Consents

Environmental Services processes building and resource consents (land use and subdivision) and offers a centralised service for development activities.

People may need different consents for a wide range of activities from pruning a protected tree to building a deck to a major subdivision development. Identifying what consents a proposal requires and the level of information you need to submit is essential for us to accept an application. Processing delays result if the information submitted is incomplete or does not provide the level of detail required. 

We encourage you to make use of our free advisory services, either though the Environmental Services helpdesk (call 486 8600) or by visiting Environmental Services at 521 Lake Road, Takapuna. 

If an application is complex we recommend you make an appointment for a pre-application meeting. Pre-application meetings provide an opportunity for you to seek advice about your development concepts and find out what information needs to be supplied when applying for consent (these meetings are optional). You can discuss general requirements with our planning, building or engineering advisors, but may be advised to engage the services of an independent consultant depending on the complexity of the proposal. (For example an architect, draughtsperson, arborist, builder, engineer and/or other qualified consultant).

When concepts have been developed into detailed plans, and you have all the information required you attend a consent lodgement meeting at Environmental Services.

Consent lodgements

All applications (excluding consents for minor tree works) should be lodged in person at Environmental Services (521 Lake Road, Takapuna). It is advisable to have your architect, builder or other consultant attend the lodgement meeting or have them contactable at this time.

At the lodgement meeting the application will be thoroughly checked by technical advisors to ensure all necessary information has been provided. If all necessary information has been provided the consent will be accepted for processing at the lodgement meeting.

If there is information missing and your application is incomplete, they will work together and advise you from the outset how to remedy this, eliminating the need for subsequent visits with several different people at different times. The application will be handed back to you in its entirety accompanied by a letter outlining the deficient areas. When the missing information has been added to the application, a second lodgement meeting is not required. The entire application can be posted or delivered back to Environmental Services.

Building consent lodgements

The length of time building consents take to process depends on the value (complexity) of the building project and whether or not you have provided us with sufficient information. Consent applications for building projects will be processed within 20 working days.