Building Consents FAQ's

We recommend applying through the online Simpli Portal, but if you prefer to use one of the other methods there is a list of applications available to download on our webpage. You'll find out how to apply online through the Simpli Portal, via email or in person. Go to our apply for a Building consent webpage.

An owner-builder is an individual who does building work on their own home or holiday home. This is legally okay, as long as you:

• Meet the requirements of the Building Code
• Obtain any necessary building consent or permits before starting work
• By getting the right paperwork, it is confirmation that as long as the building is constructed to the requirements in the consent, it is safe and healthy

As an owner-builder, you will need to hire a professional to do:

• Plumbing
• Gasfitting
• Drainlaying
• Electrical work

Owner-builder exemptions are issued by Council and the statutory declaration form must be witnessed and signed by a legally authorised person such as a Justice of the Peace. The form needs to be given to Council with the application for a building consent, or before the restricted building work on your home starts.

As an owner-builder you are required to abide by the Building Act, as well as being responsible for ensuring that restricted building work carried out under the owner-builder exemption complies with the building consent and the relevant plans and specifications.

Friends and family are allowed to help you with the restricted building work, as long as you are not paying them. Future buyers will have access to information that shows the building work was carried out by the owner rather than a Licenced Building Practitioner.

You can find out more and download the owner-builder declaration form here. Other information on DIY can be found here.

You may also need to apply for a resource consent for your building project.

Under the Resource Management Act Councils prepare plans to reflect the desires and aspirations of the local community in relation to natural or physical resources, and activities that affect the environment. These are managed through the Resource Consent Process.

You may need a resource consent if you’re planning to:

• construct a new building or make additions or alterations to an existing building
• change a building’s or property’s use
• subdivide a property
• prune, remove or work near a protected tree
• carry out earthworks
• erect a sign

Before you start any activity that may affect your neighbours, your wider community or the environment, please consider contacting Kaikōura District Council and speaking with a Planning Officer regarding your proposal.

See the District Plan here

Read more about resource consents here.

If you need approval for building work on land subject to natural hazards or construction over two or more allotments, please use the forms in this link which have been approved by the Registrar-General of land. Read about Natural Hazards in Kaikōura in the Natural Hazards chapter in our District Plan.

This type of building work affects a building’s essential structures, foundations or safety. Restricted Building Work (RBW) must be carried out by or overseen by a Licensed building Practitioner (LBP). LBP’s are builders who are required to keep their skills and knowledge up to date and have been independently assessed within their field of work. Read more about restricted building work on the Government's building website here. Read more about Licensed Building Practitioners and find one by visiting the LBP website here.

A project information memorandum (PIM) is a report that outlines any information or special features of the land, as well as regulatory requirements that may impact/be relevant to building on that site. The report is prepared by Council and provides a basis of information for all parties involved in the project.

Click on this link to find out more about PIM's & why you need one

A producer statement is a professional opinion based on sound judgement and specialist expertise. It is not a product warranty or guarantee of compliance. If a producer statement is supplied with your building consent such as an engineer’s PS1 and the engineer has stated they will undertake site inspections to verify their design then this forms part of your approved building consent. Read more about producer statements here.

The purpose of swimming pool legislation is to prevent young children from drowning in residential swimming pools. The legislation considers a pool to be anything with a maximum depth of water of 400mm or more. Anything greater than 5m2 also has special requirements - this covers most large spa pools.

We have provided lots of helpful information in our Swimming Pool FAQ's, including Self Audit Checklists. Check out the FAQ's here

Council has twenty working days to process a building consent. We will notify the owner the decision on whether the consent has been accepted or declined.

If Council makes a request for more information, the processing time frame is paused (the statutory time clock is stopped) until all of the information requested is received. Once all information is received, the statutory clock is restarted. The clock is reduced to 10 working days if the building that you are proposing has a MultiProof approval. More information about MultiProof

We process your application to ensure that we are satisfied (on reasonable grounds) that the provisions of the building code will be met if the building work is properly completed in accordance with the plans and specifications.

See our Processing your Building consent webpage for more information.

Read about the Building Consent Authority complaints policy here, and if you would like to lodge a complaint about the Building Consent Authority contact us.

Remember, if you are altering the building with upgrades, you are required to carry out the upgrading work throughout the whole building, not just individual components.

There are special circumstances that Council may grant an application allowing alteration without the building complying with current provisions of the Building Code (for example, if the alterations will improve the safety aspects of the building).

If you're making alterations to an existing building, section 112 of the Building Act 2004 has to be considered.

Section 112 (1) of the Act requires Council, as the Building Consent Authority, to be satisfied that after the alterations the building will comply, as nearly as is reasonably practicable, with the current provisions of the Building Code.

These aspects relate to things such as:

• Means of escape from fire
• Access and facilities for persons with disabilities (if this is a requirement in terms of section 118)
• Continued compliance with the other provisions of the Building Code to at least the same extent as before the alteration.

To be satisfied that consideration of Section 112 has been undertaken, Council will assess the extent to which the proposed upgrade will be effective to bring the building to the relevant Building Code standards.

As part of the building consent application, building owners will need to provide an evaluation of:

• What should be in the building to satisfy 1 and 2 above (as if this building was new)
• What is currently in the building
• What is proposed to bring this building toward the standard required by items 1 and 2 above

The evaluation should also detail the benefits and sacrifices required, so Council can consider what is ‘reasonably practicable’.

Read more about altering an existing building here.

Each building in New Zealand is legally categorised into different ‘uses’ which are dependent on how spaces within the building are used.

A change of use occurs when all or some of the building changes category(s). This must be approved by the Council, unless you can provide written notice that the current use category is sufficient in relation to safety and access. It must also always comply with the Building Code.

It is important that you inform the Council and apply for consent for any change of use.

Section 115 of the Building Act 2004 will apply when changing the use of a building. This section ensures that when changing the use of a building, the current building stock is being upgraded toward the current provisions of the Building Code, specifically relating to:

• Means of escape from fire, along with protection of other property, sanitary facilities, structural performance, and fire-rating performance
• Facilities for persons with disabilities (if this is a requirement in terms of section 118)
• Continued compliance with the other provisions of the Building Code to at least the same extent as before the change of use

In the same way, Council will need to assess the extent to which the proposed upgrade will be effective to bring the building to the relevant Building Code standards.

As part of the building consent application, building owners will need to provide an evaluation of:

• What should be in the building to satisfy 1 and 2 above as if this building was new
• What is currently in the building
• What is proposed to bring this building toward the standard required by items 1 and 2 above.

The evaluation should also detail the benefits and sacrifices required so Council can consider what is ‘reasonably practicable’.

You also need to let Council know if you intend to subdivide land in a way that affects a building – e.g. if you are dividing a large house into multiple units see the question below on Subdividing (section 116A).

You must give written notice to the Council if you intend to change the use of a building or extend the life of a building that has a specified intended life and if you plan to make changes that will in anyway impact a building other than your own.

Some buildings have a specified intended lifespan, either due to code compliance inadequacies or because they were constructed to be temporary buildings. When a building consent is issued on a building like this, it is subject to the condition that it be altered, demolished or removed before the end of its life.

However, Council can approve an ‘extension of life’ if satisfied that the building can continue to perform for a longer period. If you would like to extend the life of a building, you’ll need to provide Council with written notice. Read more on extension to specified life here.

To be issued a certificate for subdivision affecting a building, Council must be certain that every provision of the Building Code is met (such as escape from fire, access for people with disabilities, if needed, and protection of other property).

You must give written notice to Council if you intend to change the use of a building, extend the life of a building that has a specified intended life, and if you plan to subdivide in a way that impacts a building other than yours.

Read more about change of use, alterations and extension of life here.