Site Search

A-Z Of Services

Council sites

Contact Us

DATABASES

JOB VACANCIES

MAPS

Building Consents

This page provides general information about Building Consent and compliance requirements required in Porirua City.

Building control in New Zealand

Building work and building compliance in New Zealand is managed under the Building Act 2004 and the Building Code.

The purpose of the legislation is to ensure buildings are safe, sanitary, have suitable means of escape from fire and there is co-ordination of controls relating to building use and the management of natural and physical resources.

Council is a Building Consent Authority (BCA)

Council is a Building Consent Authority (BCA) under the legislation and is responsible for ensuring building compliance with the Building Code in Porirua City.

Any individual, company or other organisation may be registered as a Building Consent Authority with the Department of Building and Housing.

The Building Code sets the building performance criteria

The New Zealand Building Code sets the functional requirements for buildings and performance criteria with which they must comply. Building work must comply with the code whether or not you require a building consent for it. You may may obtain a copy of the New Zealand Building Code or view it online by going to the NZ Building Code link below.

Building Consents are required before building work commences

You must have a Building Consent and a Resource Consent (if required) before you start any building work where a consent is required.

Apply to a Building Consent Authority for your Building Consent

When applying for a Building Consent application to Porirua City Council, book an appointment with a Building Compliance Officer by phoning Ph: 04 237 5089.  An application must be complete and contain all necessary information before you can lodge your application to the Council’s Customer Services Centre.  See link for "Building Consent Applications" below.

Links to more building consent information

Legislation:

• Building Act 2004
  • Building Act 2004 – Role of Building Consent Authority
  • Building Act 2004 – What is building work
  • Building Act 2004 – What is not building work
  • Building Act 2004 – Building work requires building consent
  • Building Act 2004 – When a Building Consent is not required
  • Building Act 2004 - Building work must comply with the building code
• Building (Accreditation of Building Consent Authorities) Regulations 2006
• Building Regulations 1992
• New Zealand Building Code - view online

Porirua City Council links:

• Building Consent Applications
• Silt and Sediment Control Pamphlet (230KB pdf)
• Small Earthworks Guideline Booklet (542KB pdf)

External links:

• Department of Building and Housing - Home Page
• Department of Building and Housing - Get a copy of the NZ Building Code
• Yellow Pages - Search for a Building Consents Authority Consultant
• Homeowner's Building Guide - a website with tons of resources