​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Applying for a Building Consent

Residential building consents

To apply for a building consent for residential work you need to complete Building Consent Application Forms:

• Form 2: Residential
• Form 2A: Memorandum
• LBP Notification Form.

Make two copies of all information (including specifications, plans, relevant manufacturer's details etc) to accompany your application.

For a re-sited dwelling a re-site report must be included with the application:

• Re-site Report Application form - PDF, 23KB
• Code Compliance Certificate Application (Form 6) - PDF, 108KB

Please also read:

• Guide to Applying for a Building Consent (for simple residential buildings) - PDF, 66KB.

Then book a vetting appointment to go through your application before you submit.

To apply for a building consent:

1. Obtain application forms

• Download application forms. If your project includes restricted building work, you will also need a Form 2A and a Licensed Building Practitioner notification form.
• Pick up application forms from Council or we can send or email them to you.

2. Complete the application forms

We recommend engaging a design professional to complete these as some fields require knowledge of the NZ Building Act and NZ Building Code.

You can provide us forms either:

• In print, completed manually with your paper-based application
• Download and electronically complete using Adobe Acrobat Reader. For electronic lodgement of building consents, you must complete the form electronically or your applicationmay be rejected. Scanned copies of manually completed forms will not be accepted with electronic applications.

Include these in your application:

• Completed Form 2 application form – make note of the required fields
• A detailed description of the proposed building work
• Completed vetting checklist at the back of the application form. Note: when completing these forms, the page or specification sheet number must be completed in the appropriate column
• Completed form 2A Memorandum from Licensed Building Practitioner for Restricted Building Work. Please note that a Certificate of Design work provided by the designer must:
  • Identify all the Restricted Building Work (RBW) they designed or supervised - a full and accurate description is preferable and is in the best interests of the designer, especially where other designers were involved in the project, and although it is not necessary to replicate plans and specifications on the building consent application form, you must clearly reference your design documents
  • State that the Restricted Building Work (RBW) complies with the Building Code or, if waivers or modifications of the Building Code are needed, what they are
  • Include the Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) number or your registration number if you are a registered architect or chartered professional engineer
• Completed Licensed Building Practitioner notification form (PDF 236KB) for restricted building work.

3. Collate plans and supporting documents

We cannot process your application without the correct information. The plans and documents you provide should demonstrate how your building design complies with the NZ Building Code.

Your application may include (but is not limited to):

• Site plan with contours
• Foundation plan
• Roof framing plan
• Bracing plan
• Lintel and lintel fixing plan
• Elevations including E2 Risk assessment
• Cross sections
• Roof plan showing downpipes and gutters
• Cladding, Subfloor, Construction details
• Plumbing and drainage plan
• Electrical plan
• Engineers drawings
• H1 calculations
• Product appraisals
• Product installation manuals
• Wastewater reports
• Details
• Engineers producer statements, drawings and calculations
• Subfloor and wall bracing calculations
• Fire report for commercial buildings - List of independent fire designers (PDF 63.2KB)
• Truss layouts and design certificates
• Application for certificate of public use for public buildings
• Geotechnical reports or good ground assessments - List of Structural and Geotechnical Engineers (PDF 50.2KB)
• Specified systems

Geotechnical reports or good ground assessments

Refer to Rotorua Lakes Council's Civil Engineering Standards (PDF, 2.5MB) required for all building applications. For more information on geotech conditions please refer to the Proposed District Plan Maps.

4. A more robust check of your Building Consent application

Council uses this suite of processing checklists when processing your Building Consent application. Processing delays are mainly caused by incomplete or inaccurate applications. Use these checklists to help speed up the process for consent applications.

Checklists are amended due to legislative changes or continuous improvement; therefore, it is important that you regularly use our site to obtain the latest versions.