Building consent information and application form

Environmental Services

Image of a house. Building consent information and application forms

A building consent is required for most building work including:

pools, retaining walls over 1.5m, garages and carports, alterations including extensions, new buildings and some decks and fences
all retaining walls incurring a surcharge
plumbing and drainage work
heating including fireplaces, industrial ventilation and air conditioning systems
lifts
demolition
relocation of old buildings
change of use of buildings

Please read the below information before submitting a building consent application.

Completing the application form in full and providing all the information as listed in the various checklists will ensure you submit everything needed for us to accept your application. Processing delays will result if the information you submit is incomplete or does not provide the level of detail required.

Some building consent applications can be complex therefore we recommend you appoint an architect, draughtsperson, builder, engineer and/or other qualified consultant to assist you.

What is a building consent?
Why do I need building consent?
How do I apply for building consent?
How long does it take?
Do I need resource consent as well?
What about building inspections?
How do I apply for a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC)?
How long is my building consent valid for?
How much will my building consent cost?
What happens when my project is finished?
What if I have more questions?
Building consent application and information pack
Additional information
Erosion and Sediment Control
Change of billing details

What is a building consent?

A building consent is approval from Council for you to carry out building works at a specific site, and will ensure that building, plumbing, drainage and fire safety requirements are in compliance with the NZ Building Code.

Why do I need building consent?

You are required under the Building Act 2004 to carry out building work with a building consent. However, there are some minor building works that do not require a building consent listed in Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004. Building work carried out without a building consent is regarded as illegal work, and often costly to set right and may put people‘s safety or property at risk. Illegal building works may also impact on your insurance cover and/or house sale negotiations.

How do I apply for building consent?

Completing the application form in full and providing all the information listed in building application packs and checklists will ensure you submit everything needed for us to accept your application. Processing delays will result if the information submitted is incomplete or does not provide the level of detail required.

A large number of building consent applications are delayed or rejected because of insufficient information relating to the engineering aspects of a proposal. This information may include (but is not limited to) a geotechnical report, a flood risk assessment and/or drainage, pipe and stormwater reports - we recommend you seek professional advice to assist you in collating this information.

All applications should be lodged in person at Environmental Services. It is advisable to have your architect, builder or other consultant attend the lodgement meeting or have them contactable at this time. Call Actionline on 486 8600 for a lodgement meeting.

How long does it take?

The length of time building consents take to process depends on the complexity of your building consent and whether or not you have provided us with sufficient information. We aim to process consent applications for building consents within 20 working days. The 20-day clock starts when your building consent application is accepted for processing.

The clock is stopped whenever additional information is required. However, this will not necessarily mean that the processing of the rest of the application has stopped. Information may be requested during various stages of the building consent process. Please see below for a list of our current average timeframes and charges for building consents.

North Shore City Building Consent Applicant Guide for Charges and Processing Timeframes

Building process flow chart

Do I need resource consent as well?

A large percentage of people who apply for a building consent in North Shore City also require resource consent. This depends on the location (zoning) of the building site, the nature of the proposed project, and whether or not it complies with the North Shore City District Plan. If the proposed building works are not permitted by our District Plan resource consent is required.

Depending on the zone of the property, some common examples of building projects requiring resource consent include:

building in close proximity to property boundaries
excavating to a depth of 1.5m or more
building on a coastal property
changing the use of a residential or commercial building (you may require more carparks)
building over an area that covers more land than existing buildings

If resource consent is required you cannot start any building work until a resource consent has been granted. Please contact the Environmental Services helpdesk for further information about resource consents.

What about building inspections?

Inspections are required at various stages of your building project to ensure compliance with the approved building plans and the NZ Building Code. The inspections required will be listed on your consent. It is your responsibility to contact the Council to book inspections. It should be noted that the Council does not act as a clerk of works and therefore does not guarantee workmanship.

How do I apply for a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC)?

An application form for a Code Compliance Certificate is available in the various building applications packs, and also on our website. You need to apply for a CCC before booking the final building inspection. The completed CCC application form and all the required documents must be available for the building inspector to assess at the time of the final building inspection.

How long is my building consent valid for?

A building consent lapses and is of no effect if the building work does not commence within 12 months after the date of issue of the building consent. The building work is required to be completed within a two-year period from the date the building consent was granted, unless an extension of this period has been granted by the Council.

How much will my building consent cost?

This varies depending on the complexity and the dollar value of your building project. Environmental Services help desk staff can give you an estimate of the cost of the consent for your project, but this is only a base fee. The base fee includes government levies, but you will not receive a final invoice until the building consent application is issued. This is because extra work may be required to process your application if further information is required, or you are using materials such as monolithic cladding, which require additional inspections.

You may also be asked to pay a bond, and development contributions towards the cost of infrastructure needed to support growth. As a guide, the average fee for a building consent based on a new house worth $300,000 is $4581. Please note that all fees payable at the lodgement of a building consent application are base fees and are non-refundable, unless otherwise stated.

Base fees are a minimum charge and actual processing charges above this amount will be invoiced when the building consent is issued. If you cancel your consent application, some fees may still apply. Please see below for a list of our current average timeframes and charges for building consents.

What happens when my project is finished?

A code compliance certificate or CCC, is issued after a final building inspection, when the council is satisfied the work complies with the New Zealand Building Code. A CCC provides a record of the building work and shows future buyers that the work is legal.

Once your project is finished, you need to apply for a CCC. This will be issued when building consent conditions have been met, all inspections have been completed and approved, any other required supporting documentation has been received, and all inspection and consent fees have been paid in full.

Erosion and Sediment Control

From July 1 2006, erosion and sediment control plans will have to be submitted as part of any building or resource consent process which will result in more than 50 square metres of site area being disturbed. An Erosion and Sediment Control Application Guide and Checklist for Small Sites (E&S 02) must be completed with every building consent application.

Landowners, contractors and developers are required to follow the measures outlined in the pamphlet, Erosion and Sediment control on Small Development Sites (E&S 01), to help minimise erosion and prevent sediment discharge into our waters. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in failed building inspections, which means time delays with the inspection process and additional costs as a result of follow-up visits from compliance officers and building inspectors. Ongoing non-compliance could result in enforcement action being taken.

Copies of the pamphlet are included with all building application packs, or can be obtained by calling Actionline on 486 8600 or by downloading an electronic copy of the pamphlet from the Building consent application and information list below.

Change of billing details

Whenever you need to change the billing details of the person(s) responsible for payments regarding your consent, please complete the Change of Billing Details Form and hand it to one of the Cashiers at Environmental Services, 521 Lake Road, Takapuna, or mail the completed form to Environmental Services, Private Bag 93500, Takapuna, North Shore City. Please ensure that form is fully completed and signed by the person(s) who accept responsibility for payments. An electronic copy of this form can be downloaded from the Building consent application and information list below.

What if I have more questions?

For more information or advice on preparing building consent applications contact our Environmental Services helpdesk by calling Actionline on 486 8600.

Building consent application form
Application for building consent and/or project information memorandum (163kb)
Application for Amended Plans (113kb)
Application for Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) (122kb)
Application for certificate for public use - Form 15 (141 KB)
Certificate of acceptance application form (form 8) (111 KB)
Application for Compliance Schedule/Amendment to Compliance Schedule (140 KB)
Request to Change Billing Details (25 KB)
Certification of Establishment of Erosion & Sediment Control Measures (E&S 03)(30 KB)