FAQs - Administration

What is a building consent authority?

A Building Consent Authority (BCA) holds current accreditation and registration in a scheme which is among a suite of Building Act 2004 reforms designed to help improve the control of, and encourage better practice and performance in, building design, regulatory building control and building construction.

What is a building consent?

A building consent is the formal approval issued by a building consent authority (BCA) that certain works meet the requirements of the New Zealand Building Act, Building Regulations and Building Code.

You can not undertake any building work that requires a building consent without this approval. Most building work requires a building consent but some minor work is exempt under the Act.

Exempt work is listed in Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004.

When is a building consent required?

A building consent is required for most work including:

• Fencing/barriers around swimming pools and around spa pools that are not exempt
• Retaining walls over 1.5m (no surcharge)
• Retaining walls any height incurring a surcharge
• Decks over 1.5m high
• Pergolas with a roof
• Free-standing non-habitable buildings larger than 10 metres square
• Plumbing and drainage work including replacing hot water cylinders
• Relocation of buildings
• Additions, alterations to existing buildings
• New buildings
• Change of use of the building
• Heating including fireplaces
• Ventilation and air-conditioning systems (commercial)
• Small dams (4 or more metres in height and holding more than 20,000 cubic metres of water or other fluid)

There are exceptions to the above. For guidance or further information please contact Council on 07 8850755.

How do I apply for a building consent?

You can complete an online application via our AlphaOne system. With your application you will need to provide information that is relevant to your building project.

Our new electronic system allows you to submit your application from the comfort of your own home. If you don't have access to a computer, or would prefer to lodge your application in person, you can do so at your local library.

On receiving your application Council will vet your plans to ensure all relevant information has been provided. Please note that this is not a technical assessment but merely a check to ensure all necessary information has been provided.

If all information has been provided, your application is accepted and the 20 working day statutory clock starts.

How long does it take to get a building consent?

Building consent processing time depends on the complexity of your project and whether or not you have provided us with sufficient information.

All building consents are required to be approved within 20 working days, however; if information is deficient the time clock is stopped and a formal request will be made for further information. The time clock is not restarted until all of the requested information is received.

It is possible that your building consent application requires checking by several disciplines; it is possible therefore, that the clock may be stopped on more than one occasion.

What sort of information do I need for a building consent?

Building consent applications can be complex; we recommend that you engage a professional person to help with design work and documentation.

What form do my documents need to be in for electronic processing?

Documents need to be supplied as PDFs with a concise file name.

Why do we need to provide a Certificate of Title?

The Building Act requires the owner to make the building consent application. Providing a copy of the certificate of title provides proof of ownership, and also confirms the allotment details including any easements or other legal instruments that my have an effect on the proposed building work.

For new developments where a title is not yet available, a Sales and Purchase Agreement may be provided for the building consent application. The certificate of title in the name of the owner will need to be provided with the application for the code compliance certificate.

Where can I get a copy of my Certificate of Title?

Titles can be obtained from Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) or via your solicitor, or land agent. An electronic copy can be obtained from LINZ.

Why do I need to provide the estimated value of building work?

The estimated value of building work is required to work out what levies are due to the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, and BRANZ (Building Research Association New Zealand). Anything with an estimated value of $20,000 or more incurs a Building and Building Research Levies - Refer Building Fees for more information

The applicant becomes liable for the levies when the building consent is issued, and must pay them before the building consent is granted.

How much does a building consent cost?

The cost of your building consent depends on the type of application, cost of work involved and may include costs such as:

• Levies payable to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (if applicable)
• Levies payable to BRANZ (if applicable)
• Levy to cover BCA accreditation costs
• Issue of compliance schedule (if applicable)
• Printing costs for consent documents (if applicable)

An estimate of the fees involved may be provided, however the final cost will not be known until the application is processed. A further fee may apply if, during your build, an inspection failed and requires an additional inspection over and above the number included with your Building Consent. Refer Building Fees for more information.

How is my building consent application processed?

All applications are entered into our processing system and allocated a unique identifier (your building consent number) prior to being vetted for completeness in accordance with section 45 of the Building Act. Upon receipt of all required information your application passes vetting and the 20 working day time clock is started.

An invoice will be emailed to you once it has cleared the vetting stage.

The application is then allocated and circulated to the various disciplines within Council for processing, i.e. planning, engineering, building, water, drainage, etc.

Each discipline will review your application and assess it for compliance. If there are any questions or concerns a letter will be sent to you requesting further information or clarification.

When a request for further information is sent the 20 working day time clock is stopped and processing is suspended until all requested information is provided.

Once all disciplines are satisfied that compliance is achieved, then a final check is made to ensure all work has been assessed correctly. If satisfied, the time clock is restarted. The building consent document is then produced (this document contains any conditions and inspections applicable to the project). Once issued the time clock is stopped.

You will be notified of any outstanding fees at that point. When these are paid the building consent will be granted.

If we consider that the building consent cannot be granted we are required to refuse to issue consent. This does not alleviate the requirement to pay any outstanding building consent fees.

Unfortunately; having a building consent does not necessarily mean that construction may start. In some cases other permissions (like resource consent) may first need to be obtained. Such conditions will be notified on your building consent.

How do I find out where by Building Consent is at?

You can check online or phone us on 07 8850755, alternatively via the front portal where you made the application.

How do I find out where by Building Consent is at?

You can check online or phone us on 07 8850755, alternatively via the front portal where you made the application.

How can I check that the agent has responded to the Request for Further Information (RFI)?

You can check online via the front portal where the application was made (if the agent has given you access), contact your agent directly, or alternatively contact us on 07 885 0755.

How will I be notified that my building consent is granted and/or refused?

When your application is ready for granting (or refused) and all fees have been paid. Your building consent will then emailed to the applicant (person who lodged the consent via the online portal).

If there are outstanding fees then you will receive an invoice advising you that your building consent is issued and may be granted when all fees are paid.

If your application has been refused then you will be formally advised with reasoning for this.

Can I start building before a building consent is issued?

You must wait until the consent has been issued, and granted (ie. upon payment of all associated fees), before you can proceed with the consented building work.

Who is invoiced for the building consent fees?

The agent is invoiced unless otherwise stated on the application.

How long is my building consent valid for?

Building consents are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Work must have commenced within the 12 months or the building consent shall lapse requiring a new application.

All building work should be completed within 2 years from the date that the building consent was granted. If the project has been delayed, it may be possible to apply for an extension to this time.

What are building consent conditions and/or advice notes?

There may be conditions and/or advice notes/endorsements imposed on your building consent which are deemed necessary to ensure compliance.

It is important that you read and understand all conditions and/or advice notes/endorsements before commencing work. If you do not understand any condition and/or advice note then please contact us to discuss these.

Can I change construction details after my consent is issued?

Yes, please contact us on 07 880755 to discuss whether you need to apply for an amendment to a building consent or a variation for minor changes.

If an amendment is required you can apply on Alpha One if the original consent application was submitted online. Alternatively you can complete an complete the building consent amendment form.

How do I change the contact details on my consent?

You can call Council on 07 8850755. If you applied for your application using our online system , you can advise of changes in details via the front portal.

Can a building consent be issued before the resource consent?

Yes, you can obtain a building consent prior to the resource consent being granted, however, no inspections will be allowed to take place until resource consent is granted.

Can I request an extension of time for my building consent?

Yes, applications can be made in writing using the extension of time form. There is a fee associated with this request. Please refer to the fees.

Does my application need to be reviewed by Fire and Emergency New Zealand design review unit?

Under Section 46 of the Building Act 2004 the BCA is required to send certain applications to Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) Design Review Unit (DRU) for review under the Fire Service Act. Where this occurs the DRU have 10 working days in which to provide their feedback / memorandum to the BCA.

The memorandum issued by the DRU will set out their advice in regard to provisions for means of escape from fire and the needs of persons who are authorised by law to enter the building to undertake fire-fighting.

Types of applications that are required to be sent are detailed here.

Why do I need a geotech investigation?

The purpose of a specific site investigation is to confirm the ground conditions beneath the site and to identify any problems that may be associated with the stability of the site or the subsoils with respect to the proposed development. This will usually involve the drilling of the boreholes or the digging of test pits with samples and testing carried out. The Geotechnical report or scala penetrometer test will present the findings of the site investigation and recommend the appropriate foundations and stabilising measures, retaining walls etc. for specific projects.

What is required for a solid fuel heater (fire) consent application?

The types of clean air approved solid fuel heaters that can be installed are governed by the National Emission Standard, and depend on the location and size of your property. Their website provides a list of authorised wood burners. Alternatively any distributor of log burners should also be able to provide you with the relevant information.

Once you have determined which fire you can install and are ready to lodge your building consent you will need to provide us with the following:

• Certificate of Title or Sales & Purchase Agreement (if a recent purchase and you are not yet named on the Certificate of Title) or Rates Demand
• Manufacturer's specifications for the solid fuel heater, including clearances
• Manufacturer's specifications for the specific flue being installed
• Plumbing schematic for wetback installation and location of hot water cylinder (if applicable
• Flashing details
• Ceiling details - e.g. flat or sloping
• Floor plan showing:
  • Labelled dwelling layout showing use of spaces
  • Location of the solid fuel heater
  • Location of smoke alarms

What are other considerations that could affect my building project?

Make sure you or your designer consults with our Planning Team and checks the District Plan requirements that apply to your site. The District Plan contains a set of rules that have been implemented after the consultation process with the community under the Resource Management Act (RMA). If your design does not follow the rules of the District Plan you may require resource consent approval before your project can begin. Contact our planning team on 07 8850340 or view the District Plan online.

What do I need to do if I change the use of my building?

If you want to change the use of a building, even if no building work is involved, the owner needs to let the council know of the change in use (section 115) in writing.

You cannot make the proposed change until the council gives the owner written confirmation that the requirements of the Building Act have been complied with.

The requirements will vary, depending on whether the change of use means that household units will be incorporated in the building. If this is the case, the council will need to be satisfied that the building in its new use will comply with the Building Code as near as reasonably practicable (also known as ANARP). If this is not the case, the building will have to comply with Building Code requirements around means of escape from fire, protection of other property, sanitary facilities, structural performance and fire rating performance. Often a building consent will be required.

If you make the change without advising the council you could be liable for a fine of up to $5,000.

For more detailed information on Change of Use go to MBIE Change of Use.

When does the statutory clock stop for building consents over Christmas?

Under the Building Act 2004 the Statutory Clock stops on the 20th December and restarts on the 10th January. Council continue to receive and work on consents during this period.

What is a PIM?

A Project Information Memorandum (PIM) is a memorandum issued by the Territorial Authority (Council) under section 34 of the Building Act. It sets out information relevant to your building work.

PIMs are voluntary and may not be needed for your project. They are appropriate, for example, at the design phase of complex projects. If you intend to apply for a PIM we recommend that you do this early on in the design process, as the information in the PIM may be useful for your designer to finalise your project documentation. The PIM is issued within 20 working days of receiving an application.

A project information memorandum identifies any approvals required for your project such as:

• Resource Management Act
• New Zealand Historic Places Trust (heritage buildings/sites)
• Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Information provided on the PIM includes all such information known to Council at that time which may be relevant to the project or site. This includes potential for:

• Erosion
• Avulsion (removal of land by water action)
• Falling debris
• Subsidence
• Slippage
• Alluvium (the deposit of silt from flooding)
• The presence of hazardous contaminants which are likely to be relevant to the design, construction or alteration of your proposed building which are known to Council
• Details of stormwater or wastewater utility systems which may relate to your project or site will also be included (where applicable)
• Relevant Council Bylaws

Contact the Duty Planner, or your own planning adviser, to determine whether your proposal complies with the District Plan. If it does not, and resource consent is required, you are strongly advised to obtain this before seeking building consent to avoid possible expensive changes to your proposal.

Building work cannot commence until you have obtained a Building Consent and any other approvals required by other legislation.

How do I apply for a PIM?

An application for a PIM can be made through our online system AlphaOne.

Documentation required

All applications must be accompanied by:

• Site plan
• Floor plan
• Building elevations
• Certificate of Title or Sale and Purchase Agreement (proof of ownership)

How long does it take to get a PIM?

Council is required to issue the PIM within twenty (20) working days of an application being received, however, depending on workloads, this may be earlier.

NB: Providing all fees are paid, the PIM will be emailed to the applicant when it is issued. If the PIM is applied for with the Building Consent the timeframe for the issue of both is 20 working days.

Sometimes it may be necessary for Council to obtain further information from you to enable your PIM processing to be completed. In such cases the Council will contact you within 10 days of receiving the PIM application with a formal request for further information.

The Council has 10 working days from when this information is received to issue the PIM.

How do I book an inspection?

Building inspections are booked through the inspection booking line 07 8850755. Do not contact the building inspector directly.

Inspections are undertaken by appointment only. It is your (or your builder's) responsibility to notify Council 24 hours before you require an inspection. Please ensure all work for inspection is ready the day before your inspection. Incomplete work requiring a new booking will incur an additional inspection fee.

You will be required to provide us with the following information when booking an inspection:

• Site address
• Building consent number
• Name & phone number of contact person on site
• Date the inspection is required
• Type of inspection, i.e; plumbing, drainage, foundation, pre-slab, preline, etc.
• LBP details for Restricted Building Work

What happens if I am unhappy about any decision made by the building consent authority?

A customer has a right to appeal or to complain about any building control function the building consent authority undertakes; and have this heard and resolved.

Complaints provide feedback about service experience and give us the opportunity to improve our performance.

What is a building control function?

A complaint in relation to building control is defined as a complaint about:

• Meeting statutory time frames
• Lodgement or vetting of building consent applications
• Processing of building consent applications
• Inspection of work under construction
• Issuing of a notice to fix
• Issuing of code compliance certificates
• Issuing compliance schedules
• Failure to provide appropriate information or advice
• Fees and charges
• Failure to meet legislative or Building Code requirements

How do I make a complaint?

You can make a complaint in writing, attention to the Building Control Manager.

What information is required?

• Date incident occurred
• Nature of complaint (e.g. vetting, lodgement, inspection, notice to fix, code compliance certificate, compliance schedule, etc.)
• Copies of any supporting information (if applicable)
• Relationship (customer, regulator, or stakeholder)
• Name and contact details

How long does it take?

All written complaints will be responded to within 1 working day of receipt. At this time you may be asked whether you wish to be heard in relation to the complaint or to provide further information.

Do I have a right of appeal?

If you do not agree with the outcome you may request a review of the decision. All appeals must be made in writing setting out the reasons why you disagree with the decision.

What else can I do?

If you are still unhappy or choose to use an alternative route to settle a matter of doubt or dispute you may apply to MBIE for a Determination. For more information on this service go here.

What happens when the inspections are completed?

The Building Act requires the owner to apply for the Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) as soon as the building work is practically complete.

We recommend that you make application for Code Compliance prior to the final inspection being completed, this ensures we have the necessary documentation available to the inspector on site to facilitate the timely issue of the Code Compliance Certificate if all work and documentation is completed in accordance with the approved building consent.

If you applied for the building consent using our online system, you can submit the CCC application via the front portal.

How do I apply for my code compliance certificate (CCC)?

The most efficient method to apply for your Code Compliance Certificate is online via AlphaOne. If your consent was submitted prior to July 2018 you can apply in hard copy on the Application for Code Compliance Certificate (Form 6) and bring it into Council, or provide to the inspector onsite at final inspection.

If you lodged the original building consent online you will automatically have access to the job to lodge the CCC. If you are a registered user you can log in to AlphaOne and click on "view existing applications". Find the relevant consent and click on the "Action" button, then select "Apply for CCC".

Where you are a contractor responsible for the build and applying for the CCC you can phone us with the building consent number and request access to the job to enable you to complete the CCC Application online.

We encourage CCC applications to be made prior to the final inspection being booked. Please also ensure you provide only one copy, for example, if you completed a hard copy form you do not need to provide a copy to the inspector also.

Why does each Council use a different system?

Each Council is required by law to follow the same legislation. As long as they are all using the same philosophy and making sure the documentation is in accordance with the Building Code, they are able to use whatever system works for their department to ensure they have high quality documentation and outcomes.

What is the Building Act?

The Building Act 2004 provides for the regulation of building work, the establishment of a licensing regime for building practitioners, and the setting of performance standards, to ensure that:

(a) People who use buildings can do so safely and without endangering their health; and

(b) Buildings have attributes that contribute appropriately to the health, physical independence, and well-being of the people who use them; and

(c) People who use a building can escape from the building if it is on fire; and

(d) Buildings are designed, constructed, and able to be used in ways that promote sustainable development; to promote the accountability of owners, designers, builders and building consent authorities who have responsibilities for ensuring that building work complies with the building code.

To achieve this purpose, the Act requires anyone proposing to do building work to obtain a building consent from a building consent authority before commencing building work.

Who administers the Building Act?

The Ministry of Building, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is the government department responsible for administering the Building Act.

Where can I get a copy of the Building Act/Code?

Both pieces of legislation can be accessed via the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) website.

What is an exemption?

New Zealand's building legislation recognises that a number of things we do which are considered "building work" are low risk so do not require a building consent (i.e. does not affect the building's structure or fire safety, and will not pose a risk to the safety of the public).

The Building Act provides for this through:

• Section 41 - which exempts certain types of work from requiring a building consent (including types of work listed in Schedule 1)
• Section 42A - which imposes some general conditions and limits on the Schedule 1 exemptions, including who can carry out the work
• Schedule 1 - which lists a range of possible exemptions and describes when these could apply

MBIE have a guidance document available that provides further clarification on building work that does not require a building consent .

All building work, whether or not it requires a building consent, must still comply with the Building Code (under Section 17 of the Building Act). Therefore you should still consider employing a tradesperson for part or all of your building work.

What is an owner-builder exemption?

What is this exemption about?

The exemption provides owner-builders or Do-It-Yourself builders (DIY) a regime where they can undertake restricted building work on their own homes, or use a friend or family member to either assist, or undertake the works on their behalf.

Council also provides an administrative process for notifying the public that an owner-builder has undertaken the building works, which is subject to the owner-builder exemption.

If an owner-builder claims an exemption under the LBP scheme, the statutory declaration must be held on the Land Information Register so that future owners are made aware that the design or construction of the dwelling has been undertaken by an owner-builder.

This satisfies Council's obligations in respect of maintaining records under the Building Act.

If an owner-builder holds a licence for the restricted building work (RBW), they will not be considered for an exemption. The owner-builder exemption is specifically tailored to apply to a DIY; or for an exemption for RBW where the owner-builder proposes to carry out works that they are not licensed to carry out.

The owner-builder exemption will not cover works such as electrical, gas or plumbing and drainage unless the owner-builder holds appropriate licences for this work.

What is an owner-builder?

You are an owner-builder if you:

• Have a relevant interest in the land or the building on which the restricted building work is carried out (i.e. ownership)
• Live in or are going to live in the home (includes a bach or holiday home)
• Carry out restricted building work to your own home yourself, or with the help of your unpaid friends and family members, and
• Have not, under the owner-builder exemption, carried out restricted building work to any other home within the previous 3 years

You are an owner-builder if you either own (themselves or jointly with another person) or have a beneficial legal interest in the land and/or house the building work is being done on. A legal interest includes being a beneficiary of a trust, shareholder of a company, co-owner of Maori land, or having possession of a long-term lease.

To meet the criteria, you must also genuinely intend to occupy (or already occupy) the house and not be building (or altering) it only to sell it or rent it to someone else.

However, occupation does not need be permanent or exclusive, it is sufficient for you to reside on an intermittent basis such as a holiday home. Intention can be difficult to prove, however this element is important to ensure that only genuine owner-builders are able to claim the exemption.

If you wish to undertake RBW on a subsequent property, you may only do so once three years has passed since the completion of the RBW on the previous property.

This is to ensure that unlicensed builders cannot avoid registration, and undertake RBW by using the exemption scheme.

An owner-builder can do RBW on the same property as often as they like (e.g. gradually doing alterations to a home periodically over a number of years). However, they can only do restricted building work on a subsequent property after three years has passed since the completion of RBW the previous property.

What is restricted building work (RBW)?

RBW is work which is critical to the integrity of a building. It is work that relates to the structural soundness and weather-tightness of a building, and can only be carried out or supervised by Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs).

Practitioners who usually carry out RBW include:

• Designers and engineers
• Carpenters
• Foundation specialists
• Roofers
• Brick and block layers
• External plasterers

The RBW regime identifies all of the LBP's who are accountable for each part of the work. It also helps to provide assurance to the owner that the building has been built to a satisfactory standard.

Can an owner-builder design and build their home when restricted building work is involved?

Yes, but the owner-builder must meet all statutory requirements; for example, the standard of the building work must be to the same level as if it was carried out by an LBP.

If you are a suitably skilled owner-builder, and meet the criteria of owner-builder, you may be able to carry out RBW. However, if you have any doubts about whether you are suitably skilled or qualified to carry out the design or construction works, Council strongly advises that you only engage an LBP to do this work.

If you are considering undertaking the works yourself, you will need to meet a certain level of building knowledge. You can check and compare your skills by referring to the following documents:

• competencies required of an LBP
• requirements of the Building Code Compliance Documents

What about work that does not need a building consent?

Generally, you do not need a building consent if proposed building works are exempt under Schedule 1 of the Act. You do not need to be an LBP if a building consent is not required. This means that you can effectively carry out the works yourself. Despite this, the work must still meet the requirements of the Building Act 2004 and the Building Code.

You should always discuss your project with Council's building officers before undertaking any building works - even if you think that the proposed works are exempt in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Act. If you have any doubts, please refer to our guidance on exempt building work.

How do I apply for an owner-builder exemption?

An application for building consent requires you to declare the LBPs engaged for the design and construction work.

This is no different for an owner-builder. However, instead of getting certificates from your designers and contractors, you will have to provide Council with a statutory declaration detailing the RBW that you intend to undertake.

The statutory declaration form is available to download from Building Performance.

This document requires a degree of building knowledge in order to fill it out correctly; it is also a legally binding declaration that must be witnessed by a person that is able to witness such documents, such as a Justice of the Peace, or a solicitor.

The statutory declaration will be kept on the property file at Council, and it will be publicly available to any person who wants to look at the file.

It is an offence under both the Crimes Act 1961 and s.369 of the Building Act 2004 to give false information in a statutory declaration, so all of the information contained in the statutory declaration must be true and correct to the best of your knowledge.

Can an owner-builder do the design work?

Yes, but you are then responsible for ensuring that the designs and specifications comply with the requirements of the Building Act 2004 and the Building Code.

The design works as part of RBW relate to building elements that are critical to the integrity of the building, so Council advises that you should engage an LBP to design undertake the design work unless you are technically competent to do so.

At the time of applying for building consent, if you are seeking the exemption, you must supply Council with:

• plans and specifications of the house to the same level of detail and compliance as that required of a licensed designer, registered architect or chartered professional engineer
• any other documentation required by the Council in relation to the building consent application (refer to the residential lodgement checklist for details required)
• a statutory declaration (refer to our website for this document)

If using a designer, you must supply the Council with:

• plans and specifications of the house to the same level of detail and compliance as that required of a licensed designer, registered architect or chartered professional engineer
• any other documentation required by the Council in relation to the building consent application (refer to the residential lodgement checklist for details required)
• a certificate of design work, which is issued by the designer

Can an owner-builder do the construction work?

Yes, but you must notify Council before the work commences by completing the statutory declaration and lodging it either at the time of application, or prior to the construction work commencing if a building consent is not required.

You will be responsible for ensuring that the work complies with the approved plans and specifications. You must ensure that the construction work complies with the Building Act and Building Code (Building Act 2004, section14C), and the approved plans demonstrate that the design is code compliant.

An owner-builder carrying out construction work is responsible for ensuring that the work is compliant with the approved plans and specifications, this confirms that the construction work is compliant with the Building Act and Building Code (Building Act 2004, section14C).

Can an owner-builder do all construction work under the building consent?

An owner-builder cannot carry out all aspects of construction unless they are licensed to do the work; suitably qualified people must carry out this specialised work.

This work includes:

• plumbing
• gas-fitting
• drain-laying; and
• electrical work

Can an owner-builder get others to help with the design or construction work?

You may have friends and family undertake the building works on your behalf, as long as they are not paid for doing so.

If you are paying someone to do the work, they must be suitably licensed and they must submit the relevant paperwork to Council on completion of the work.

Can an owner-builder build other houses using this provision of the Act?

No, the owner-builder exemption only allows the owner to carry out RBW if they have not carried out restricted building work in relation to a different household unit within the previous three years. This element is the key to ensuring unlicensed builders do not use the exemption as a loophole to get around the Licensed Building Practitioner scheme.

What if an owner-builder changes their mind during the project?

Typical scenarios might be:

1. Stop using the exemption provision:
   1. sometime during construction the owner-builder decides they don't want to do the construction work and that they want to employ a Licensed Building Practitioner to complete the job
2. Start using the exemption provision:
   1. part way through the construction an owner may decide to terminate the employment of the Licensed Building Practitioner and intend to finish the job themselves as an owner-builder
   2. part way through the job the owner-builder decides to employee a Licensed Building Practitioner to carry out particular parts of the construction

In any situation where the status has changed you must notify the Council of the changes using the owner-builder exemption form.

Where can I get more information and download the owner-builder exemption form?

For further information and to obtain the statutory declaration form go to Building Performance.

What is a dam?

Dam means an artificial barrier and its appurtenant structures that:

a) Is constructed to hold back water or other fluid under constant pressure so as to form a reservoir

b) Is used for the storage, control, or diversion of water or other fluid

A dam includes:

i. A flood control dam

ii. A natural feature that has been significantly modified to function as a dam

iii. A canal

A dam does not include a stop bank designed to control floodwaters.

What is an appurtenant structure?

Structures that are integral to the safe functioning of the dam, including the pump house, power source, conduits, penstocks, spillways, sluice gates, intake tower, etc.

Do I need a building consent for a dam?

All large dams that are more than 4 metres in height and holding more than 20,000 cubic litres of water or other fluid dams that meet this criteria are required to obtain a building consent from the Regional Council (ECan).

Exemption 22 of Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004 allows the building of smaller dams without a building consent (refer Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Guidance document Building work that does not require a building consent).

What information do I need for building consent?

You will need to get in touch with Waikato Regional Council to discuss building consent requirements for dams.