Building Consent Information

When is a building consent required?

A building consent is required for most building work except for work that is exempt.

Information relating to these exemptions can be found on the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment website.

For guidance or further information please visit Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (building and construction) (building.govt.nz).

Dams

Please contact Bay of Plenty Regional Council (boprc.govt.nz), which has jurisdiction for all dam building consent matters.

When is a building consent not required?

Building owners are responsible for determining whether proposed building work is exempt from requiring a building consent ensuring exempt building work complies with the Building Code.

Building practitioners are also responsible for ensuring their work complies with the Building Code even when that work is exempt.

It is important to get good advice before deciding that building work is covered by the exemptions set out in the Building Act. If you are unable to determine whether the building work you wish to undertake is exempt, book an appointment to speak with one of our building officers.

How long does it take to get a building consent?

The building consent processing time depends on the complexity of your project and whether you have provided us with sufficient information. All building consents must be approved within 20 working days of being formally received. However, if information is found to be lacking the time clock is stopped and not restarted until that information is provided.

Government guidance when applying for building consent

Helpful information and guidance on the building consent process (building.govt.nz)

Owner responsibility

The building owner is legally obliged to ensure that:

• All necessary inspections, maintenance and reporting are done
• The building is maintained in safe and sanitary condition at all times
• The compliance schedule is readily available for inspection by authorised persons
• A building warrant of fitness is signed and displayed.

Tenants and the owner

The building owner's responsibilities are clear, whether the building is tenanted by others or not. The owner, however, can delegate those responsibilities to an employee or to someone else under a contract or a lease. Tenants could be liable where they breach the Building Act 2004.

People employed by the owner

In most instances the owner will engage specialists such as architects, engineers, design draughting agencies, builders, plumbers and electricians for the design and construction of all or part of proposed building work. For compliance schedule procedures, typical specialists can be building maintenance companies, lift engineers and electricians who are approved by the council as independent qualified persons (IQPs).

The owner can choose who to employ to do the work or give advice. If the Act is breached, the owner is likely to be fully liable, but agents of the owner do not necessarily escape liability.

Lodging applications

We recommend that you or your designer lodge your application in person and deliver to 1061 Haupapa Street, Rotorua or post to Rotorua Lakes Council, PO Box 3029, Rotorua Mail Centre, Rotorua 3046.

Note: A Lodgement deposit must be submitted with your Building Consent.

Inspections

The role of Council's building inspectors, Council building officers and building certifiers is to check for compliance with the building code and consented documents. This is about safeguarding health and safety.

The Building Act 2004 is not concerned with the appearance of completed building work, contractual matters between the owner and building, or protecting capital investment.

Inspections only cover finish and quality when code compliance may be affected.

What Council will check when inspecting building work

Your building consent when approved will include as a condition, a list of inspections that must be called for as building work progresses.

The following suite of inspection checklists are used by Council when undertaking nominated inspections on site.

We recommend that you reference the relevant checklist and check that the work undertaken meets compliance prior to arranging an inspection.

Please remember that Council will be checking that building work is completed in accordance with your building consent.

What information do I need to book an inspection?

When you make your booking, you will need to supply the following information:

• Your building consent number
• The site location/address
• The name and contact phone number of the person who will be on-site at the time of the inspection
• For restricted building work: name and licence number of the Licenced Building Practitioners notified by the owner prior to construction.

All building consent documents and any approved amendments must also be on-site at the time of inspection.

To book an inspection or make an appointment with a specific building inspector:

• Visit the Customer Centre, Civic Centre, 1061 Haupapa St, to make an appointment, or
• Call the Building Inspection line directly on 07 3495646, or
• Use the online building inspection request form.

Inspections are undertaken between 8.00am - 12.00pm and between 1.45 to 4.30pm on weekdays.

Complaints

A customer has a right to appeal or to complain about any building control function the building consent authority undertakes; and have this heard & be properly managed. Complaints provide feedback about service experience & give us the opportunity to improve our performance. You can make a complaint in person; however it must be accompanied in writing. Complaints not made in writing or made anonymously will not be actioned.

All complainants will be responded to in timely manner.

Complaints or Appeals should be addressed to:

Manager Building Services
Rotorua Lakes Council
Private Bag 3029
Rotorua