How do I apply for a Building Consent?
Building consent applications can be submitted in one of the following ways:
- Booking a live lodgment meeting – if you are submitting your application in person, it is advisable to have your architect, builder or other consultant attend the lodgment meeting or have them contactable at this time. You will need to book the lodgment meeting in advance by contacting your building consent authority
- Postal applications – Your building consent authority may also accept building consent applications by post, provided that all the required information and documentation have been provided with the application, as well as payment for the lodgment base fee.
- Online applications - You may also be able to submit your building consent application online however; you are likely to have to register to use this service. This method allows you to complete and forward your application electronically together with digital plans and specifications.
Important: A large number of building consent applications are delayed or rejected due to insufficient information relating to the engineering aspects of a proposal. For example, you may need to provide a geotechnical (soil stability) report, a flood risk assessment and drainage, pipe and stormwater reports. We recommend that you seek professional advice to assist you in collating this information.
What information must be provided?
Building consent applications can be complex, so we recommend that you engage a professional person to help with the design work and drawings. The basic information and documentation that you must provide includes:
- Lodgment base fee
- Two sets of plans (according to the scales and sizes as specified)
- Certificate of Title (not less than 90 days old) with the survey plan/flats plan and all notices and encumbrances
- Any approved Project Information Memorandum (PIM) and/or Land Use Consent for the specific project
- Impervious area calculations
- Geotechnical reports / fire reports / structural engineering calculations / producer statements / E2/AS1 risk matrix (where required)
- Manufacturer’s specifications and BRANZ appraisals where required
- Application for Compliance Schedule/Amendment to Compliance Schedule (where required)
- Erosion and Sediment Control Application Guide for Small Sites (where required)
- Potentially Affected Person’s Approval form (where required).
A complete list of the documentation requirements should be set out in the checklists for completeness of residential/commercial building consent applications, which are available in the various application packs from your building consent authority.
When I apply for a building consent, will I also need resource consent?
Depending on the nature of your project, you may need to apply for resource consent as well as a building consent. The need for resource consent will depend on the location (zoning) of the building site, the nature of the proposed project, and whether or not it complies with your council’s district plan.