FAQs

MBIE has guidance on what work can be done without consent. Please see MBIE's website to help you determine if a building consent is required. Please note that it is up to the owner to check that the proposed work fits within the scope of the exemption criteria, and all work must comply with the Building Code.

To make a building consent application, you will require the following documents;

• Form 2 Building Consent Application 
• Application Checksheets
• Proof of ownership
• Plans, Specifications, Supporting Documents etc.
• Certificate of design work (if applicable)

You can apply for building consent by submitting all the relevant documents using our online Community Portal.

We recommend that you engage an experienced professional (e.g. an architect or draughts person) to help with the design work, drawings and supporting documentation before applying for a building consent.

See more information on our Building Consents webpage.

All public buildings, and most buildings where people are employed, are required to provide access and facilities to enable all of the population to use the building. This is directly related to one the purposes of the Building Act: “buildings have attributes that contribute appropriately to the health, physical independence and well-being of the people who use them”.

Please refer to Section 118 of the Building Act - particularly Schedule 2 which lists the building types that this applies to. A common area where RFIs are raised is section (z) other buildings, premises, or facilities to which the public are to be admitted, whether for free or on payment of a charge. To achieve compliance you may choose to use the acceptable solutions, cited standard NZS 4121:2001 or alternative solutions.

• Schedule 2 – Building Act 2004
• NZS 4121:2001 Design for access and mobility: buildings and associated facilities
  

A building consent is required to install or move solid or liquid fuel heaters.  The building consent needs to be issued before you can install the fireplace. 

To apply for a building consent for a fireplace, you will require the following documentation:

• Form 2 Building Consent Application 
• CS19SFLH Solid Fuel or Liquid Heater Checksheet
• Proof of ownership
• Full floor plans showing the location of the fire and smoke detectors.  Diesel tank location if applicable (we may have plans for your property you can access on eDocs)
• Elevations, sections and other details depending on whether you are installing/modifying a flue or chimney or making alterations to accommodate the new fireplace
• Product specifications including flue and flashing details
• Plumbing schematic for wetbacks
• You will need to make sure that your proposed fire will also meet the clean air requirements regulated by the Otago Regional Council (ORC). For more information, see ORC's Updated Guide to the Rules for Discharges from Domestic Heating Appliances in Otago (PDF, 74.3KB)

Apply for building consent by submitting documents using our online Community Portal. In some cases, we may accept hardcopy applications at the counter.

Information on fees can be found on our Building Services Fees and Calculator 

In order to split part of the work from your current building consent to a new building consent, you will need to make two applications simultaneously.

1. Apply for a new building consent using our Form 2 Building Consent Application Form to ‘split’ the work that is not yet completed onto its own application.  The description of work should clearly describe the scope of work that is being ‘split’ and reference the existing BC number. Updated plans clearly identifying what work is to be included on the new consent need to be provided.
2. Apply for a minor variation on the existing consent to remove the work covered above from the existing building consent using the Minor Variation Application Form listed below.  Again, updated plans will be required to show the revised scope of work.

There is an initial set fee for split consents. Information on fees can be found in our Building Consent Initial Fee Calculator & Fees List

There are two types of changes that can be made to building work under a Building Consent - Amendments and Minor Variations.

Please use below self-assessment tool to understand what the correct pathway is to process the change to your consented documents.

To learn more about Amendments and Minor Variations, go to our website: Building Consents - QLDC - Amendments and Minor Variations

A discretionary exemption allows QLDC, as the Territorial Authority, to approve certain building work under an exemption, that would otherwise require a building consent.  Generally, this pathway is suitable for low risk or minor works where the building consent process may be overly onerous. Please refer to the application form for guidance on the types of applications we consider for a discretionary exemption.   

Please note that all applications still need to be accompanied by plans and/or specifications appropriate for the scope of works and approval is required before building work commences.  No inspections are undertaken by QLDC, so it is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that all work complies with the Building Code.

Under Schedule 1 (exemption 9.2), a building consent is not required for the means of restricting access on a small heated pool, such as a spa pool, where a safety cover is used and the pool has a water surface area of 5 square metres or less. The top surface of every wall of the pool must be at least 760mm above the adjacent floor or ground at all points and the walls of the pool must be non-climbable.

If the cover used does not comply with Building Code clause F9.3.5, it is not considered to be a safety cover.

For a safety cover to comply with F9.3.5 it must:

• restrict the entry of children when closed (i.e. held in place with straps fitted with lockable snap fasteners or metal padlocks.)
• be able to withstand a reasonably foreseeable load (i.e. capable of supporting a vertical point load of 20kg.)
• be able to be readily returned to the closed position
• have signage indicating its child safety features.

Where a small heated pool has a safety cover, it also does not need to be inspected every three years as fencing to other residential pools are (section 162D of the Building Act 2004).

More information can be found on our website: Building Services - Residential swimming and spa pools.

Roof mounted - If photo voltaic solar panels are being attached to a roof of a building then this (like any heat pump) is just energy work, covered under section 43 Building Act.

• Building consent not required for energy work

Ground mounted - There are size limits for standalone structures in relation to private solar power generation.  The electrical work remains exempt from building consent under the Building Act but the below link has information on size limitation for the structural frame of an array of panels.

• Schedule 1 Exemptions - Other Structures

Please note that it is up to the owner to check that the proposed work fits within the scope of the exemption criteria, and all work must comply with the Building Code. 

Further guidance can be found on the MBIE website.

• Do you need a building consent? (canibuildit.govt.nz)
• Exempt building work guidance | Building Performance

No Building consent required

• Like for like Bathroom renovations (e.g. tiled shower being refreshed with tile shower)
• Proprietary shower unit changed to waterproofed tiled shower – schedule 1 exemption 12 as per determination 2024-054
• Not Mandatory to notify council but your clients can update the property files if they like using below Notification of Building Work Owner Decided Exemption Form.

Building consent Exemption application

• For isolated new bathrooms where bathrooms didn’t exist previously and that is only scope of works
• Basic plan and specification required to accompany the application for TA exemption using the Building Consent Exemption Application Form
• Information on fees can be found in our Building Consent Initial Fee Calculator & Fees List

The Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) process only came into effect on 1 July 1992 under the Building Act. If your property was built before then, it won't be eligible for a CCC. However, there should be inspection notes in the property file which can be viewed on eDocs by searching the property address, and looking under the property information tab. 

With prior approval, 3rd party inspections or other evidence in support of compliance, may be accepted in lieu of an inspection by QLDC.

Please complete below 3rd Party Inspection Application Form and upload the application via our Community Portal. A building officer will review the application and notify the outcome via email.  The applicant is to receive the approved waiver before undertaking the building work.

See our guidance document below and information on our website: Building Services - Certify (CCC)

A Certificate for Public Use (CPU) means premises intended for public use meet minimum safety requirements to open before a Code Compliance Certificate is obtained.  A CPU can be granted if the inspected premises (or part of) are determined safe for members of the public to use, and the required application and supporting documentation support this.

To begin the process of applying for a CPU:

• complete a CPU application form 
• complete the CPU application checklist 
• upload the application with any supporting documentation via our Community Portal. 

Further information may be requested as part of the initial processing of the application.  When all information has been received, you will be advised to book a CPU inspection.

The application process and request for inspection booking takes time. It should be considered well ahead of intended opening. 

More information is available on our website: Building Services - CPU

Yes.

Planning and Resource Consent questions (e.g. setbacks, recession planes etc.), please contact: 

dutyplanner@qldc.govt.nz

RM Engineering enquiries/issues for QLDC service questions please contact:

engineeringapprovals@qldc.govt.nz 

QLDC has an online library called eDocs where all building consent and resource consent files can be viewed.  The first time you use the website, you will need to register with an email address and password to login. 

By registering for our online service, eDocs, you can access all publicly available documentation related to a property or consent application.

To create an account, simply register using your email address and choose a password. 

Once registered and logged in, you can search by property address, property ID or valuation numbers (from your rates invoice) or application number.

Helpful tips for more effective searching:

• When searching by application number, enter the letters and numbers without spaces (e.g., BC250000)
• If the property spans multiple street numbers, include both numbers in the search (e.g., 122–123 Remarkables Road)
• If the property has recently been subdivided and no documents appear for the new address, the records may still be listed under the parent property. In this case, click the blue box labelled “Created From” in the top left corner to be redirected to the original property. 
• The same applies in reverse—if you're searching an older address and no documents are found, click the blue box labelled “Developed Into” in the top left corner to be redirected to the new property

We don't provide maps for the wind zones. This is site specific and requires knowledge of the site and the surrounding areas. NZS3604 section 5 provides a simple method of working it out, or alternatively BRANZ provide maps which are a useful online tool.

• BRANZ Maps

The council has no specific bylaw or policy relating to tiny homes. Instead, criteria under the Building Act are assessed against the ‘Tiny Home’.

Each proposal is usually bespoke, which makes every situation different in terms of how each one might be assessed.  Generally speaking, if it’s clear that the tiny home is easily and readily movable, then it isn’t a building under the Building Act and like a caravan no building consent is required.

The ‘Tiny Home’ will also be assessed under the District Plan (which falls under the Resource Management Act).  The definition of a building under the District Plan does include caravans and the like if occupied or intended to be occupied for more 2 months, and therefore need to comply with planning rules e.g. setback and height plain requirements and resource consent maybe required for the activity.

If you have questions on the planning side of things, please contact:

dutyplanner@qldc.govt.nz

Please see the QLDC Tiny Home fact sheet for further information:

• Tiny Home Factsheet

MBIE also have guidance on their website:

• MBIE Tiny Home Guidance

If you are not familiar with the Building Act and compliance with the Building Code, we recommend you engage an experienced professional to assist you. 

When constructed, non-habitable spaces (e.g. garages) do not have to meet the same requirements as a dwelling under the NZ Building Code. For example, garages may not have damp proof membranes or insulation fitted, and if they are detached standalone buildings, they can typically be constructed to a lesser standard.

If you are converting a non-habitable space (e.g. a garage) to a habitable space (e.g. a bedroom), you will need to consider how it complies with the requirements of the Building Code – for example in relation to weathertightness, ventilation, natural light, energy efficiency (insulation) etc. 

Alterations are considered under Section 112 of the Building Act.

We suggest you engage a designer or similar to look at the proposal and offer further advice. 

If you are proposing to change the use of the building from a single household unit to a multi-unit, then you will need to first understand if there are any gaps in compliance.

Compliance with the intertenancy provisions of the Building Code starting with fire C1-C6, acoustics G6, accidental overflow E3 would need to be demonstrated.

As this is a change of use under the Building Change of Use Regulations from SH (sleeping single home) to SR (sleeping residential), you would also need to consider Section 115 of the Building Act with regards to change of use.

We suggest you engage a designer or similar to look at the proposal and do a gap analysis on compliance with the relevant parts of the Building Code.