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Building consent process

If you need help to complete the building consent application form, talk to our staff before submitting your application, or ask your builder or designer to help you.

Ready to apply?

Complete the Building Consent Application Form and make sure you have all required plans and supporting documents before submitting your application.

Building Consent Forms

What's required with your application?

Before submitting your application, make sure you have:

The application form, plans and supporting documentation must meet our requirements.

All applications must be submitted on the prescribed form and completed in full, including the Building Code compliance information provided by the designer.

A list of all the required supporting documents is included on the application form.

You'll also need to provide plans that are clear, concise and drawn to scale. We won't accept plans drawn on graph paper.

If you need any help completing your application, contact our Building Services team.

The plans should include:

  • Location plan
  • Site plan
  • Floor plan of each floor (if there is more than one)
  • Elevation of each exterior wall
  • Drainage plan
  • Foundation layout
  • Sufficient cross-sections to show the full nature and extent of the work
  • Construction details of specifications.
Location plan

Show the location of the site in relation to known landmarks or reference points. This plan does not need not be drawn to scale.

Site plan (scale 1:200)

The site plan must be drawn to scale and should show:

  • all buildings on the site
  • the relationship of the buildings to the site boundaries.
  • the location of any septic tanks and effluent lines, where applicable.

A scale of 1:200 is not always possible. If your project is on a rural property and this scale is not practical, contact the Duty Building Inspector to discuss what information is needed.

Floor plan (scale 1:50 or 1:100)

Floor plan should clearly show:

  • doors and windows
  • room layout
  • the intended use of each room
  • Show fittings such as kitchen benches,  bathroom fixtures such as bath and basin and the location of toilets.
Elevations (scale 1:50 or 1:100)

Provide an elevation for each exterior wall showing all doors, windows and other openings.

For new dwellings and substantial additions, you must provide a weathertightness matrix for each elevation. This scoring system determines whether your selected exterior cladding requires a drained and ventilated cavity.
For more information about the Weathertightness risk matrix.

Cross-sections (scale1:50)

Provide cross-sections that clearly show:

  • the method of construction
  • materials proposed for use
  • floor levels
  • adjacent ground levels.

When can the work start?

Work must not start any building work until the invoice has been paid and the building consent has been issued and collected.

You must read the approved building consent documents before work begins.

The stamped documents must be kept on site at all times during building construction.