Apply for a building consent

If you’ve never applied for a building consent before, you may find it a time-consuming and complex process. We recommend that you:

• ask a professional – such as an architect, engineer or builder – to prepare the design, drawings, specifications and documentation, and apply for a consent on your behalf. This is the approach that most people take
• get in touch with us to arrange a pre-application meeting, We highly recommend this for any commercial or complex residential projects
• read our guide to getting a building consent (PDF 229 kb) – it covers most of the things you need to know
• use our online building consent application guidance
• familiarise yourself with your obligations under the New Zealand Building Code and the Building Act 2004. Your building consent and your building project must comply with their requirements.

You will need to supply all of the documentation relating to the proposed work when you apply for a building consent through Objective Build. If there is information missing, we may consider declining to accept your application under section 45 of the Building Act 2004.

The minimum information required is:

• A completed and signed application form (completed in Objective Build)
• Plans and specifications
• Any other information that the building consent authority reasonably requires (supporting documents)
• Fees – all fees are invoiced after acceptance of you application
• The PIM if one has previously been issued
• A list of the specified systems (if any)
• The names of each Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) undertaking or supervising restricted building work
• Certificate of design work if the work includes restricted building work.

To accompany your application, you will need to consider providing

• A completed checklist for your project, such as one for:
  • multi-residential, industrial and commercial buildings (PDF 333 kb)
  • single residential houses (PDF 171 kb)
  • wood burners (PDF 110 kb)
  • building relocations (PDF 173 kb)
  • temporary buildings (PDF 149 kb)
• Proof of ownership, such as the property's Certificate of Title, dated within 3 months. Don’t have a copy? You can request we access this for you for a small additional fee.

The plans you provide could include:

• architectural plans
• structural plans
• mechanical plans
• landscaping plans.

Please make sure that all plans are provided in a clear, easy to read format, landscape orientation and are no larger than A1 in size.

The specifications documents can include those for:

• Manufacturer product data/specifications, including any appraisals/certifications
• Plumbing and drainage information
• Structural specifications
• Mechanical services

The supporting documents include those that support your application and are not covered by the other categories. They include:

• Structural engineering design package including producer statement/s, calculations, inspection schedules certifying the completed works will comply with the New Zealand Building Code.
• Reports, such as fire, accessibility, geo-technical
• A copy of the Fire Engineering Brief (FEB), if applicable
  • Refer to the applicable checklist for any other relevant information.

For further information on building consent application documentation - Building Performance Documentation Guidance

In most cases, your architect, designer or builder will act as your agent and lodge the building consent application on your behalf.

However if you feel comfortable doing this yourself, you can do so.

When you have all of the required documentation and are ready to lodge your application, you can do so through Objective Build.

Once we have completed a vetting check to confirm we have received a complete application, we will send you an initial invoice for the fees for your application via Objective Build

This invoice may include:

• Our  initial fee for  administration time, processing time, a specified number of inspections  and issuing the code compliance certificate for the proposed work.
  • If more time or inspections than is stated is taken, additional fees will be charged before the building consent or Code Compliance Certificate is r issued.
• Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and BRANZ levies
• BCA accreditation levy
• Compliance Schedule fee

To see our fees list and use our potential fee calculator

To make a payment, go to your application in Objective Build to see the payment methods.

While Objective Build provides a one-stop for our main application types, not all of our services are provided through the Objective platform.

If you cannot find what you want to apply for through Build, please lodge it below and our team will be in touch with you via email.

https://kiteworks.huttcity.govt.nz/form/property#/