Whakatane Building Consents
In this section you will find information about building consents in Whakatane district: when they are required,how to apply, whether a consent will affect your rates. Click here to find out what you need to know if you are building or renovating.
Whakatane Building Consents
When is a Building Consent required?
When you are constructing a new building, doing additions or internal or external alterations to your home (or any other buildings on your property) you will need to consider both building and planning controls.
A building consent allows you to carry out building work in accordance with the consent, associated plans and specifications.
It does not give any form of planning approval under the District Plan. If you are planning to undertake any building work it is your responsibility to find out whether your proposal complies with the District Plan by contacting us or your own planning advisor. If it does not, and a resource consent is required, you are strongly advised to obtain this before seeking a building consent to avoid expensive changes to your proposal.
The following are examples of work requiring a building consent:
•the change of use of a building where this requires building work
•structural building including new buildings, additions, alterations, accessory buildings (sheds), and re-piling
•plumbing and drainage
•demolition or relocation of existing structures
•heating (solid fuel fireplaces), ventilation and air-conditioning systems
•site works
•retaining walls higher than 1.5 m
•retaining walls less than 1.5 m that provide support for buildings, driveways or sloping ground
•fences higher than 2 m (timber) or 1.5 m (concrete)
•swimming pools and large tanks
•decks more than 1 m from ground level
•any building, no matter how small, that is to be used for sleeping purposes
If you are unsure whether your building or plumbing work requires a building consent, please contact our Customer Services Team for advice.
What is minor building work?
Work that is considered to be covered under a Minor Building Consent must be under the value of $19,000 and in one of the following categories:
•House repiling
Repiling of an existing dwelling.
•Shower over existing bath
Where the bath is staying in its original position and no waste pipes are changing.
•Replacing a window for doors
Where the lintel size is staying the same as the original window lintel.
•Minor interior alterations
Taking out a load-bearing wall and replacing it with a beam. No work under this title shall include plumbing.
•Pergola to existing deck
A rafter pergola either covered with roofing or not.
•Any minor plumbing work
Stormwater to kerb, new kitchen or any work on a hot water cylinder, replacing vanity unit or bath. Shower for disabled within an existing bathroom.
•Septic tank repair or replacement
A septic tank assessment will be required with the building consent.
•Repitching of an existing roof
Increase the pitch of an existing roof using factory-manufactured trusses, but not including attic-type trusses and not increasing the plan area of the roof.
•Enclosing an existing porch
For sunroom or extra living space only, not to be used for sleeping purposes. No plumbing involved.
•Proprietary Conservatories
Factory-manufactured conservatories that carry their own producer statement.
•Residential fence higher that 2.0 m.
•Stand-alone carport or carport with three open sides.
•Other work at the discretion of Construction/ Consents Administrator.
Minor building works need a slightly cheaper and less stringent form of building consent called a Consent for Minor Building Work.
Why should I get a Consent?
While obtaining a building consent may cost a little money, and take a little time and effort, it will protect you in a number of ways.
Building Code Standards
The New Zealand Building Code is a comprehensive performance-based document that governs all areas of most building construction. The Code controls such areas as structural integrity, weathertightness, durability, and provision of services (drainage, potable water, etc). The Council ensures when processing your building consent and by inspection that both the proposed and the completed building work meet the provisions of the Code.
Resale
If you decide to sell your house, it is likely that a prospective buyer will request a Land Information Memorandum (LIM) on your property. The LIM will show all permits and building consents for your property, and a buyer is likely to be able to see unpermitted work. The prospective purchaser may ask that you bring unpermitted works up to Building Code standard, or the absence of a LIM may influence their decision as to whether to purchase the property or not.
Insurance
There may be implications where damage results from unpermitted building, plumbing or drainage works.
Applying for a Building Consent?
You will need a Project Information Memorandum (PIM) for all building projects. Except for internal alterations and minor building works, you are encouraged to apply for a PIM prior to the building consent application. Otherwise your application for a building consent will be deemed to include this.
To apply for a building consent, you will need to complete the appropriate form:
Building Consent App.Form.pdf
Property Developer & Purchaser Agreement Form.pdf
Development Contribution Notice.Pdf
Development Contributions Factsheet
Certificate of Acceptance Form.pdf
The forms are in PDF format, so you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print. If you don't have this software, you can download it for free from the Adobe Acrobat website.
Further help on filling out the application can be found by downloading the Guide to Applying for a Building Consent. Once you have filled out your application, you may either visit the Council or post the form.
How much will it cost?
Building consent fees are charged on an actual and reasonable basis, and are reviewed annually. Refer to building consent fees and charges
Code Compliance Certificate
A Code Compliance Certificate is issued when a job is finished and the Council is satisfied that building and plumbing work under the consent complies with relevant provisions of the New Zealand Building Code. When all work under a consent is complete, contact us to arrange a time for a final inspection.
If the work has been carried out in accordance with your consent and in compliance with the Building Code, the Council will issue a Code Compliance Certificate. If the work does not comply, the Council will issue a Notice to Fix identifying areas of non-compliance.
Property owners benefit by ensuring work on their property has a Code Compliance Certificate in a number of situations:
•when selling your home;
•when applying for loans or other financing;
•when applying for insurance; or
•to ensure safety and peace of mind
Code of Compliance Certificate App.Form.pdf
Will my Consent affect my rates?
It is true that improvements to your property may affect your rates. However, only a relatively small proportion of your rates bill is calculated using capital value. This is demonstrated using the following example:
Land Value: $28,000
Improvement Value: $74,000
Capital Value: $102,000
Annual Rates: $1,784
If a new bedroom extension is added, and this adds $10,000 value to the property, the rates would increase by $32 per year ($0.61 per week) at the start of the next rating year (July).
For more information on issues surrounding property valuation, please contact our Rates section. For other information, contact the Building Control staff on 07 306 0500 or email a Building Control Officer
Here are some building pamphlets for more information:
Building Fence Info.doc
Relocating A Dwelling. Info.doc
Fencing Swimming Pools.doc
Convert Garage-Shed into Dwelling.doc