What is a building consent?
A building consent is the formal approval issued by a Building Consent Authority (BCA) that certain works meet the requirements of the New Zealand Building Act, Building Regulations and Building Code. A building consent is required before you can begin building works.
As an approved BCA, Grey District Council’s roles include the following:
- Receiving, considering and making decisions on applications for building consents within set time limits;
- Undertaking inspections of building work to ensure it is compliant with the Building Code and Building legislation; and
- Issuing building consents (except consents subject to waiver or modification), Code Compliance Certificates (CCC) and Compliance Schedules.
- Issuing of Notices to Fix.
The roles and responsibilities of the Grey District Council as a Territorial Authority (TA) which are directly related to building control functions include the following:
- Issuing Project Information Memoranda, Building Consents subject to waivers or modifications, amendments, Certificates of Acceptance, Compliance Schedules and Certificates for Public Use;
- Administering audits, and enforcing Building Warrants of Fitness;
- Undertaking functions in relation to dangerous, earthquake-prone and insanitary buildings; and
- Granting exemptions under Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004. Note: It is the responsibility of the building Owner(s) to determine if any proposed building work is exempt from requiring a building consent and ensuring it complies with the Building Code.
When is a building consent is required?
A building consent is required for all new building work and for alterations to existing buildings, such as:
- Swimming and spa pools and their associated fencing
- Retaining walls (some may be exempt)
- Decks over 1.5m high and/or decks with a falling height over 1.5m
- Fences over 2.5m high (except a fence as defined in Section 2 of the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987)
- Pergolas attached to buildings which incorporate a roof structure or roofing material
- Free-standing non-habitable buildings larger than 10m², or carports larger than 20m²
- Plumbing and drainage work
- Some demolition work (reference Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004 for possible exemption)
- Relocation
- Additions and alterations to existing buildings
- New buildings
- Change of use (eg garage to granny flat)
- Heating, including fireplaces
- Ventilation and air-conditioning systems for commercial premises
- Solar panels
- Replacements if not strictly like for like and if the work goes beyond what can be defined as maintenance and repair
If you are unsure whether you will need a building consent or not, please contact the Building Control team. You can also click here>> to visit the Department of Building and Housing's website - check out their publication titled “A Guide to Building Work that does not Require a Building Consent”.
If your project requires a building consent, it must be obtained before any of the work starts, so please make sure that you start the application process well before building is due to start.
If your project does not require a building consent, the work undertaken will still need to meet the requirements of the Building Code.
Important:
- A building consent may lapse if the work is not started within 12 months after the date of issue of the consent. Please let the Building Control team know if you will require more time to begin work.
- If the work is not going to be completed within two years, it is essential that you advise the Council, and request an extension of time.
How to apply for a building consent
You will need to complete a building consent application form and submit it with all the necessary supporting information to the Building Control team along with your payment. Please refer to Fees and Charges>> for current consent costs. Forms are available from the Building Control Forms>> page.
Checklists are available for residential and commercial building consents - they detail what extra information needs to be submitted at the time of applying for consent and must be completed and attached to your consent application.
If you have any queries or are unsure which forms you should be completing, please contact the Building Control team.