The building basics

Here’s how we do it.

The DCC is an accredited Building Consent Authority (BCA), which means we’re responsible for a range of building-related services. This includes administering the Building Act and checking your plans comply with the New Zealand Building Code.

If you need a building consent or to have the results inspected and signed off, or anything in between, that’s where we come in.

We also issue notices to fix when needed, to make sure any problems are sorted.

For all the basics, check out these useful links:

1. Getting started
2. Once building begins
3. Building is finished – what next?
4. Technical requirements
5. Building Consent fees and charges
6. Other services we provide

If you're a building professional or want more detail, check out these useful links:

Building Services contacts:

Email: building@dcc.govt.nz

Online: Request informtion from Building Services (this is not a property search)

Phone: 03 477 4000

In person: Building Services Enquiries Desk, Ground Floor, Civic Centre, 50 The Octagon, Dunedin

Writing: Dunedin City Council, PO Box 5045, Dunedin 9054

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• Do I need consent?

  The first question to ask yourself is – do I need a consent?

  If your project involves a new building, or the alteration or demolition of an old one, the answer is most likely yes.

  Building consents are important. They ensure work is carried out properly, to approved plans, and complies with the Building Code.

  If you build without consent when you need one, you can face all sorts of problems (fines, insurance difficulties or even being instructed to remove what you have built) that are best avoided.

  To check if you need a building consent, a useful first stop is the Buildit website.

  Some work can be undertaken without a building consent, but it’s still important to check if the work is exempt.

  Even if a building consent isn’t required, you might still need a resource consent and you also still need to make sure your project complies with the Building Code and any other relevant legislation.

  We know that can seem daunting, so feel free to contact us if you’re not sure (03 477 4000 or building@dcc.govt.nz) or get some advice from your builder.

• Before you begin

  If you are not familiar with the building consent process, there are a few things you can do to make life easier.

  • Use an experienced professional – This means a builder, an architect, or someone else who can supply us with the required drawings and other information and apply for a building consent on your behalf.
  • Help us help you – Make sure your application is as detailed as possible and has all the required information, to help us process it as quickly as possible. This will help avoid any unnecessary delays. Again, a trained professional will be a big help here. There is also more information available on the MBIE website.
  • What else do I need? – You can also apply for a PIM (project information memorandum) which summarises information that may affect your project. It’s not compulsory, but it can help your design and reduce delays and costs during the consent process. If you are planning a new home, a commercial project or another significant building activity, we recommend you apply for a PIM first, before you seek building consent. You can apply for a PIM online and our website also has useful checklists available. There is also more information on the MBIE website.
  • We’re here if you need us – We want to help you and make the building consent process as easy and seamless as possible. Feel free to get in touch with us directly (03 477 4000 or building@dcc.govt.nz). We are also happy to meet with you to discuss your project, before you submit your building consent application, to help you make informed decisions. Short meetings (15 minutes or less) are free, but charges for longer meetings apply.

• How to apply

  Before you submit an application for building consent, it’s a good idea to read our checksheets and guidance to make sure you include everything we need. This will help avoid unnecessary delays.

  We want to ensure your application is processed as quickly as possible, but the Building Act also requires us to make sure we have all the information we need.

  More useful information about applying for building consents is also available on the MBIE website.

  Once you’re ready, you can apply:

  • Online: Submit a building application. The online form is the application form (please register first).
  • In person/paper application: Building Services Enquiries Desk, Ground Floor, Civic Centre, 50 The Octagon, Dunedin.
  • Please note fees and levies apply. A copy of our building consent fees and charges is on our website and we offer payment options.
  • Detailed guidance on how to complete a building consent application is available on our website, along with tips for submitting it online.

• What happens next?

  Once you have successfully lodged your Building Consent application, we have a bit of work to do to ensure your project complies with the Building Code.

  First, we need to check we have all the required information. This usually takes no more than two working days.

  We do sometimes have to reject building consent applications. If this occurs, we will write to you explaining why this has happened.

  Once we’re sure we have everything, we can accept the application. In most cases we then have 20 working days to process your application. This involves staff across many DCC departments (Building Services, but also our planning, 3 Waters and transport teams, for example).

  While we’re doing this, you can keep an eye on progress by registering and using our online monitoring tool.

  We try really hard to process applications within 20 working days, but we do receive a lot of applications that are incomplete. When this happens, the Act requires us to ‘stop the clock’ while we seek further information to help us determine whether an application complies with the Building Code.

  If the information we need is simple, we can do this over the phone. For more complicated matters, we require written clarification which can take a bit longer.

  If you, as the applicant, make changes (for example, a revised design) we might also need to stop the clock while the new information is assessed.

  Once we have everything we need, the clock restarts and processing resumes.

  Once we are satisfied the project complies with the Building Code, we can grant consent. You will be notified of the outcome and that your consent is available for download once payment is made.

  Consents are valid for 12 months from the date they are issued. If work hasn’t started by then, and no extension has been agreed, they are deemed to have lapsed.

  We sometimes have to refuse building consent, particularly if the application does not comply with the Building Code. We do our best to work with you before we make this decision.

  Whether or not your consent is granted, you will still need to pay costs associated with processing your application. Charges may also still apply if you withdraw your application, depending on how much processing has already taken place. Our website has more information on payments.

Once building begins

It’s important to remember work cannot begin until you have received your Building Consent, which also contains important information about inspections and conditions of building consent.

And in some cases, even if you have received a Building Consent, work cannot start until any relevant Resource Consent issues are also resolved.

You can make changes to your project before or during construction, but you need to let us know. What you build needs to match your consent, otherwise you won’t be able to get a Code Compliance Certificate at the end of the project.

If you’re not sure about any of these requirements, feel free to get in touch with our Building Services team (03 477 4000 or building@dcc.govt.nz).

Inspections are an important part of the building process, to ensure work complies with the conditions of consent and the Building Code, and need to be arranged by you or your agent at various stages during construction.

A list of required inspections is included with your Building Consent. Important milestones/check points might be indicated (particularly for commercial projects) and in some cases work may not be able to proceed until the inspection is passed (or verification is received and accepted by the inspector).

Further inspections may also be needed, depending on the project.

We recommend booking inspections in advance to avoid delays, as inspection slots can be fully booked 3-6 days in advance.

You can book an inspection by calling us (03 477 4000) or by making an online booking.

You will need to have:

• Your building consent number
• the project location/address
• the type of inspection required and whether it is a re-inspection
• the name and contact details (including an email address) of the person who will be on-site at the time of the inspection, and the person making the booking
• licensed building practitioner (LBP) name and registration number for restricted building work inspections.

On the day of your inspection, you will also need to have printed copies of all approved documentation on site for reference (for example, the consent, any Project Information Memorandum, attachments and any approved amendments).

The DCC building inspector will then verify completed work complies with building consent documents and record the result.

If an inspection is failed, the inspector will explain what is needed to rectify this. In most cases, a re-inspection will need to be booked and you may also need to amend your building consent.

If the work being inspected is not fully compliant a Notice to Fix may need to be issued.

Building is finished – what next?

Once your building work is finished, you can book a final inspection. Our inspectors will visit again to check all other inspections have been undertaken and any issues identified have been sorted. (You should have all relevant documents on site again during this inspection.)

Once you have passed a final inspection, you can apply for a Code Compliance Certificate, which confirms work carried out matches your building consent and helps ensure your build is safe, healthy and durable.

We are required to process Code Compliance Certificate applications within 20 working days, but we may also need to ‘stop the clock’ if additional information is required.

Once your certificate is approved, it will be issued as soon as any outstanding fees or charges are paid in full.

Fees and charges

Our work to ensure your project matches your building consent and complies with the Building Act 2004 and Building Code involves a lot of DCC staff. We need to recover these costs, which we do through our fees and charges.

The time we take to process applications can vary, depending on the complexity of the project, but our website has details of our building consent fees and charges and general charges. This should help you estimate the likely cost of your planned building work, but additional charges may apply.

Technical requirements

As you might expect, ensuring compliance with the Building Act can be a complicated process. The Act stretches to 403 pages and 451 different sections (each one a page-turner!) but we try really hard to make things as simple and streamlined as possible.

Know what you’re looking for? Go here for all the technical details: Building Services – technical details