Auckland Council — Property Due Diligence Guide
Auckland Council is New Zealand's largest local authority, governing the Auckland region with a population of approximately 1.7 million people. Formed in 2010 by merging eight former councils, it manages a vast area from Wellsford in the north to Pukekohe in the south.
Quick Facts
Useful Links
How to Order a LIM Report
You can order an Auckland Council LIM online through their website. Standard processing takes 10 working days, with an urgent option available for faster turnaround.
Auckland LIMs are comprehensive and include information about building consents, resource consents, rates, zoning under the Auckland Unitary Plan, flood plains, overland flow paths, coastal erosion, contaminated land, and special housing areas.
Given Auckland's size and history of multiple councils, some older records may be less detailed. If you're buying a property built before 2010, ask your lawyer whether any additional searches of legacy council records are warranted.
District Plan Zones
Auckland operates under the Auckland Unitary Plan (Operative in Part). Key residential zones include:
- Single House Zone: One dwelling per site, up to 8m height
- Mixed Housing Suburban: Up to 2-3 dwellings per site, 8m height
- Mixed Housing Urban: Up to 3+ dwellings per site, 11m height
- Terrace Housing and Apartment Buildings (THAB): Higher density, up to 16m
The Unitary Plan significantly increased development potential across Auckland. Many suburban properties now allow for more intensive development than their current use suggests.
Natural Hazards
Auckland faces several natural hazard risks:
- Flooding: Extensive flood plain mapping across the region. Check the GeoMaps viewer for flood-sensitive areas.
- Coastal erosion and inundation: Relevant for properties near the coast. Climate change projections increase this risk.
- Volcanic activity: Auckland sits on a volcanic field with 53 known volcanoes. While eruption probability is low, it's a mapped hazard.
- Land instability: Particularly relevant in areas with steep terrain or clay soils (e.g. parts of the North Shore, Waitākere Ranges).
Building Consent & Code Compliance
Building consent applications are processed by Auckland Council's Building Control department. Standard processing targets 20 working days for straightforward applications.
Auckland Council offers a FastTrack consent service for simple projects. For complex builds, pre-application meetings are recommended.
All building consent information for a property is included in the LIM report.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I order a LIM from Auckland Council?
You can order a LIM online through the Auckland Council website. Check the Quick Facts panel above for current pricing and turnaround times.
What is the Auckland Unitary Plan?
The Auckland Unitary Plan is the single planning document that governs land use and development across the Auckland region. It replaced seven former district plans when Auckland's councils merged in 2010. It determines what you can build on your property.
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