Get a Code Compliance Certificate

A Code Compliance Certificate is a formal statement confirming we are satisfied that all building work has been completed in accordance with the building consent we issued. Find out how to get one.

Code Compliance Certificate (CCC)

A CCC is issued when the Council confirms that the building and plumbing work complies with:

  • The New Zealand Building Code (for consents issued before 31 March 2005), or
  • The building consent (for consents issued from 31 March 2005).

Application Process

  • If your building consent was processed in or transferred to Objective Build, apply for your CCC through Objective Build.
  • For consents predating Objective Build, complete a paper form from our list of forms and upload it to Kiteworks when prompted.

Legal Requirement Section 92 of the Building Act 2004 requires property owners to apply for a CCC once building work is completed, meaning all building inspections have been passed.

Record Keeping Compliance is recorded in Land Information Memorandums and building records for your property.

Why a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) Matters

Receiving a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) for your consented building work is official confirmation that the work has been completed in accordance with the issued building consent. This certification offers several advantages:

  • Easier Insurance: Having a CCC makes it simpler to obtain insurance for your building.
  • Securing Finance: It facilitates securing finance, as lenders are more likely to provide loans for properties with a CCC.
  • Smooth Property Sales: It can make selling your property easier, as potential buyers are more confident in the quality and compliance of the building work.

Without a CCC, you may face challenges such as difficulty obtaining insurance, reluctance from lenders to provide finance, and potential buyers being hesitant to finalise a purchase.

Finalising Your Building Project

The final step in completing a building project is obtaining a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC). The Building Control Authority (BCA) ensures that the building work has been completed in compliance with the issued building consent and the Building Code. This includes verifying that all required documents have been submitted and validated.

Follow the process outlined in Section 92 of the Building Act 2004:

  • Apply for your CCC after completing all building work and inspections.
  • We recommend applying within 24 months of your building consent being granted.

If your building consent was either processed in or transferred to Objective Build, then you should apply for your CCC through Objective Build.

If your building consent predates Objective Build you will need to complete a paper form, which can be found on our list of forms. This form can be uploaded to Kiteworks. Please upload the completed document when prompted.

When you apply for a CCC you must provide:

  • Proof of ownership
  • Records relating to any gas fitting or prescribed electrical work (energy work) that has been carried out
  • Records of work issued by licensed building practitioners that state what restricted building work they carried out or supervised

Records of work from Licensed Building Practitioners should have already been provided as they are a requirement for each building inspection.

Please ensure that all of your documents are named as per our naming conventions to make your application easier for our team to assess, ie Standard Document Naming Conventions Guidance - documents submitted with BC or CCC applications.

CCC Process

All CCC applications will be subject to a 2-stage vetting process by the CCC Processing Team.

1. Collect Your Documents and Certificates

  • Include copies of all documents and certificates from your contractors.
  • Provide evidence of ownership (e.g., record of title, lease, or sale and purchase agreement) that is less than 3 months old.

2. Complete and Submit the Form 6

3. Book Your Final Inspection

  • Schedule your final inspection as soon as all work is finished. Required inspections are listed on your building consent document.

4. Assessment of Building Work

  • Once your complete application is received, the statutory clock of 20 working days for processing begins.
  • The clock may stop if a request for information (RFI) is made and will restart once all requested information is received.
  • A decision on your CCC will be made within 20 working days.

Note: Your application may take longer if:

  • Required documents are missing.
  • Additional information is needed.
  • Extra fees need to be paid.

Refusal of Code Compliance Certificate (CCC)

We may refuse to issue a CCC due to:

  • Missing information that we requested.
  • Insufficient proof that the completed work complies with the New Zealand Building Consent and Building Code.

If your CCC is refused, we will explain the reasons in writing. Please note that processing costs still apply even if a CCC is refused.

You can reapply for a CCC at any time once you have met the application conditions and provided the required information.

Payment of outstanding fees

All outstanding fees must be paid before we can send you the CCC. These fees include:

  • any outstanding consenting or inspection fees
  • development or reserve contributions
  • MBIE or BRANZ levies.

CCC fees and how to pay

A CCC processing fee was included in your initial invoice for building consent fees.

All fees and charges will be stated on invoices issued to you by Council.  You can make payment by bank transfer, debit card or credit card. You may also pay at the counter in the Council’s office at 30 Laings Road, Lower Hutt.  Council does not charge a surcharge on credit card payments.

More information

We occasionally refuse to issue a CCC. This is usually because:

  • information that we’ve asked for hasn’t been supplied;
  • there’s not enough information to prove that the completed work complies with the New Zealand Building Consent and Building Code.

We’ll write to you and explain why we’ve refused to issue a CCC. Even if you've been refused a CCC you still have to pay for the processing costs.

If we make a decision to refuse to issue a CCC, you can still apply for a CCC at any time once you have met the CCC application conditions and provided the required information.

After your final inspection, if you do not apply for a CCC, council must make a decision whether to issue or refuse CCC at the 24-month anniversary date of granting the building consent.

If building work won't be completed within 24 months of the consent being granted, you can apply for an extension. The BCA can approve this, giving you more time to finish the work.

The decision to approve or reject your extension will be based on a review of your building progress. This may include a site visit to check the building's structural integrity, durability and weathertightness.

A compliance schedule will be issued with the CCC for a building consent that involves building work on specified systems. We will issue the compliance schedule when we are satisfied on reasonable grounds that the specified systems for the building are capable of performing to the performance standards for the specified systems.

See our information about Compliance Schedules and Specified Systems.

If you believe any decision we have made is wrong you can ask the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) for a determination. Determinations are legally binding decisions on disputes or questions about the rules that apply to buildings.

To find out more about determinations, go to MBIE website. Check the ‘previous determinations’ on the website – some of them might be about situations like yours. A determination can be appealed to the District Court.

If you wish to apply for a CCC for a building consent that meets the criteria for an old or historic building consent, i.e. the building consent was issued more than five years ago, please see Applying for a CCC for a Building Consent Older than Five years.

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