Building a deck

Find out if and when you need building consent for building a deck on your property.

When you need a building consent for a deck

You only need a building consent for decks, platforms, bridges, boardwalks and similar structures where someone can fall more than 1.5 meters.

Safety barriers

Under Building Code clause F4, you must have a safety barrier on structures where there is a fall of 1 meter and more.

What needs consent

  1. You want to build a platform with a height above ground level of 1.7 meters. You also need a safety barrier as there could be a fall of 1 meter or more. You'll need a building consent.
  2. You have an apartment complex and you want to provide outdoor decks to the apartments on the upper levels. You also need a safety barrier as there could be a fall of 1 meter or more. You'll need a building consent.

What doesn't need consent

  1. You build a low-level deck to create a level entry to your house. The deck has a maximum height of 500 mm above ground level. You don't need building consent because the fall would be less than 1.5 meters.
  2. You build a 50 square meter deck attached to two sides of your house. It has a maximum height of 900 mm above ground so even if it were to collapse, the fall would be less than 1.5 meters.
  3. You want to build a boardwalk across some rough ground to give your tenants access to a garden. The highest point of the boardwalk is 1.5 meters above the ground with a safety barrier is installed on both sides.

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