Building Consents

A building consent is required for most building work. 

What is a building consent?

Building consent is approval from the Council for building work to be done at a specific site.  It ensures that the work is structurally sound, plumbing and drainage is sanitary and that minimum fire standards have been met.

Work carried out without a building consent is illegal and could put people or your property at risk.  It could also affect your insurance cover or property sale negotiations.

When do you need a building consent?

Building consent is required for most building work, for example:

• New buildings and alterations/extensions to existing buildings.
• Swimming pools – removing an inground pool or installing a swimming/spa/paddling pool with a depth of 400mm or more.  This includes alterations to a swimming pool.
• Retaining walls, garages and carports.
• Some decks and fences.
• Plumbing and drainage work.
• Heating (including fire places), ventilation and air conditioning systems.
• Demolition work.
• Relocation or change of use of buildings.
• Replacing a roof with a different material than what is currently there.
• Locating your hot water cylinder in another position.
• Some shade sails.
• Solar panels.

Some work is exempt from needing a building consent.  If you are unsure, please contact a duty planner at Lakes Environmental, phone 03 450 0300 (Queenstown) or 03 443 0006 (Wanaka) or email enquiries@lakesenv.co.nz

How to get a building consent

Please complete the application form in full and provide all of the necessary associated information.

>> Building consent application forms

Submit your application to Lakes Environmental, Private Bag 50077, Queenstown 9348.