To find out how to apply for building consent at Whakatāne District Council, read the Ministry of Building and Innovation's Guide to Applying for a Building Consent.
Note: if you are applying for a building consent, consult the District Plan.
Project Information Memorandum (PIM)
A Project Information Memorandum (PIM) provides information about land and the requirements of other Acts that might be relevant to proposed building work. You can apply for a PIM online through Objective Build, this information will be helpful when applying for your building consent.
Building Consent Application
Our online building consent application portal is the most efficient method of applying for a building consent.
New online platform for building consent applications
On Sunday, 16 November 2025 we moved to a new online portal for Building Consents.
Find out more »
Apply for a building consent online »
Online building consent application instructions
Need help registering an account or lodging an application? Objective Build user tutorials that cover a range of fundamentals are available on their website. Objective Build user tutorials »
- Downloadable application forms
Please note: The hardcopy form is only provided as a courtesy for those who are unable to use our online consent application system for technical reasons. This form should only be used if you are completely unable to apply online.
Application for project information memorandum and/or building consent - (PDF, 180 KB)
If you are applying for a consent that incorporates residential building or renovation, check out our page on Restricted Building Work.
Cost of applying for building consent
Building consent fees are charged on an actual and reasonable basis and are reviewed annually.
Improvements to your property may affect the capital value component of your rates.
For more information, call Building Control on 07 306 0500, send us an online enquiry or email info@whakatane.govt.nz
Paying your building consent deposit
The amount payable is dependent on cost of work, this information is available on our Fees and Charges page.
Online applications
We'll confirm the required deposit amount for your building consent application once it has been checked through our vetting process
Hazards in the Whakatāne area
Whakatāne and surrounding areas are known for a number of geotechnical, geographical, features and natural disaster events. Investigations and modelling are constantly being carried out to better understand what needs to occur to allow buildings to be built safely.
During the building consent process, we may ask for additional information to best address any identified issues, this may include, but is not limited to:-
- Flooding issues - what the minimum floor height would need to be. For properties located within the Whakatāne township, a Flood Level Report can be requested online, All other properties can apply for a Flood Level Report through the Bay of Plenty Regional Council's website.
- Seismic requirements
- Liquefaction issues (MBIE have provided a guidance document “Planning and engineering guidance to potentially liquefaction prone land) to further explain what considerations need to be considered for liquefaction)
Building on land affected by a natural hazard may require Council to act under section 73 of the Building Act 2004, resulting in a notice being registered on the property’s Record of Title.
You might find the Practice Note - Managing Natural Hazards Under the Building Act - (PDF, 1 MB) useful.
A project information memorandum (PIM) will identify any known hazards on site. More information about PIMs »