Here’s how the process works when you, your agent, or architect lodge your building consent application:
- We check your application form and the plans and specifications to make sure we have all the information we need, and calculate the deposit fee.
- You pay the deposit fee.
- The statutory 20 working days time clock starts.
- We check your application to make sure it complies with the New Zealand Building Code, Building Act 2004 and associated Building Regulations. We may ask a specialist consultant to help with this.
- If the proposed building work meets the requirements of the Building Act 2004 for consents required to be referred to Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) then these will be sent to FENZ for comment.
- We may contact you or your agent with any questions during the assessment process. If further information is requested, the time clock pauses and will restart when all the correct information has been provided.
- A building consent authority must grant a building consent if it is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the provisions of the building code would be met if the building work were properly completed in accordance with the plans and specification that accompanied the application.
A building consent authority is not required to grant a building consent until it receives the appropriate fees/charges and any levies payable.
- A building consent will be granted subject to the condition that Council may inspect the work on site, or off site where the building work is being undertaken elsewhere, during working hours.
- You will be notified if a resource consent is required for the proposed work.
- Conditions related to hazard notification, building over two or more allotments certificate or the limited life of the building may be also included if applicable.
If we approve your application
If we approve your application the time clock stops and we get in touch to let you know. We will also tell you if there are any more fees to pay.
Once you’ve paid any required fees, you can receive your consent documents either:
- by email, or
- by post as hard copy (a fee applies), or
- in person, by collecting them at the Council offices.
For more information about the content of a building consent including any specific conditions that may be applicable please go to MBIE website.
If we refuse your application
We occasionally refuse applications for building consent. This is usually because:
- information that we’ve asked for hasn’t been supplied in a reasonable timeframe, or
- there’s not enough detail to prove that the work will comply with the New Zealand Building Code.
If this is the case we’ll write to you and explain why we’ve refused your application. Our letter will include an invoice for processing costs.
Determinations
If you believe this decision is wrong you can ask the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for a determination. Determinations are legally binding decisions on disputes or questions about the rules that apply to buildings. To find out more about determinations, go to MBIE website. Check the ‘previous determinations’ on the website – some of them might be about situations like yours. A determination can be appealed to the District Court.
Building Consent Authority (BCA) complaint
As a BCA, our Building team welcomes feedback from our customers. We want to hear from you if you feel dissatisfied with any part of our service related to building consent processing, inspection or issuing a CCC.
Communication should be directed to the Building and Quality Assurance Manager in the first instance.
To find out more read our information sheet on making a BCA complaint (PDF 92.3 KB)
If you are unhappy with a process or technical decision made by us about your building consent (and this matter can't be resolved) please refer the matter to MBIE for a determination.