Porirua City Council — Property Due Diligence Guide
Porirua City Council governs a diverse city of approximately 60,000 people, located immediately north of Wellington. The city encompasses the harbour suburbs around Porirua Harbour, the northern suburbs of Tawa and Linden, and the coastal eastern suburbs of Titahi Bay and Plimmerton.
Quick Facts
Useful Links
How to Order a LIM Report
You can order a Porirua City Council LIM online through their website. Standard processing takes 10 working days, with an urgent option available for faster turnaround.
Porirua LIMs include information on building consents, zoning, and natural hazards. The harbour and coastal setting means many properties are affected by coastal hazard overlays or flood zones. Porirua Harbour's health has been a significant issue, and some properties may be affected by stormwater management requirements.
For properties in the hillside suburbs, pay particular attention to land stability information, as Wellington's steep terrain extends into Porirua's landscape.
District Plan Zones
Porirua's District Plan includes these key zones:
- General Residential Zone: Standard suburban residential
- Medium Density Residential Zone: Enabling townhouses near centres and transport
- Large Lot Residential Zone: Larger lots in hillside areas
- Town Centre Zone: Porirua city centre
- Local Centre Zone: Titahi Bay, Plimmerton, and other local centres
- Mixed Use Zone: Employment and mixed-use areas
Porirua has undertaken significant District Plan changes to enable more housing density, particularly near railway stations.
Natural Hazards
Porirua's natural hazard profile includes:
- Seismic activity: The Ohariu Fault and other active faults pass through or near the city. Earthquake risk is significant.
- Land instability: Many Porirua suburbs are built on steep hillsides, creating slip risk, particularly during heavy rain.
- Flooding: The Porirua Stream and harbour catchment create flood risk in low-lying areas.
- Coastal hazards: Properties near the harbour and along the coast face erosion and inundation risk.
- Tsunami: Low-lying coastal areas are vulnerable to tsunami.
Building Consent & Code Compliance
Building consent is processed by Porirua City Council with a standard 20 working day target.
The city's hilly terrain means many building projects involve earthworks and retaining walls, which can add cost and complexity. Earthquake strengthening is relevant for older buildings, particularly in the commercial area.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Transmission Gully affect Porirua property?
Transmission Gully has improved northern access from Porirua, reducing travel times to Kapiti and beyond. It has also reduced some traffic through the city centre. Properties with good access to the motorway or railway stations have seen increased interest.
What should I know about hillside properties in Porirua?
Many Porirua homes are on steep sites. Check the LIM for any land stability issues, retaining wall consents, and earthworks records. Steep sites can be more expensive to maintain and insure. Drainage and stormwater management are important considerations for hillside properties.
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