Demolishing or relocating a house

Find out what consents you may need if you're demolishing or relocating a house in Lower Hutt.

Rules around demolishing buildings

If the building is detached and not more than three storeys high, you don't need a building consent to demolish the building.

You’ll need a building consent if you’re planning to demolish a building that is:

  • attached to another building, or
  • more than three storeys high.

You'll also need to:

  • terminate all services such as water, sewer and stormwater connections
  • let providers of services such as electricity, gas, water and telecommunications know about the demolition works
  • handle correctly and dispose of hazardous materials, including asbestos
  • control silt or runoff, excess noise and dust
  • secure the site with barriers to restrict public access and avoid injury to the public.

Depending on whether the project involves any site earthworks, and on the type and structure of the building, you may also need to get a resource consent.

As well as our standard resource consent application requirements, your application must include:

  • photographs of the building being relocated
  • details of any trees or other buildings you plan to remove as part of the relocation work
  • details of any planned changes to the building structure
  • details of how you will comply with District Plan specifications for distance from boundaries, height and so on.

If a demolition requires a resource consent, for example when demolishing a heritage building, then the demolition will also require a building consent.

Before you apply

Talk to us before you apply for a consent. We can talk you through the process and let you know what you have to do.

How to apply

When you apply for a building consent, you’ll need to provide:

  • a completed checklist (PDF  94 kb)
  • a site plan identifying the building to be demolished
  • a drainage plan showing where existing services will be capped
  • the site management plan (also known as the demolition plan).

Apply now

Rules around relocating a house

If you’re planning to relocate a house in Hutt City, or to move a house on the same section, you’ll need to get your consents approved first.

You will need both resource consent and building consent to relocate a house to land zoned residential.

The house’s external appearance and structure must be reinstated to a reasonable standard, and the new location will need to comply with the District Plan.

Hutt City District Plan

Before you apply

Talk to us before you apply for a consent. We can talk you through the process and let you know what you have to do.

How to apply

When you apply for a building consent, you’ll need to provide:

  • a completed checklist (PDF  94 kb)
  • a site plan identifying the building to be demolished
  • a drainage plan showing where existing services will be capped
  • the site management plan (also known as the demolition plan).

Apply now

Contact details