specifications.

From 31 March 2005, regulations came into effect under the Building Act 2004 that affects building consents:

a building consent can be lapsed if work has not commenced within twelve months of the date the consent was issued
the legislation allows twenty four months to finish a project from the date the building consent has been granted and apply for a Code Compliance Certificate
a Code Compliance Certificate will be issued against the original building consent. This means that if you want to introduce changes from what was originally intended, you will need to apply for a building consent amendment. If you do not apply for an amendment there is a risk that these changes will be regarded as unconsented.

This means that people undertaking building or renovation work need to plan well. You need to be sure that you will be starting the work within twelve months of the consent being issued and that you can finish the work that the consent relates to within 24 months of the consent being granted.

Building consents do not give any form of planning approval under the District Plan. If you are planning to undertake any building work it is your responsibility to find out whether your proposal complies with the District Plan by contacting us or your own planning advisor. If it does not, and a resource consent is required, you are strongly advised to obtain this before seeking a building consent to avoid expensive changes to your proposal.

If Auckland City thinks your building work may cause damage to public property (eg the footpath, road or berm) you may also be required to pay a street damage deposit.

Building projects on properties which have known hazards, such as flooding or instability, may need special consideration. Also, some properties, such as those near the coast, containing protected buildings or subject to special height controls will have extra conditions on development.

For specific information about your property, contact us.

Reviewed September 2007