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 information services, either by calling the Environmental Services help desk on 486 8600, or by visiting Environmental Services at 521 Lake Road, Takapuna. 

If an application is complex we recommend you make an appointment for an optional pre-application meeting. Pre-application meetings provide an opportunity for you to obtain information about your development concepts and find out what information needs to be supplied when applying for consent. You can discuss general requirements with our planning, building or engineering information officers, 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, you have filled in the application form, 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 so the consent will be accepted for processing at the lodgement meeting.

If there is information missing and your application is incomplete, they will advise you how to remedy this, eliminating the need for subsequent visits. The application will be handed back to you in its entirety accompanied by a letter outlining the additional information required. 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.

The statutory timeframe for processing building consent applications is 20 working days.