Before you start your building project, visit www.building.govt.nz. It has all the information you need to make sure that buildings that are safe, healthy and durable. You will also find more useful links at the end of this page.
Acceptable Solutions C/AS1 and C/AS2 were amended in November 2023 with a 12-month transition period that will end in November 2024.
They require interconnected smoke alarms in all new household units and homes where there are renovations that require a building consent, or a change of use.
The Acceptable Solutions cite NZS 4514: 2021 for the installation of alarms. With interconnected alarms, when one smoke alarm detects smoke, all alarms will sound. Models that connect wirelessly are available.
Check if you need a building consent [building.govt.nz] and see if your planned work is exempt: building work consent not required [building.govt.nz]. If your proposed work is not exempt then you will need to apply for a building consent.
If you’re not sure, phone us on (04) 237 5089 to book a pre-lodgement appointment and bring your application documents and plans with you. For commercial building work, we recommend booking in for a pre-lodgement meeting.
Contact us by email: [email protected] or phone us on (04) 237 5089 to make an appointment.
Porirua City Council now has building consents applications available online:
When you are ready, follow the link and create an account. This is an email-verified account so is simple to do. You have the choice of signing in to it as an individual or an organisation. The organisation option allows you to have your work notifications going through that account and personal ones through a personal email.
Help tips are located throughout the application – simply hover over the question mark icons to find useful links and descriptions.
You can save your application at any stage and you are able share your application with other users, such as your architect or builder.
All documents need to be submitted in unzipped pdf format. Don’t lock or password protect your pdf files. Zipped files are not able to be uploaded.
The documents need to be collated into the below categories. If you are unable to manipulate pdfs from the software you are using, try searching Google. There are many cheap or free pdf printing tools that can be downloaded to assist you.
Application documents
Plans
(examples only not an exhaustive list)
Architectural plans
Structural plans
Specifications
(examples only not an exhaustive list)
Architectural specifications
Structural specifications
Supporting documents
(examples only not an exhaustive list)
Checksheets
There are a number of check sheets available to assist with preparing your application which you can download and include with your supporting documents.
Commercial property? More information on Commercial consents can be located here
Submitting a good quality consent application can be a complicated process, so consider getting help from a professional. Use the forms and guides for your type of building work and make sure to include the relevant checksheet with your application.
Check the advice about preparing quality drawings for help with your plans.
We need one copy of your application and originals of all drawings, specifications and supporting documents.
You can apply for a project information memorandum (PIM) using the Application for Building Consent form.
Producer statements are only accepted from registered chartered professional engineers. Professional opinions, design and construction statements may be accepted. Opinions and statements need to be dated and clearly specify information such as:
(1) the scope of work that they cover and any limitations
(2) where they relate to
(3) the author’s name/signature and any qualification or registration details. Acceptance of opinions and statements is on a case-by-case basis, so please contact us to discuss.
Paper application? Use Application for Building Consent Form 250
For a better customer experience, use the customer portal to lodge your building consent
There are a number of checksheets available to assist with preparing your application. Complete the relevant checksheets and include it with your application.
Restricted building work guides and forms for residential building consents
‘Restricted building work’ is work that’s critical to make a home structurally sound and weathertight. You must use Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) to design and carry out this work. Below are a number of useful forms and links. Find out more restricted building work
We no longer require a deposit with your application. An invoice will be generated once your building consent has been processed. We will send request for payment directly to your nominated payer. Once paid we will issue your building consent. Please be aware if you withdraw your application you will be charged for the Officers time and a cancellation administration fee.
Unsure if you are ready to submit your application? Phone our Customer Services Centre on (04) 237 5089 to make an appointment for a pre-lodgement meeting. They will take your details for one of our building team.
We will contact you prior to meeting, as often we are able to resolve any questions over the phone. If your project is more complex, the caller will book your appointment with you immediately.
Use our online portal for all building related applications
Once your application has been submitted a Building Compliance Officer (BCO) will vet it for completeness and accept it.
Alternatively you can drop or post your building consent to:
Customer Services Centre, 16 Cobham Court, Porirua 5240
or
PO Box 50218, Porirua 5240
Your application takes up to 20 working days to process.
We’ll contact you if we need more information to process your application, and pause the 20-day clock. The clock will restart when we receive a complete response to our request. Find out about requests for information.
Building consent charges depends on the type of application, cost of work involved and the level of detail provided. We will not issue a consent until all fees and levies are paid. Charges are based on the length of time it takes to process an application and include costs such as:
2024/25 fee list
| Hourly charge-out rate | |
|---|---|
| Technical processing | 225.00 |
| Inspections | 225.00 |
| Administration | 159.00 |
|
Scanning/copying fee when application is in hard copy only |
159.00 |
| External specialist advice | Actual cost |
| Minor works | |
|---|---|
| Heating units (fixed fee) | 672.00 |
| Plumbing/drainage (under $10k) | 672.00 |
| Other fees and charges | |
|---|---|
| Notice to Fix (per hour) | 225.00 |
| Fire Service review | Actual cost |
|
Structural/fire engineering/other consultation review |
Actual cost |
|
Certificate of Acceptance application fee only (processing and inspections will be charged at $225 per hour) |
1,575.00 |
| Application for amendment (per hour) | 225.00 |
|
Certificate of Public Use (includes 1 hour processing and 1 site visit) |
672.00 |
|
Additional or follow-up inspections/actions relating to building compliance (per hour) |
225.00 |
| Extension of time (fixed fee) | 112.00 |
| Code Compliance Certificate application fee | 450.00 |
|
Building Warrant of Fitness annual review/issue compliance schedule: |
|
|
· 1–2 specified systems |
112.00 (time after half hour will be an additional 225.00 per hour) |
|
· 3–7 specified systems |
225.00 (time after 1 hour will be an additional 225.00 per hour) |
|
· 8–12 specified systems |
337.00 (time after 1.5 hours will be an additional $225 per hour) |
|
· >13 specified systems |
450.00 (time after 2 hours will be an additional 225.00 per hour) |
|
Building Warrant of Fitness/swimming pool audit (per hour) |
225.00 |
| Amendment to Compliance Schedule (per hour) | 225.00 |
|
Inspection for Compliance Schedule/Building Warrant of Fitness audit (per inspection) |
225.00 |
|
Lapse or cancellation of building consent (fixed fee) |
225.00 |
| Isolated assessments/reports | |
|---|---|
| Producer statements – assessment (per hour) | 225.00 |
| Dangerous and Insanitary Notice (per hour) | 225.00 |
| B2 modification waivers (fixed fee) | 345.00 |
| Statistics report | 65.00 |
Payment options
The following payment methods are available to make Payment:
When your application is accepted the statutory time frame (or statutory clock) of 20 working days for processing your application starts on the next working day.
We aim to make a decision on your building consent within 20 working days.
However, during the processing of your application, the statutory clock stops if we need to send you a request for information (RFI). Typically, this will be for missing information.
Once all the information is provided the statutory clock will be started again and processing of the application will resume. We then make a decision on whether to grant or refuse your building consent.
To grant a building consent, we must be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the provisions of the Building Code would be met if the building work were properly completed in accordance with the plans and specifications that accompanied the application. We are not required to grant a consent until all fees and levies are paid.
When we are satisfied on reasonable grounds that your proposal/application meets the requirements of the Building Act 2004 and Building Code, your building consent will be granted. All fees must be paid prior to issuing your building consent. The approved consent pack will include the stamped plans, specifications and supporting documents.
We’ll tell you about any restrictions or requirements associated with the consent.
Consent conditions and advice notes
All consents are issued with the condition that agents authorised by the building consent authority can inspect the building work (during normal working hours). Other conditions can be added for:
If your project also requires a resource consent, the building consent may be issued with a notice that work is not to start until the resource consent is also issued.
We will do a check of all applications for a building consent to see if the proposed project meets District Plan requirements.
We check for compliance with bylaws and other legislation for items such as vehicle access, connections to reticulated services (water, sewer and stormwater) and, in the case of commercial premises, matters such as food licences, alcohol licensing and trade waste.
We’ll also check easements and consent notices that are recorded on the Record of Title. Interests registered on titles, such as covenants, easements and consent notices, generally list restrictions that pertain to a property that may impact on design. We strongly suggest that designers obtain and check these documents so that any relevant information can be incorporated into the design.
New vehicle access – Any building which requires a new vehicle access must be approved by us. A detailed plan showing the location of the proposed access will need to be supplied with your application.
What about a resource consent? Some proposals require a land use resource consent. If you are unsure if your proposal requires a resource consent, you can discuss the details with our Resource Consents planners first.
Referral to Fire and Emergency NZ
Some applications are required by law to be sent to the Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) for review.
Applications required to be reviewed by FENZ are:
The council will need to advise Heritage New Zealand - Pouhere Taonga if a project information memorandum and/or building consent application is received that affects either :
that has been entered on the New Zealand Heritage List / Rārangi Kōrero.
Once your consent has been issued you have 12 months to start your building work and you should aim to finish the work and apply for a code compliance certificate within two years from the date the building consent was granted. It is a legal requirement for council to make a decision on whether to grant or refuse Code Compliance Certificate after two years from the time of granting the consent.
We’ll tell you what inspections are required during the project. Ensure you have read the inspection requirements and are familiar with them before commencing work. Missed inspections may mean that a code compliance certificate cannot be issued.
When you have completed your building work you need to apply for a code compliance certificate.
The application fee for the code compliance certificate is included in your building consent deposit however before it is issued we will review your account to include any additional inspection fees, amendments, developer contributions etc.
This will be reconciled with your earlier payments and we will either send an invoice which must be paid prior to it being issued or if no further payments are required, or a refund is due, the refund will be actioned and your code compliance certificate will be issued.
To apply for your Code Compliance Certificate you can either:
A building consent lapses and is of no effect if the building work does not commence within 12 months after the date of issue. We can allow this period to be extended before the consent lapses, on receipt of an application for an extension of time.
More information on Commercial building consents can be located here
A MultiProof consent is a building consent for a standardised design that is intended to be replicated many times. MultiProof approvals are issued by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.
MultiProof is a statement by the Department that a specific set of building plans and specifications complies with the New Zealand Building Code. Under the Building Act 2004 (as amended in 2009), Building Consent Authorities must accept a MultiProof as evidence of Building Code compliance.
A building consent is still needed for a building with MultiProof approval.
The role of Building Consent Authorities is to:
The Council has 10 working days to issue a MultiProof building consent. Based on information from Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment website.
A Certificate for Public Use allows premises affected by building work to be used by the public.
It is an offence to allow the public use or occupation of a building if a building consent is required for work or code compliance certificate for consented work has not been obtained.
Despite this a building (or part of a building) may be used or occupied by the public if a certificate for public use has been issued. We have 20 working days to decide if the certificate can be issued.
Note: this form is for paper hard copy applications only. You can apply for a certificate for public use via the customer portal.
