Building Consent Process in NZ: Steps From Plans to CCC
The building consent process in New Zealand has six stages: check whether you need a consent, prepare the application, lodge it with your council, wait for the decision, pass inspections during the build, and apply for a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) when the work is done. Councils have 20 working days to decide once they accept a complete application, and the clock stops whenever they ask you for more information. This guide walks through each stage in order, with what to prepare and where homeowners usually lose time.
TL;DR
Most structural work, additions, alterations, re-piling and some demolitions need a building consent. Low-risk work is exempt under Schedule 1 of the Building Act.
A complete application is lodged through your council’s online portal. The council then has 20 working days to decide, and the clock pauses while it waits for information.
Work must start within 12 months of the consent being issued, or you can apply for an extension.
Inspections happen during the build. When the work is finished, you apply for a CCC, which the council will not issue until every part of the consent is signed off and all fees are paid.
Accurate plans, a realistic value of work and an early council meeting prevent most delays.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Check whether you need a building consent
All building work in New Zealand must comply with the Building Code, whether or not it needs a consent. Building Performance, part of MBIE, says a building consent is generally required for structural changes, additions, alterations, re-piling, some demolitions and installing systems such as woodburners.
Some work is exempt. Schedule 1 of the Building Act exempts low-risk work from needing a consent, although the work must still meet the Building Code. The exemption list is detailed, and small differences in size, height or position can move a job from exempt to consentable. Our guide to building consent exemptions in NZ goes through the common cases.
Granny flats from October 2026
A newer exemption applies to small standalone homes. From 8 October 2026, new, standalone, single-storey dwellings up to 70sqm can be built without a building consent if the conditions under the Building Act are met. Those conditions include:
notifying your council before you start and after you finish
using licensed building professionals
applying for a Project Information Memorandum (PIM)
completing construction within two years
The same guidance for licensed professionals states that the exemption does not reduce their compliance obligations, even though council inspections are removed. In practice, the work must still meet the Building Code. Read the official guidance before you commit to this path.
Other consents that may apply
A building consent is separate from a resource consent, which deals with how land is used under district plans. Building consent confirms the work complies with the Building Code. A project can need one, both or neither. Some jobs also need specialist sign-off. For electrical work, see electrical consent in NZ. For outdoor structures, see deck consent in NZ.
Step 2: Plan the project and talk to your council
Building Performance recommends a pre-application meeting with your local council. It is an effective way to lift the quality of your application and to find site-specific issues early. Typical site issues include flood-prone land, easements, drainage connections and old structures.
Before you meet the council, settle these questions:
What exactly is being built, altered or removed?
Does any of it touch the structure, such as a load-bearing wall, the foundations or the roof frame?
Does it involve plumbing, drainage, electrical or gas work?
Is it restricted building work that must be done or supervised by a licensed building practitioner (LBP)?
Are there special features, such as a woodburner, a retaining wall or a new bathroom on a different floor?
If your project involves removing a wall, read three paths to removing a load-bearing wall before you finalise the scope. Walls are a common reason for a request for further information.
Step 3: Prepare your application
A complete application is the biggest single factor in how fast you get a decision. The Building Consent Guidance lists what to prepare: a signed application, plans and specifications, the required fees and information, any PIM, a list of specified systems where applicable, and the names of LBPs doing or supervising restricted building work.
Item | What it covers |
Signed application form | Owner details, property details, a description of the work |
Plans and specifications | Drawings and written detail showing how the work meets the Building Code |
Manufacturer information | Product details, including appraisals or CodeMark certificates |
Estimated value of work | All labour, materials and GST |
LBP details | Names of LBPs for any restricted building work |
PIM (if you have one) | Council information about your site |
Specified systems list | Systems such as fire or mechanical systems, where relevant |
Fees | Paid at lodgement |
Get the value of work right
Auckland Council explains that the estimated value of building work includes all labour, materials and GST. It also notes that accurate project descriptions and value estimates help avoid requests for further information and support efficient processing. A value that is too low is easy to spot and invites questions.
What it costs
There is no single national fee. One council notes that the cost of a consent depends on the type of application, the cost of the work and the level of detail required. Each council publishes its own schedule of fees and charges, so check your own council’s current list. If you are in Auckland, Auckland Council’s building consent pages link to its fees and charges. Ask your builder to include consent fees, and any inspection or levy charges, in your budget from the start.
Step 4: Lodge the application
You submit the application through your council’s online portal. The council first checks that it is complete. If something is missing, it can decline to accept it, and the statutory clock does not start. This is why a complete, well-organised application matters more than a fast one.
Some practical habits help at lodgement:
Name files clearly so the processing officer can find each document.
Make sure drawings, specifications and the application form describe the same work.
Include the LBP details where restricted building work is involved.
Keep a copy of everything you lodge.
Step 5: The council’s assessment and decision
Once a complete application is accepted, the council has 20 working days to decide, and the clock is suspended while it waits for information it has requested. Auckland Council gives the same figure in its 10-step guide.
This means 20 working days is the legal limit for the council’s own time, not the time from your first idea to a consent in hand. Real elapsed time is longer if the council asks questions, because each request for information pauses the clock until you reply.
Requests for further information
A request for information (RFI) is common, and it is not a refusal. It usually means the council needs clarification on structure, drainage, products or the LBP details. Answer it completely and in one reply if you can. Partial answers often lead to a second RFI and a second pause.
Producer statements
Councils may rely on producer statements from designers or engineers to help decide whether work complies with the Building Code. Keep them organised. Missing producer statements are one of the issues that can come up again at the end of the job.
Step 6: Start building within 12 months
When the consent is granted, work must begin within 12 months of issue. Auckland Council states that work must start within 12 months of issue, or the owner can apply for an extension. Do not let a consent lapse by waiting for the ideal season or a trade’s availability without checking the dates. If your plans change, ask your council how to amend the consent before the work changes on site.
If the design changes mid-build
Changes are normal on renovations, particularly in older houses where concealed conditions surface once walls are opened. A minor variation can sometimes be handled simply, while a major change can require an amendment. Auckland Council has a page on changing a building consent that covers variations, amendments, extensions and LBP changes. Agree changes with the council before you build them, not after. Undocumented adjustments can hold up your CCC later.
Step 7: Inspections during the build
Inspections confirm the work complies with the Building Code as it goes. The inspection schedule is provided with the issued consent, so the list for your project is in your paperwork rather than a general one.
To keep inspections smooth:
Book each one in advance and give the inspector clear access.
Do not cover work that needs inspection, such as framing, insulation or plumbing, until it has passed.
Keep the approved plans on site.
If an inspection fails, the inspector will list what needs to be fixed. Correct it and book a re-inspection.
Keep records of all inspections, including notes and results.
This is also where a single coordinator earns their place. Trades must finish in the right order and be ready when the inspector arrives. A missed or failed inspection can hold up the next trade and push the schedule back.
Step 8: Apply for your Code Compliance Certificate
On completion, the owner applies for a CCC. You provide the documentation the council still needs, such as LBPs’ records of work and energy work certificates.
Councils will not issue a CCC until every aspect of the consent is signed off and all fees and charges are paid. The same council warns that its final audit can reveal missing information, such as producer statements or undocumented adjustments, and these can stop the certificate being issued until they are resolved.
A useful habit is to keep a CCC folder from day one. Put in it the consent, approved plans, inspection records, producer statements, LBP records of work, product details and certificates. Our final inspection checklist shows what to check at the end of a renovation and before settlement.
The CCC matters for later sales and insurance. If you are planning to sell, buyers and their lawyers commonly ask for it. If work was done without a consent, see our guide to legalising unconsented work in NZ.
Typical timeline at a glance
Stage | What happens | Who is responsible |
Check and plan | Work out if you need a consent and talk to the council | You and your builder |
Prepare | Plans, specifications, value of work, LBP details | Designer, builder, you |
Lodge | Submit through the council portal with fees | You or your agent |
Assessment | 20 working days, paused for any information request | Council |
Consent issued | Work starts within 12 months | You and your builder |
Build and inspect | Inspections per the consent schedule | Builder, council |
CCC | Apply with records and certificates | You, with your builder’s records |
Common mistakes that cause delays
Lodging an incomplete application. The clock does not start until the council accepts it.
Understating the value of work. It invites questions. Include labour, materials and GST.
Skipping the pre-application meeting on a project with a tricky site.
Changing the design without telling the council. This surfaces again at the CCC audit.
Covering up work before inspection.
Losing paperwork. Producer statements, records of work and certificates are needed at the end.
Letting the consent lapse by not starting within 12 months.
If you are renovating an older home, allow time and budget for consent matters from the start. Our villa renovation guide explains why we suggest getting consent first and setting aside a contingency.
Should you manage consent yourself or hand it over?
You can lodge an application as the owner, and some owners do. But the process needs plans, specifications, LBP details, scheduling around inspections and a paper trail through to the CCC. Many homeowners, and first-time buyers in particular, prefer a single team to handle that. If the paperwork is the part you are dreading, it makes sense to ask your contractor how they run it before you sign.
In our experience, consent problems rarely come from the council. They come from a project scope that was not settled before the application went in, and from trades working to different versions of the plan. That is why we run renovations with one point of contact and one team across all trades. We manage the trades, coordinate the building consent process and quote a fixed fee, so you are not chasing a designer, a plumber and a council officer separately. Our services are designed to keep the paper trail tidy from the first drawing to the final sign-off. Our advice is simple. Decide the scope early, ask whether your work needs a consent before anyone picks up a tool, and keep every record. Done that way, the consent process is a sequence of steps rather than a surprise. Rudi
Our perspective
How Sorted Home Solutions can help
We handle renovations in Auckland from start to finish, including management of all trades and the building consent process, with one point of contact. Our work covers kitchens, bathrooms, cabinetry, building, plumbing, electrical, plastering, painting and flooring. Our service is designed to take the coordination off your plate, so you deal with one team instead of many.
If you are planning a kitchen or bathroom, our pricing page shows how our Grade A, B and C packages are set out. For larger projects, including full home renovations and flood restoration, see our full home renovation service. You can also visit our home page to get in touch. For more guides like this one, browse our blog, and before you hire anyone, read what to check in renovation insurance.
FAQ
How long does the building consent process take in NZ?
The council has 20 working days to decide once it has accepted a complete application. The clock is suspended while the council waits for information it has requested, so total time depends on how quickly you answer. Preparing a complete application is the best way to stay within the 20 days.
How long is a building consent valid for?
Work must start within 12 months of the consent being issued. If you cannot start in that time, you can apply for an extension. Ask your council how to do this before the 12 months run out.
Do I need a building consent for a granny flat?
From 8 October 2026, a new standalone single-storey dwelling up to 70sqm can be built without a consent if the conditions are met. You must notify your council before and after, use licensed building professionals, apply for a PIM and finish within two years. Check the official guidance, as the Building Code still applies.
What is a Code Compliance Certificate?
A CCC is the council’s confirmation at the end of the job that the work complies with the consent. You apply for it once work is complete, with records such as LBP records of work and energy work certificates. The council will not issue it until every part of the consent is signed off and all fees are paid.
What governs the minimum standard for building work in NZ?
The Building Code sets the minimum, and all building work must comply with it. Schedule 1 of the Building Act lists the low-risk work that does not need a consent, though it must still meet the Code.
Sources
Recommended
Comments