District Plan Rules

This section of the Plan contains four sets of rules:

• the City-Wide Rules
• the Natural Area Rules
• the Human Environment Rules
• the Special Area Rules
• the Subdivision Rules

For many proposed activities, there will be relevant rules that apply to that activity in each of these four parts. All four parts should therefore be consulted for relevant rules applying to an activity. The Plan generally contains cross-references in each part to other relevant parts.

Applying the Rules	Policy Section
Maps Section	Plan Changes
Rules Section	District Plan Index

City-Wide Rules

The "City-Wide Rules" section includes rules on information for resource consents: natural hazards, financial contributions, hazardous facilities and contaminated sites, heritage, Prohibited Activities and Temporary Activities. Definitions of terms used in the Plan also appear in the City-Wide Rules.

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	Re-identification of Land (Size 17K)
	Applies to all subdivision of land involving the creation of roads or reserves.
	Commercial Sex Activities (Size 253K)
	Pertains to commerical sex activities.
	Definitions (Size 312K)
	Provides the meanings for words and terms used in the rules. Words or terms which appear in italics in the rules are defined in the Definitions. There are also words and terms in the Plan which appear in bold type. Those words or terms are "explained" in the Explanations part of the Introduction to the Rules.
	Information Requirements For Resource Consents (Size 105K)
	Contains requirements for information to be provided with applications for resource consent.
	Prohibited Activities (Size 36K)
	Lists certain activities which are prohibited throughout Waitakere City.
	Temporary Activities (Size 100K)
	Lists certain temporary activities which can take place in areas where permanent activities of the same type may not be possible.
	Maintenance And Condition Of Land And Buildings (Size 96K)
	Contains a general obligation to maintain a reasonable visual appearance (amenity) for land and buildings.
	General Noise Standards (Size 145K)
	Contains general noise requirements which apply throughout the City.  Specific standards for noise are dealt with in the Human Environments Rules.
	Natural Hazards (Size 111K)
	Contains requirements relating to natural hazards such as flooding and instability.
	Financial Contributions (Size 161K)
	Contains the requirements for contributions in money, works or services associated with subdivision, development or building on land, and off-setting adverse environmental effects.
	Designations (Size 120K)
	Contains rules which apply to designated land within the City.
	Designations appendix (Size 4.5M)
	Hazardous Facilities And Contaminated Sites (Size 157K)
	Contains rules applying to the use and storage of hazardous substances and the use of contaminated sites.
	Hazardous facilities screening procedure Appendix - glossary (Size 214K)
	Heritage (Size 172K)
	Covers a number of areas in the City identified as having heritage items, heritage vegetation, archaeological sites or waahi tapu, and contains rules applying to those areas.
	Heritage appendix (Size 347K)

Natural Areas Rules

The "Natural Areas Rules" cover vegetation alteration, earthworks, impermeable surfaces, establishment of vegetation, stock grazing and forestry.

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	General Natural Area (Size 369K)
	Covers developed parts of the City, generally with low or little native vegetation cover. Important natural resources include trees, water systems, landforms and Ecological Linkage Opportunities.   View Map.
	Restoration Natural Area (Size 366K)
	Covers areas in the City which have been identified as having significant native vegetation, but of a lower quality than that identified as Managed Natural Area.
	Managed Natural Area (Size 361K)
	Covers areas which are characterised by significant native vegetation, wildlife habitats and water systems. The area is also an important landscape feature. This Natural Area is primarily located in the Waitakere Ranges, although there are sizeable portions in the rural areas and eastern lowlands.
	Coastal Natural Area (Size 368K)
	Covers an area extending along the West Coast, around the Manukau Harbour and alongside parts of the Waitemata Harbour. It is an area of outstanding coastal landscape quality, and it also includes important areas of native vegetation, wildlife habitat and streams and lakes with high water quality and aesthetic values.
	Protected Natural Area (Size 349K)
	Covers areas close to the coast which have outstanding landscape quality and all other areas in the City (all being in the Waitakere Ranges) which have been classified as having outstanding native vegetation.
	Riparian Margins/Coastal Edges Natural Area (Size 395K)
	Covers an area extending around coastlines and adjoining important streams, rivers, wetlands and lakes. This Natural Area forms an ecological buffer beside natural water systems and does not provide for public access to private land.

Sensitive Ridgelines
Sensitive ridgelines, headlands, cliffs and scarps cover areas of ridgelines, headlands, cliffs and scarps that are sensitive to inappropriate subdivision, use and development. The rules managing buildings on ridgelines, headlands, cliffs and scarps are contained in the Human Environment Rules. Otherwise refer to the relevant Natural Areas that underlies the sensitive ridgeline, headland, cliff or scarp.

All of the above Natural Areas are shown on the Natural Areas Maps. The Natural Areas Maps also indicate natural landscape elements, which are the subject of separate rules within the Human Environment Rules. The Policy Section of the Plan provides further explanation of these Natural Areas and the natural resources that these areas have.

Appendices

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Removable Vegetation Appendix (Size 69K)

Environmentally Damaging Plants Appendix (Size 66K)

Erosion/sediment Control Measures Appendix (Size 173K)

Human Environments Rules

The Human Environments reflect areas within the City which have noticeably different characteristics, and possible effects on the environment, due to their past, present and possible future development. The Human Environments are shown on the Human Environments Maps.

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	Living Environment (Size 780K)
	Covering urban and suburban residential areas of the City.
	Medium Density Housing Criteria (Size 270K)
	Sets out the assessment criteria for medium density housing.
	Open Space Environment (Size 512K)
	Covers land owned by the Council, the Auckland Regional Council or other public agencies.
	Community Environment (Size 365K)
	Covers the town centres, suburban shopping centres and blocks of shops.
	Working Environment (Size 282K)
	Covers the industrial/employment areas of the City.
	Countryside Environment (Size 607K)
	Covers the rural area to the north of the City's developed urban area.
	Foothills Environment (Size 660K)
	Covers that area between the developed urban area westwards to the bush covered parts of the Waitakere Ranges.
	Rural Villages Environment (Size 468K)
	Covers the villages located in rural parts of the City - Herald Island, Whenuapai and Waitakere.
	Coastal Villages Environment (Size 634K)
	Covers the settlements along the Tasman Sea and Manukau Harbour Coast - Te Henga, Piha, Karekare, Huia, Cornwallis and Parau.
	Bush Living Environment (Size 649K)
	Covers areas within the Waitakere Ranges in private ownership, generally bush-covered and smaller sites.
	Waitakere Ranges Environment (Size 625K)
	Covers areas within the Waitakere Ranges in private ownership and generally bush-covered large sites.
	Transport Environment (Size 364K)
	Covers all of the roads in the City which are owned by the Council or Transit NZ, and the railway corridor.
	Scheduled Sites (Size 162K)
	These are sites containing activities such as service stations and shops which are within a Human Environment generally not catering for that type of activity, but where the Plan gives the activity special recognition and protection.
	Scheduled Sites Appendix (Size 33K)

Special Area Rules

The "Special Area Rules" apply to the Special Areas which are identified on the Human Environments Maps. For most of the Special Areas activities particular to the individual site are allowed by the Plan. The approved concept plans for each Large Property Management Area are included in the Maps Section.

The "Special Areas Definitions" give meanings of the various activities provided for, and the rules specify the specific standards to be applied. Other standards also need to be met, which generally are those standards applying in the Human Environment nearest to the Special Area.

There are rules in the Plan other than the Special Area Rules that may apply to a proposed activity.

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Special Area Rules (Size 1160K)

Air Discharges Appendix (Size 102K)

Subdivision Rules

The Subdivision Rules apply to all proposals for subdivision in the City. There is a general rules section with specific rules relating to each of the Human Environments. Rules cover design (lot size, etc.) and engineering (service provision etc.) matters.  Other rules in the Plan also need to be referred to, including the following:

• The City-Wide Rules cover requirements on information needed on application for resource consents, financial contributions, natural hazards, hazardous substances, and contaminated sites and heritage. Prohibited Activities and Temporary Activities. Definitions of terms used in the Plan also appear in the City-Wide Rules.
• The Natural Areas Rules cover requirements on vegetation clearance, earthworks, impermeable surfaces, environmentally damaging plants and some structures.
• The Human Environment Rules cover a number of standards relating to buildings and activities.

Note: You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer in order to view and print these documents.  For help opening PDF files or tips on copying information see Helpful Tips.

General (Size 171K)

Infill Subdivision (Size 229K)

Greenfields Subdivision (Size 155K)

Working Environment And Community Environment (Size 292K)

Countryside Environment (Size 315K)

Foothills Environment (Size 87K)

Rural Villages Environment (Size 278K)

Coastal Villages Environment (Size 280K)

Bush Living Environment (Size 698K)

Titirangi-Laingholm (Size 289K)

Waitakere Ranges Environment (Size 295K)