How do I get a building consent?
To get a building consent you will need to lodge a
building consent application.
Applications can be lodged either by appointment or by mail/drop-off.
It is important to note that whatever method of lodgement you choose
you must check your application and documentation for completeness
against our checklists, as an
incomplete application or lack of any supporting information will mean
that your application cannot be accepted for processing.
Conditions or notations will not be applied by Council to consents to
compensate for deficiencies in consent documentation. This is
fundamental to the Building Consent Authority role as a verifier rather
than a designer.
How to lodge your application by appointment
You can now book an appointment during working hours by
ringing us.
Please note that the lodging process can take up to 2 hours and your
appointment slot will allow for this length of time.
Appointment times are available Monday to Friday between 8 am and
3.30pm. Please allow at least two working days notice for your
appointment.
- To avoid a second appointment or rejection of your consent
please use our checklists to
ensure that you have all the required documentation to the specified
standards.
- Drawing conventions should generally conform to AS/NZS 1100
Technical Drawing.
- A useful guide to use when lodging an application is the "Guide
to applying for a building consent" which is published by the
Department of Building and Housing and
available on their website.
A front counter multi-skilled advisor will check your consent
application to ensure that you have included all the required
information. This screening is an initial review only and is not a full
technical assessment. The cost of the consent will also be calculated at
this time. Fees are calculated according to our
fee schedule. Please note that your
application will not be lodged until the fee has been received.
At the time of your appointment please check in at our
Front of House reception.
We would be grateful if you could
contact us
should you be unable to make your appointment time for any reason.
Lodge your application by mail or drop-off
If you call in to
lodge an application without an appointment, we will only be able to
check your application in your presence if an appointment is
available at the time. If a time is not available you may choose to make
an appointment for an alternative time or leave your application to be
processed without your attendance. Of course you are also welcome to
mail an application to
us.
When you choose to leave an application with us or to submit your
application by mail you will be advised whether your consent application
will be accepted for lodgement or if more information is required.
If more information is required the application will be sent back to you
with an explanation of the requirements for that additional information.
All building consent applications must be accompanied by the appropriate fee
or the application cannot be accepted for processing.
If you have not had any confirmation from us within 5 days of submitting
your application please
contact us.
Process Change for Amendments
Building Consent Amendments - effective 25 November 2008
The need to make variations to consented building work during the construction
process is common. However, according to Section 40 of the Building Act 2004 a
person must not carry out any building work except in accordance with a building
consent. It is therefore important that you advise your building consent
authority of all proposed changes BEFORE carrying out any of the associated
work.
The council has revised the application form for amendments. This form is to be
used to gain approval for building consent amendments that could include, but
are not limited to, such examples as:
- A cladding change, if the new cladding system has been appraised and accepted
as complying with the Building Code.
- Non-structural internal reconfigurations.
- Changes to an effluent treatment and disposal system.
- Changes to windows or doors in external walls.
- The addition of a fireplace within a building.
Amended plans can only be accepted if they are within the scope of works of the
original building consent application. New work will require a new building
consent.
Together with the application form you will be required to
provide:
- Two sets of amended documentation with all amendments highlighted
- A non-refundable base fee is payable upon application. Further charges may be applicable once the
actual processing time has been calculated. These will be payable when the
amendment is granted. Please see the Regulatory Fees and Charges Schedule for
details.
Once your application is lodged you will be allocated a unique building consent
number for your amendment. Please use this number when communicating with us in
relation to your amendment.
The building inspector can approve some minor changes on-site
Where the amendment is minor and does not affect or reduce the level of
compliance against the Building Code, a formal Application for Building Consent
Amendment may not be necessary. It is, however, important that even these minor
changes are assessed for compliance and suitability. This will be done on site
by the Building Inspector but the owner will still be required to provide an
as-built amendment. This needs to be submitted prior to a Code Compliance
Certificate application.
Examples of amendments not requiring a formal Application for Building Consent
Amendment could include, but are not limited to:
- A soft spot has been identified during the excavation for a footing on site
and the engineer has provided the builder with a Producer Statement for the
design and for the construction of the new foundation design.
- The laundry tub has been moved from where it is shown on the plan to another
location in the laundry.
- An internal non load-bearing partition has been moved one metre and the
internal bracing system is verified as still being compliant.
- Extra windows provided in a wall, with no change to cladding and no effect on
fire rating or bracing in the wall.
It will be at the discretion of the building inspector as to whether or not a
formal Building Consent Amendment application will be required in any amendment
circumstances.
Effect on Code Compliance Certificate
On completion, all building work must comply with the Building Code, be in
compliance with the building consent plans and specifications and incorporate
any amendments approved and documented along the way. If the documentation on
the council's files does not match the completed work, a Code Compliance
Certificate cannot be issued.
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