Building Consent Applications
This page provides information about applications for building consents and restricted building work under the Building Act 2004.
Make an appointment to apply for your Building Consent
If you are applying to Porirua City Council for your building consent you must book an appointment to see a Building Compliance Officer before lodging your application with the Customer Services Centre. Please book an appointment by phoning 04 237 5089.
The Council also accepts applications for building consent via mail. An application must be complete and contain all necessary information, otherwise it may be declined and returned to the applicant. Note: A checksheet must accompany the application.
Restricted Building Work came into effect from 1 March 2012
There are some changes you need to know about.
This applies to most residential building or renovation work and only a Licensed Building Practitioner can undertake or supervise the work.
If you apply for a building consent after March 1, 2012 you must make sure that the practitioners you use are correctly licensed to carry out the work. Licensed Building Practitioners include:
Professional Engineers, Architects, Plumbers and Gasfitters are treated as Licensed Building Practitioners and can carry out some Restricted Building Work.
Not all work that requires a Building Consent is Restricted Building Work. Check for further information on www.dbh.govt.nz about Restricted Building Work.
Building Consent applications must be in the proper form
Your application must be on the correct application form. You may also request a Project Information Memorandum (PIM) at the same time.
You may print off and use the Application for Building Consent and Building Consent Application Check Sheet from the Building Consent Forms link listed at the bottom of this page.
Applications must be submitted in duplicate with originals of all drawings, specifications and supporting documents supplied.
Your application must clearly show what you are proposing to build and how you intend doing it.
There are specific application requirements for building relocation, solid fuel heaters and fireplaces.
Building Consent application costs and delays
A deposit is payable when the application is lodged. This will be set against the final cost for processing the application (refer to the Building Consents Fees link at the bottom of this page).
Minimum inspection costs are included in your building consent fee. However, in the event that additional inspections are required, extra charges to cover those inspections may be applied before your Code Compliance Certificate can be issued.
You can assist in keeping delays and costs to a minimum by:
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Checking building, planning, water and drainage requirements with Council early in your project planning process.
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Ensuring your application has all the information and supporting certificates and/or other documentation required.
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Lodging all Building and Resource Consent applications for the same project together.
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Responding promptly to Council requests for further information.
Building Consent costs for solar heating systems are waived
The Porirua City Council has agreed to a waiver of the processing cost of building consent fees and charges for the installation of solar water heating systems to encourage sustainable behaviour and emission reduction. Where the installation of solar water heating systems is part of a building consent application then the inspection costs associated with the installation of the solar water heating system will not be charged.
The waiver of building consent fees for solar water heating systems was adopted by Council on 19th June 2008.
Processing an application for building consent
The Council has 20 working days from the date the application is formally received for processing, to decide whether to issue, or refuse to issue, the building consent. (Note: when "formally received", the processing clock starts).
If any questions or concerns arise throughout the checking process you will be requested by letter (post, Email or Fax), to provide the requested information. If this occurs, the 20-day clock will be suspended until the information or clarification is provided.
Your application will be checked by a number of different departments within the Council, depending on the nature of the work. Council officers will review your application and assess it for compliance. The various items that will be checked include:
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Building
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Plumbing and drainage
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Hazardous materials
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Engineering
In some cases building consent applications may need to be checked by external specialists who will assess the follow items:
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Geotechnical
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Fire
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Acoustic
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Mechanical services
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Engineering
Where it is necessary to consult with external specialists, this will result in additional cost for your application.
Working day definition under Building Act 2004
Working day means any day except—
(a) Saturday, Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, the Sovereign's Birthday, Labour Day, and Waitangi Day; and (b) the day observed in the appropriate area as the anniversary of the province of which the area forms a part; and (c) a day in the period beginning on 20 December in any year and ending with the close of 10 January in the following year |
Building Consents may be issued where there is compliance
Once all persons involved in the application process have completed their action your application will be subject to a final check to confirm all work has been assessed correctly and will be Building Code compliant. If so the Building Consent will be approved (granted).
When all outstanding fees and charges are paid you will be issued with:
Building Consents include a list of inspection requirements
Your Building Consent will include a list of inspections that must be completed for your building work to be signed off for a Code Compliance Certificate. Failure to get all inspections may lead to refusal to issue a Code Compliance Certificate.
Work may start upon receipt of Building Consent
You may start work when you receive your Building Consent as long as any necessary Resource Consents have also been granted.
Building work must be completed within specified time frame
Building work authorised by building consents must be commenced within twelve months of the consent issue date, otherwise the consent will lapse, unless Council has approved a time extension.
If at any stage work is to be changed or varied from that approved by the building consent, an Application for an Amendment to a Building Consent must be made using the form available from our Building Consent Forms page, using the link provided below.
Links to more building consent information
Legislation:
Porirua City Council links:
External links: