Building Consent

A building consent is a formal approval from your local council (acting as the Building Consent Authority) that your proposed building work complies with the New Zealand Building Code. It's required under the Building Act 2004 for most construction, renovation, and demolition work.

The consent process involves submitting detailed plans and specifications to the council, which reviews them against the Building Code. If approved, you receive a building consent with conditions — including mandatory inspection points during construction. Once the work is completed and passes final inspection, the council issues a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC).

Not all building work requires consent. Schedule 1 of the Building Act lists exempt work, including small repairs, low decks, some fences, and minor plumbing. However, the exemptions are specific and limited — when in doubt, check with your council.

Building consent fees vary by project size and council but typically range from $2,000 for a simple job to $10,000+ for a new house. Processing times are legally capped at 20 working days, but councils may request further information which pauses the clock.

When buying a property, check the LIM report for all building consents that have been issued — and crucially, whether each one has a corresponding Code Compliance Certificate. Consented work without a CCC is a red flag, as it means the council never confirmed the work was done properly.

Also check for any building work that appears to have been done without consent at all. Unconsented work can be uninsurable, may not meet Building Code standards, and can create serious problems when you try to sell.

The LIM report lists all building consents and their status (issued, inspected, CCC granted). Most councils also have online consent search portals where you can look up specific properties. Your lawyer should review the consent history as part of standard due diligence.