What is a Building Consent?

A Building Consent is written authority from the Council to carry out the building work described in the application.  A Building Consent is issued for building work that Council considers will comply with the Building Code providing it is constructed in accordance with the details submitted.

Who needs one? 

Anyone who wishes to carry out building work including any temporary or permanent, movable or immovable structure (including swimming pool fences) and its service connections requires a Building Consent.  This also includes temporary structures such as marquees. Some work is exempt from requiring a Building Consent however must still be constructed to comply.  This includes, fences up to 2m high (other than swimming pool fences), retaining walls up to 1.5m high carrying ground load only and small garden sheds less than 10 metres² and less than the height of building away from boundary.

Why do you need one? 

You are required to obtain a Building Consent to prove to Council that the building work, when completed, will comply with the Building Act.  The Building Act exists to ensure that people who use buildings can do so safely and without endangering their health, to ensure buildings have attributes that contribute appropriately to the health, physical independence, and well-being of the people who use them, to ensure people who use a building can escape from the building in the case of a fire and to ensure buildings are designed, constructed, and able to be used in ways that promote sustainable development. 

Where do you apply? 

You need to lodge your Building Consent Application package with the Building Department at Ashburton District Council, located at 5 Baring Square West, Ashburton.  You may also lodge your application by post; however it is preferred that you lodge it in person to ensure the package is complete.  A fee deposit is also payable at this stage. This is explained further on in this booklet.

Building Consent application forms can be found here – Building Consent Application Forms

What will the Council do with your application?

Once you have submitted your application and paid the fee deposit, the application will be entered into the Council’s computer system and be assigned a Building Consent number.  Council then has a period of 20 working days in which to assess the details of the application to make sure that all aspect of the proposed building work comply with the Building Code and the Building Act.  If, after you have submitted the application, Council requires further information, the period will be paused until you provide the information.  When Council is satisfied that the proposed building work complies, a Building Consent will be granted.  The Building Consent may include conditions on some aspects of the work, and will also include a list of Council Inspections required during construction.  (The inspection process is explained further on in this booklet.)  The building work must be started within 6 months after the consent is granted.  Reasonable progress must be made within 12 months and the work must be completed within 2 years.  It is important to keep this in mind when determining timing of your project or your Building Consent could lapse.

Cost

The cost of your Building Consent varies depending on the amount and type of work that is being carried out.  Generally the cost of processing a building consent is time-based.  The quality of the information provided at the time of application will affect the overall fees (i.e. low quality drawings and details will take longer to process, raising the cost).

The fee you will pay for your Building Consent is made up of the following:

• Council’s fee for processing the application. 
  Generally includes processing and administration time as well as an estimated number of on-site inspections.  The amount that you pay on application is a deposit based on the amount of time expected, as gauged from similar projects.  If the amount of time involved varies from that expected (including any extra inspections) you may have to pay a little extra or you may receive a refund of the unused portion of the fee.
  
  
• Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) Levy
  Calculated at $1.00 per $1,000 of the project value for buildings of value over $20,000.
  
  
• Department of Building and Housing Levy
  Calculated at $1.97 per $1,000 of the project value for buildings of value over $20,000.
  
  
• Headworks and community infrastructure levies may apply to some projects.