How to complete an application form

This page contains information on how to fill in a building consent, code compliance certificate or certificate of acceptance application form, and the information you will need.

Some of the information below will also help when filling in other application forms e.g. certificate for public use, change of use, discretionary exemptions. Note, our online application forms include helpful hover tips.

Council needs to collect your personal information, such as your name and contact details in order to contact you about your application. Council is also legally required to collate and send statistical data about issued building consents to Statistics NZ.

You have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and have it corrected if you think it is incorrect. Contact us at privacy@dcc.govt.nz or phone 03 477 4000. Councils privacy policy can be found here.

Details about the property
Property details: Street address/legal description:	The full street address/location or physical address where the building work is proposed is required. The legal description can be found on the record of title or rates demand (lot and deposited plan or section and block). The legal description must be as at the date of the application. If the land is proposed to be subdivided, details of relevant lot numbers and subdivision consent will need to be specified in the application. If the title has not been issued the address is the address of the sub-division, not the proposed lot number of the section.
Names of persons applicable to the application
Owners name, address and contact details:	Please provide all your contact details. Provide a valid email address to receive electronic communications. Evidence of ownership - one of the following is required: record of title, lease agreement, agreement for sale and purchase, other document showing full name of legal owner/s e.g. copy of rates information. This must be attached to the application. Note, if the record of title lists consent notices, please refer to the application check sheet to establish if they need to be provided.
Agents name, address and contact details: Relationship to owner:	This section only needs to be completed if a person is acting on behalf of the owner. An agent may be the building practitioner, designer or a relative. You do not have to have an agent to represent you but it can be useful particularly where the Council has technical questions about the application. If acting as the agent you will need to state the details of the authorisation from the owner/s to make the application on their behalf. Authorisation details could included a contract was entered in to, or family meeting held with all owners and approval given.
Contact name, address and contact details:	It is important we know who to contact as they are they are who we communicate with and send all related documents to. Please notify us if there is a change to the first point of contact to ensure we get building consent related correspondence to the appropriate person.
Account payer/debtor name, address and contact details:	It is important to note that unless otherwise advised the debtor will be charged for all additional processing and inspection fees and also any compliance schedule processing costs should they arise. The person prepared to do this should be nominated in this role; any changes to this should be advised as soon as possible. Note, changing the debtor involves administration time which may incur a charge.
Other parties/professionals:	Provide details of any other parties/professionals associated with the application e.g. designers, licenced building practitioners, engineer, builder, plumbers. If the applicant does not know who the tradespeople will be, this information can be provided at a later stage.
Project details
Description of building work:	Describe the work fully and accurately. For example: Erect three bedroom dwelling with attached double garage. Additions and alterations - addition of new master bedroom with ensuite. Alterations - includes refurbishing existing bathroom, installing new bath, shower, hand-basin and WC. Please include the solid fuel burner make and model, nominate solar hot water and a septic tank if they form part of the building work. Identify any earthquake strengthening work. Note and locate on a plan if a building (or part of a building) is being demolished.
Will the building work include any restricted building work:	Restricted building work (RBW) is work which is critical to the primary structure, weathertightness or fire rating of a residential dwelling. Provide details of all the Licensed Building Practitioners who will be carrying out and/or supervising the design and construction of the RBW. Provide a certificate of design work (Memorandum). Restricted building work (LBP) for all licenced building practitioners.
Owner-Builder Exemption (RBW):	This exemption allows DIY builders to design or carry out restricted building work (RBW) on their own homes. If this exemption is being claimed for design work a statutory declaration needs to be completed and submitted with the application. More information can be found here. (link to external website, new window).
Intended life of the building:	It is important that the application accurately reflects the life of the building. The life of a building can be anything from 2 days (temporary structure) through to 50+ years. Typically most applications will be designed with a 50-year life, for example new buildings e.g. dwellings, garages, factories, warehouses, shopping centres, concrete swimming pools etc.
Estimated value of work (including GST):	The value should accurately reflect all building costs associated with the project including labour (both paid and unpaid) and material costs and goods and services tax. The value of building work is used for government valuations and also determines the amount of levies payable on the project. Estimated value is defined in section 7 of the Building Act 2004. (link to external website, new window).
Previously issued building consents:	Specify building consents previously issued for the project if applicable.
National Multiple Use Approval reference:	A National Multiple-Use Approval (NMUA or Multi-Proof Approval) reference number is used for volume builders who intend to construct particular designs several times. Provide the NMUA if referencing a particular design. More information can be found here. (link to external website, new window).
Amended building consent:	Advise if this application is an amendment to the original building consent. This is where new work is outside the scope of the original consent e.g. additional footprint or increases in floor area, construction method, or significant changes to the layout.
Staged building consent:	Staged is a series of building consent applications for stages of the proposed building work. This may be useful where the scope of each part of the work can be clearly defined.
Evidence of ownership:	One of the following is required: record of title (must be less than 6 months old), lease agreement, agreement for sale and purchase, other document showing full name of legal owner/s e.g. copy of rates information. This must be attached to the application. Evidence of ownership is only required for code compliance certificate applications if ownership has changed from the original building consent.
The Building
Legal description at date of application:	If the current legal description was not specified in the property details at the beginning of the application (refer to the Details about the property section above) then provide more details here.
Building name:	This section typically relates to large buildings such as business premises or tower blocks or hospitals. If not applicable, place N/A in this section.
Location of building within site/block:	This section typically relates to large rural properties or complexes such as rest homes, school campuses etc. Include nearest street access. If not applicable, place N/A in this section.
Number of levels:	If the building contains multiple levels nominate the number of levels. A house with an occupied basement or lower garage is two levels. A single level house is one level.
Level/unit number:	If your building is situated on a cross lease or subdivided section or is in an apartment block or complex and is identified by a unit number / letter. If not applicable, place N/A in this section.
Floor area:	State the gross floor area affected by the proposed building work.
Year first constructed:	This section applies to existing buildings and requires you to identify the age of the building if the building is being altered. If the building is new nominate 0. We recommend doing some research before lodging the application to ensure the year specified is accurate. The year specified in the application is included on the code compliance certificate. A charge will be incurred if the year is incorrectly stated and the code compliance certificate has to be re-issued.
Current lawfully established use: Number of occupants:	It is important that building consent applications correctly identify the current legal use of the building. There are seven classified uses identified in the Building Regulations 1992 Clause A1 (link to external website, new window), and a building may have one or more intended uses. If the building is new nominate the proposed use(s). Occupancy numbers should be included where there is more than 1 level, and more than 1 use (not applicable to domestic dwellings). Commercial building applications that have mixed uses over the floor levels e.g. retail/office on the ground floor with residential on the next floor should include the occupancy number.
Change of use:	A change of use is when the use of a building is changed and the new use is more onerous than the existing use. An example of a change of use would be a residential dwelling (e.g. SH) converted into a café/ bar (e.g. CS or CL). Refer to (Specified Systems, Change the Use, and Earthquake-prone Building) Regulations 2005 - Schedule 2. (link to external website, new window).
Foul/Storm Water details:	Required when submitting a building consent application that includes proposed connections to Councils infrastructure.
Building code compliance
Means of compliance:	We strongly recommend applicants seek the advice of design professionals to help complete this section. This section of the application form is the most difficult to complete and often skipped because applicants do not understand it; however, it is important and must be completed. It provides information to the Council about how compliance with the NZ Building Code has been established. Compliance may be established in several ways; by using the acceptable solutions, alternative solutions, verification methods (producer statements), product Codemark Certificate, energy works certificates or determinations. Waivers and modification of the NZ Building Code may also be requested and should be noted here. If alternative solutions are provided as a means of compliance, please complete the Alternative Solution form found here Forms and Guidance page. (new window).
Compliance schedule
Specified systems:	We strongly recommend applicants seek the advice of design professionals to help complete this section. For building consent and code compliance certificate applications - if the application involves specified systems, applicable forms are required to be completed and attached to the application. These forms can be found on the Forms and Guidance page. (new window) More detail about the requirements can be found here. (new window)
Project information memorandum (supporting documentation) - if applicable
Subdivision:	If a subdivision of the property is involved resource consent will be required.
Alterations to land contours:	For example, digging out the site for a building platform, installing a retaining wall.
Public utilities:	For example, if you are planning to build or connect into the Council sewer, stormwater drains or water mains.
New or altered locations/ external dimensions of buildings:	Resource consent may be required.
New or altered access for vehicle:	If a vehicle crossing is being installed or altered, application must be made to the Council for approval to build on public land. We recommend you discuss your requirements with Council (Transportation) before you lodge your application.
Building work over or adjacent to any road or public place:	If you are planning to build over or adjacent to any road or public place special permission is required from Council (or Transit NZ) along with safety precautions to protect the public. We recommend you discuss the requirements with Council (Transportation) before lodging your application.
Disposal of stormwater and wastewater:	Where connection to the public drainage system is not available, stormwater and wastewater must be disposed of on-site. Details of the disposal system will be required.
Building work over existing drains or sewers or in close proximity to wells or water mains:	If you are planning to build over or within 2.5m of a Council sewer or water main, permission is required along with precautions to protect the Council infrastructure. We recommend you discuss the requirements with Council (3Waters) before lodging your application.
Other matters:	If known to the applicant, may require authorisation from Council. For example registered historical buildings.
Attachments - (supporting documentation)
Plans, specifications, check sheets:	One full set of consent drawings containing all relevant information to demonstrate compliance with the relevant sections of the NZ Building Code. Specifications relevant to the project must be provided along with any structural calculations. Please do not submit full manufacturers’ manuals for GIB, James Hardie or other similar products or systems, only submit the relevant sections. Do not include in the application multiple options (such as cladding details) or conflicting information (such as NZS 3604:2011 lintels sizes and a lintel design from a Truss Manufacturer). If applicable, completed DCC application check sheets, and specified system forms, found here Forms and Guidance page. (new window). Note, supporting documentation is required to be of a high, professional standard. Refer to the Guide to applying for a building consent found here. (link to external website, new window).
Alternative plans and specifications:	If the applicant wants to obtain pre-approval for possible product substitutions - list or attach a list.
Current/Alternative product certificates:	Attach: Current manufacturer’s certificate(s) if the building work includes the use/manufacture of modular components. Alternative product certificate(s) if the applicant wants to obtain pre-approval for possible product substitutions.
Memoranda (certificates of design work, records of work, owner-builder declarations):	Provide certificates of design work (or memorandum), records of work from the Licensed Building Practitioner(s) who carried out or supervised any design work that is restricted building work. Producer statements from suitably qualified and experienced designers or building professionals. Certificates from registered tradesmen who carried out the work. Owner builder exemption forms if applicable must be completed. Note this is a statutory declaration which must be witnessed by a JP, Lawyer or notary public. Forms are available here - Obligations and responsibilities of owner-builders (link to external website, new window).
Project information memorandum (PIM) and certificate attached to a PIM:	If you have already obtained a (PIM), attach a copy with the application. Also attach any certificates that accompany the PIM (e.g. Resource Consent requirements).
Development Contribution Notice:	The Development Contributions Policy is a policy adopted by the Council under the Local Government Act 2002. It allows the Council to require cash contributions when new development occurs. The Council then uses the funds collected to carry out capital works caused by or benefiting that development.
Record of title:	Full copy of the record of title, including consent notices if listed. Copy date of the record of title must be less than 6 months old at the time of application and include the plan of the property.
Evidence of ownership:	One of the following is required: record of title (must be less than 6 months old), lease agreement, agreement for sale and purchase, other document showing full name of legal owner/s e.g. copy of rates information. This must be attached to the application.
Inspection refund details:	For code compliance certificate applications - verification of bank account details. More information can be found here. (new window).

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How to complete an application form

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