Building Consent Authority Accreditation

Under the Building Act 2004, a Building Consent Authority (BCA):

• Issues Building Consents, but not if a Building Consent is required to be subject to a waiver or modification of the Building Code

• Inspects building work for which it has granted a building consent

• Issues Notices to Fix

• Issues Code Compliance Certificates (CCCs)

• Issues Compliance Schedules

Under the Building Act 2004, a Territorial Authority (TA):

• Performs the functions of a Building Consent Authority (BCA)

• Issues Project Information Memoranda (PIMs)

• Grants exemptions under clause 2 of Schedule 1

• Grants waivers and modifications of the Building Code

• Issues Certificates of Acceptance

• Issues and amends Compliance Schedules

• Administers annual Building Warrants of Fitness (BWOFs)

• Enforces the provisions relating to annual Building Warrants of Fitness

• Decides the extent to which buildings must comply with the Building Code when:

  • They are altered; or

  • Their use is changed; or

  • Their specified intended life changes

• Performs functions relating to dangerous, earthquake-prone, or insanitary buildings

• Enforces duties or obligations under Section 162C where residential pools must have means of restricting access

Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has maintained its ‘low risk’ status following a successful International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) assessment. This accreditation positions the BCA team as one of the most compliant BCAs in Aotearoa New Zealand and is in place from October 2021 until October 2023.