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This section covers everything about applying for a building consent. You can do it all online but because building consents are often complex, you will need to get all your ducks in a row first. Once a consent is approved, you can also come back here to make amendments.
You can apply for a building consent through the online AlphaOne Building Consent system. You can also use this portal to apply for amendments to your approved building consent or a code compliance certificate when you have finished building.
The application is to be completed by the property owner or their authorised agent, e.g. architect, engineer, draughtsman or builder. Written authorisation from the owner is required if the agent has completed the consent application and is going to act on their behalf.
You must attach all documents relevant to your building project as a PDF. Note: a Record of Title not older than 1 month is required with the application available from Landonline, or use the tick option if you require Napier City Council to obtain a Record of Title on your behalf.
Building consent applications can be complex. We recommend that you engage a professional person to help with design work and drawings.
Each application must include (where applicable):
In November 2019, a change was made to the definition of ‘good ground’ within the B1 Acceptable Solution B1/AS1 to prevent it from being used on liquefaction-prone ground. This change came into effect 29 November 2021. The change to B1/AS1 directs those building on liquefaction-prone ground to select appropriate foundations for new structures.
To help councils, engineers and developers implement the changes The Building Performance Team at MBIE has developed the following resources to help compliance:
This information helps councils, BCAs, engineers, architects and designers across New Zealand understand the 'good ground' change, assist with mapping liquefaction-prone-ground in their region and support consistent design of resilient foundations when the changes come into effect.
Remember, some parts of New Zealand are prone to greater levels of seismic risk than others, therefore the level of mapping required may vary across regions. The level of mapping may also vary with the type of activity or the development scenario.
For more information, please visit building.govt.nz or email the Building Performance team at buildingfeedback@mbie.govt.nz.
View Napier City Council's Addressing NZBC B1 Liquefaction Requirements Policy here.
Building and construction activities can affect Napier’s waterways and the Ahuriri Estuary which receives surface water as a result of rainfall. To find out how to minimise your impact on Napier’s surface water quality, go to Stormwater - How you can help.
Although not expressly referred to in the Building Act, producer statements (PS) could be accepted and considered as part of the plans or specifications, however producer statements have no legal status under the Act. PS will assist the building consent authority in deciding whether it is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the provisions of the building code will be met if the building work is completed in accordance with the plans and specifications
When submitting professional opinions, such as producer statements with calculations, you should provide sufficient support to a building consent application, to the degree that the BCA will be “satisfied on reasonable grounds” that the building work will comply with the NZ Building Act 2004 and the NZ Building Code. It is the responsibility of the professional to provide quality assurance for documentation they submit during all phases of the life of the building consent, including inspection records and construction statements.
A producer statement requires the following as a minimum requirement to be accepted:
If you're making alterations to an existing building, section 112 of the Building Act 2004 has to be considered.
Section 112 (1) of the Act requires Council, as the Building Consent Authority, to be satisfied that after the alterations the building will comply, as nearly as is reasonably practicable, with the current provisions of the Building Code that relate to:
To be satisfied that consideration of Section 112 has been undertaken, Council will assess the extent to which the proposed upgrade will be effective to bring the building to the relevant Building Code standards. As part of the building consent application, building owners will need to provide an evaluation of:
The evaluation should also detail the benefits and sacrifices required so Council can consider what is ‘reasonably practicable’.
Section 115 of the Building Act 2004 ensures that when changing the use of a building, the current building stock is being upgraded toward the current provisions of the Building Code, specifically relating to:
Council will need to assess the extent to which the proposed upgrade will be effective to bring the building closer to the relevant Building Code standards. As part of the building consent application, building owners will need to provide an evaluation of:
The evaluation should also detail the benefits and sacrifices required so Council can consider what is ‘reasonably practicable’.
In a case where the change of use involves the incorporation in the building of 1 or more household units where household units did not exist before the building in its new use needs to comply, as nearly as is reasonably practicable, with the Building Code in all respects.
Some buildings have a specified intended lifespan, either due to code compliance inadequacies or because they were constructed to be temporary buildings. When a building consent is issued on a building like this, it is subject to the condition that it be altered, demolished or removed before the end of its specified intended life (imposed under s 113(2) of the Building Act).
However, we can approve an ‘extension of life’ if we are satisfied that the building can continue to perform for a longer period.
If you would like to extend the life of a building you’ll need to provide us with written notice (see s116 of the Building Act).
You also need to let us know if you intend to subdivide land in a way that affects a building – e.g. if you are dividing a large house into multiple units (see section 116A of the Building Act).
We cannot issue a certificate under section 224(f) of the Resource Management Act 1991 for the purposes of giving effect to a subdivision affecting a building or part of a building unless it is satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that the building will comply, as nearly as is reasonably practicable, with every provision of the Building Code that relates to the following:
The building must also continue to comply with the other provisions of the Building Code to at least the same extent as before the subdivision application was made.
When you apply for a building consent, you must include a list of all specified systems in the building project. Specified systems are systems or features installed in a building that are crucial to the safety and health of the building and those who use it, or systems which, if they are not maintained, could cause injury or harm. The proposed inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures for the specified systems must be supplied. Refer to the Specified Systems section for further information.
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