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New building consent exemptions

Single-storey detached buildings

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Single-storey detached buildings include sleep outs, sheds, greenhouses and other similar structures.

The new exemptions increase the size of a single-storey detached building that can be constructed without a consent. Kitchen and bathroom facilities are not included in the exemption. Any plumbing work to a new or current building still requires a building consent, and any electrical work will still have to be carried out by a registered electrician.

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Options under this exemption are:

  • Kitset or prefab buildings with a maximum floor area of 30 square metres where a manufacturer or supplier has had the design carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer. Product manufacturers who would like to sell kit sets must engage a chartered professional engineer to sign off on a repeatable kit set design

  • Buildings with a maximum floor area of 30 square metres where a Licensed Building Practitioner is to carry out or supervise design and construction

  • Buildings with a maximum floor area of 30 square metres can be built by a non-professional, where only lightweight materials with structural components built in accordance to Building Code compliance B1/AS1 are used.

 

Ground-mounted solar array panels

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The new exemptions for ground-mounted solar array panels depend on whether it is built in an urban or

rural zone.

  • In urban zones, there will be an exemption for panels up to 20 square metres which can be built without the help of a professional

  • In urban zones, there will be an exemption for panels up to 40 square metres where the design has been carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer

  • In rural zones, there will be an exemption with no restrictions in panel size which can be built without the help of a professional.

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Carports up to 40 square metres

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In addition to the current exemption, the new exemptions will mean you can build a carport up to 40 square metres in size if:

Ground floor awnings up to 30 square metres

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In addition to the current exemption the new exemptions will mean you can build an awning of up to 30 square metres on a ground floor if:

Ground floor verandas and porches up to 30 square metres

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In addition to the current exemption the new exemptions will mean you can build a veranda or porch of up to 30 square metres on a ground floor if:

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Outdoor fireplaces or ovens

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The new exemptions mean you will not need a consent for an outdoor fireplace or oven built up to a maximum height of 2.5 metres, and with a maximum cooking surface of 1 square metre. The fireplace or oven must also be at least one metre away from any legal boundary or building, and there may be local government restrictions on lighting open fires in your area.

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Flexible water storage bladders

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The new exemptions mean you will not need a consent for flexible water storage bladders, for irrigation or firefighting purposes up to 200,000 litres in storage capacity.

 

Small pipe supporting structures

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Small pipe supporting structures will be able to be built without consent if they only carry water and are on private land.

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Short-span (small) bridges

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Short-span bridges will be able to be built without a consent if the general public cannot access it and it doesn't span a road or rail area. The design will need to be carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer.

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Single-storey pole sheds and hay barns in rural zones

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The new exemptions will mean you can build a single-storey pole shed or hay barn in a rural zone with a maximum floor area of 110 square metres if:

 

 

More information about the new exemptions, including technical requirements can be found the building.govt.nz website.

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