Building inspections

Commencement of work

The Building Act 1991 requires the owner or person carrying out initial excavations for building work under a building consent to give council two working day’s notice of their intention to commence work.

Please refer to our 'building consents' page (see right-hand menu) for information on how long your building consent will last.

Inspections during construction

Council requires a minimum of one working day’s notice prior to the following inspections. It should be noted that in times of heavy demand, it may be longer before an inspection can be arranged.

• Footing or foundation inspections
• Concrete floor slabs
• Concrete masonry and bond beams
• Prelining (building and plumbing)
• Postlining (prior to fixing trim, stopping or painting of linings)
• Postline exterior sheet bracing
• Solid plaster reinforcing inspection
• All drainage work before backfilling
• Completion inspection (building and plumbing)

When inspections are required, please call Actionline on 486 8600. You will need to quote the following:

• Type of inspection - specific details
• Site address
• Contact phone number
• Building consent number

The owner’s copy of the council approved drawings should be available on site for all inspections. Council’s inspector will sign off the appropriate inspection on the reverse of the plans when it has been approved.

At plumbing preline inspection, water pipes, internal soil, waste and downpipes are to be pressure tested. At the drainage inspection, an asbuilt drawing is to be available for the council Inspector. Exterior sanitary drainage must be pressure tested.

Re-inspection or extra inspections (over and above the estimated number of inspections charged for when initial consent payment is made) will be charged at the current pre-set rate prior to the issue of the Code Compliance Certificate (CCC).

Notice to Rectify

The Building Act provides for council to issue a Notice to Rectify which requires any building work NOT done in accordance with the Act or the Building Code to comply with those requirements.

This is a formal notice and would generally be issued when on-site discussions did not result in compliance.

The notice would require any non-complying work to be rectified, and may also direct that the building work cease until council is satisfied that the persons concerned are able, and willing, to resume operations in compliance with the Building Act regulations.

Costs associated with the issuing of a Notice to Rectify will be recovered from the applicant, and payment is required prior to the issue of a CCC.

Completion of work and Code Compliance Certification (CCC)

Owners are required to advise council that building work has been completed as soon as practicable by contacting Actionline on 486 8600 to book final building and plumbing and drainage inspections.

After the final inspections are carried out, the inspector will check the consent file to ensure that all conditions have been complied with, relevant producer statements or certifications received and reconcile the number of inspections carried out with those charged when the consent was issued. Any additional charges are to be paid prior to the issue of the CCC. Once the CCC has been issued the bonds associated with the development will be actioned for refund.

Please note that the bonds generally take a minimum of five working days to action.