Selwyn District Council — Property Due Diligence Guide
Selwyn District Council governs New Zealand's fastest-growing district, located immediately south and west of Christchurch, with a population that has surged past 75,000. The main towns are Rolleston (the administrative centre and largest town), Lincoln, Prebbleton, and West Melton.
Quick Facts
Useful Links
How to Order a LIM Report
You can order a Selwyn District Council LIM online through their website. Standard processing takes 10 working days, with an urgent option available for faster turnaround.
Selwyn LIMs cover building consents, resource consents, rates, zoning, and natural hazard overlays. Given the rapid development, many properties are relatively new builds with comprehensive consent records. For older rural properties, check for any legacy consent issues.
Post-earthquake Technical Categories may apply for some eastern areas of the district, though most of Selwyn was less affected by liquefaction than areas further east.
District Plan Zones
Selwyn's District Plan includes:
- Living Z (Residential): Including Living 1 (standard), Living 2 (medium density), and Living X (new neighbourhood)
- Rural Zones: Inner Plains, Outer Plains, and Rural Residential
- Business Zones: Commercial and industrial areas in Rolleston
- Open Space Zones: Parks and reserves
The District Plan has been significantly updated to accommodate rapid growth, with large areas of new residential zoning around Rolleston, Lincoln, and Prebbleton.
Natural Hazards
Selwyn's natural hazard profile is relatively moderate:
- Flooding: Some areas are subject to flooding from the Selwyn River/Waikirikiri and other waterways. Stormwater management is a key consideration in new developments.
- Liquefaction: Lower risk than eastern Canterbury, but some areas near waterways have liquefaction susceptibility.
- Earthquakes: General Canterbury seismic risk applies.
- Wind: The Canterbury Plains are exposed to nor'west winds and cold southerly conditions.
Building Consent & Code Compliance
Building consent is processed by Selwyn District Council. Standard processing targets 20 working days, though high volumes of new building activity can sometimes extend timeframes.
Selwyn processes one of the highest volumes of building consents in New Zealand due to its rapid growth. New subdivision builds typically proceed smoothly with well-established processes for new residential construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Selwyn growing so fast?
Selwyn is New Zealand's fastest-growing district, driven by affordable land compared to Christchurch city, excellent new infrastructure (schools, retail, transport), family-friendly new subdivisions, and post-earthquake migration from eastern Christchurch. Rolleston's development into a self-contained town with its own services has been a major factor.
What are the pros and cons of buying in a new Selwyn subdivision?
Pros include modern homes with warranties, new infrastructure, and a growing community. Cons can include distance from Christchurch CBD, developing services that may take time to mature, similar-looking housing stock, and traffic congestion on the Christchurch commute during peak times. Ensure the developer has completed all infrastructure obligations.
Get the Full Picture on Any Property in Selwyn
Shire analyses your LIM report and other documents so nothing gets missed.
No commitment required · Start free