Whether you need a resource consent, and the type of consent you need, depends on the type of activity you want to do, where you want to do it (the activity area), and the rules for the activity (according to its ‘classification') in the District Plan.
Activities that need resource consent
Activities that need resource consent are those classified as:
- controlled activities – we must grant resource consents for these activities, but we can impose conditions that relate to matters in the District Plan
- restricted discretionary activities – we can either grant or decline these activities, and impose conditions that relate to matters in the District Plan
- discretionary activities – we can either grant or decline these activities, and impose conditions in relation to any matter that helps to control the their potential adverse effects
- non-complying activities – we can only grant an application for a non-complying activity if its adverse effects are minor, or if it’s consistent with the District Plan’s objectives and policies. If we grant consent, we can impose conditions in relation to any matter that helps to control the activity’s potential adverse effects.
The two other classifications are:
- permitted activities – these don’t need resource consent but must still meet any conditions in the District Plan.
If you’d like official confirmation that your activity is permitted, you can ask us to provide you with a Certificate of Compliance. This can be useful when you’re selling the property or obtaining finance, and it can also protect you from future changes to the District Plan, as long as there are no changes to the activity.
- prohibited activities – you can’t obtain resource consent for these activities.