Building Information and Consents

Whether you are planning to build or renovate a home or business, almost everything you build needs to meet a number of standards and regulations.

Kaikōura District Council is the Building Consent Authority for our district, providing building consent for work that needs approval and inspection under the Building Act. 

Important update on changes to building inspections in Kaikōura District from December 2022

Because of a shortage of Building Control Officers (BCOs), as from Monday 5 December 2022 onwards on-site building consent inspections will generally only be available on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

For certain types of work at suitable locations we may also be able to offer remote consent inspections.  Remote inspections are conducted interactively between the builder and a BCO outside of the District via an app on the builder’s smartphone or tablet to show the BCO details of the work that has been done.

Council is endeavouring to maintain a building control service in a very challenging environment and the patience of builders and consent holders as we work through this would be much appreciated.

If you have any queries please contact KDC’s building control administration team on 03 319 5026.

Step 1: Do you need a building consent?

Click on the image below to be redirected to the canibuildit.govt.nz website.  We recommend this as a first step when you are considering a building project.  It has easy to use tools to help you decide whether you need a consent or not, some building projects are exempt. 

Remember, even if your project does not require a building consent it still needs to comply with the Building Code.  The canibuildit website will also provide links to the relevant part of the building code that applies to your project.

Applying for a discretionary exemption

The Building Act also allows Council to permit building work to be undertaken without a consent if the proposed work is likely to be performed in accordance with the Building Code, or failing that, it is unlikely to endanger people or any building.

You MUST apply to Council for a discretionary exemption. Council will undertake a risk assessment of the building work proposed on a case by case basis.

More information on restricted building work can be found here.

Other helpful information

For other questions in relation to a building project visit the building.govt.nz website.  It provides information on the Building Code, Your Rights & Obligations, how to lodge a complaint, the building process, earthquake prone buildings and answers to just about every other question you might have.

Step 2: Applying for a Building Consent

• Applying for your consent:  All the information you need to get started on your building project.

• Processing your consent:  Information on how long the Council has to process a consent and what aspects need to be taken into account before approving it.
• Application forms and consent fees: Application forms for building consents and information on deposits and fees.

Step 3: Building to a Consent

• Certifying your building work - code compliance certificates: Information on code compliance certificates, why you need them, how to apply, time frames and compliance with your CCC.
• Inspecting your consent: Information on how Council inspects consent conditions and whether they have been followed.
• No Code Compliance Certificate?  Information and guidance about what to do and what's involved in the process. This guidance is mainly relevant to properties of considerable age. 

Related Links

Helpful information about building from a variety of sources:

• Kaikōura District Councils building and regulatory team
• Licensed Building Practitioners
• Owner-builder exemption LBP requirements
• Restricted building work (RBW)
• Building Guide - helpful online magazine for your first build project
• Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ)
• Independent Qualified Person Register
• New Zealand Building Act 2004
• Accessible Facilities Checklist
• the Ministry of Business Innovation and Deployment's Building CodeHub search tool  - find out what you'll need from designing to construction for buildings that are compliant with the building code.
• A calculator to help work out how many toilet pans, basins and urinals to include in buildings
• Read about altering existing buildings here.
• Read the Building Consent Authority (BCA) complaints policy including  how to lodge a complaint about the Building Control Authority.
• Buildings for everyone - Designing for access and usability

5 August 2022