Subdividing your property

From City Scene, published on 30 March, 2008

Subdivision consents are a particular type of resource consent that you need if you are proposing to sell off a portion of your property.

To find out whether your property is big enough to subdivide you can call the council on (09) 379 2020.

It would also be a good idea to contact a surveyor to conduct a feasibility study.

This would look at the characteristics of the site, whether there is sufficient room to build a driveway, access to services like stormwater wastewater drainage, and identify any trees that might be in the way that could need council consent to remove.

You could also get advice from a valuer to find out the likely value of the land you are proposing to sell or develop, and compare that with the surveyor's estimate of costs.

If you go ahead, the surveyor will apply to the council on your behalf for the subdivision consent and any other related resource consents required.

The council will need to be satisfied that any effects on neighbours and the environment, such as flooding or instability, are minimised.

The subdivision will usually be approved with a number of conditions that need to be satisfied.

A survey plan needs to be approved, and you will need to complete all works required to obtain a completion certificate. This is then lodged with Land Information New Zealand and new titles issued.