Under the partially operative Dunedin City Second Generation District Plan (2GP) an ancillary residential unit is a small, self-contained house on a property that already contains an existing residential house. These units are intended to contribute to a range of housing choices without affecting the character of the area.
There are no restrictions on who can live in an ancillary residential unit i.e., it does not have to be a relative or dependent person.
Ancillary residential units are permitted in the residential zones if they meet the following requirements:
- They result in a maximum of two residential units on the site, including the ancillary residential unit.
- The site must meet the minimum site area and maximum development potential requirements as below:
| Zone | Minimum site size | Maximum development potential |
|---|---|---|
| General Residential 1 | 400m2 | 1 habitable room per 100m2 of site area |
| Low Density Residential | 750m2 | 1 habitable room per 150m2 of site area |
| Large Lot Residential 1 | 2000m2 | 1 habitable room per 400m2 of site area |
| Large Lot Residential 2 | 3500m2 | 1 habitable room per 700m2 of site area |
| Township and Settlement Zone (no reticulated wastewater) | 1000m2 | 1 habitable room per 200m2 of site area |
| Township and Settlement Zone (with reticulated wastewater) | 400m2 | 1 habitable room per 100m2 of site area |
- A maximum floor area of 60m2 where standalone or up to 80m2 standalone with resource consent. Resource consent is not required for an ancillary residential unit up to 80m2 in area where it is within the same residential building as the primary residential unit.
- Maximum height of 3m from ground level to the bottom of the eaves for ancillary units in stand-alone buildings.
- A compliant outdoor living space must be provided (refer to Rule 15.5.11).
- The unit must comply with the usual District Plan built form rules for buildings, such as boundary setbacks (Rule 15.6.13) and site coverage (Rule 15.6.10).
This advice is not site-specific and there may be factors such as natural hazards or landscape overlays which mean that resource consent is required for an ancillary unit.
Subdividing ancillary residential units
There is no specific provision in the 2GP for subdividing ancillary units from the primary residential unit. This means resource consent would be required to do this, usually as a non-complying activity due to an inability, in most cases, to meet the minimum site area requirements for stand-alone residential units.
Development contributions
Ancillary units are likely to result in a development contribution being payable to the Dunedin City Council (DCC). Please refer to the DCC's Development Contributions Policy for further information; or email the Development Contributions Team to request an estimate.
Rates
The addition of an ancillary unit will likely increase your rates for the property – due to both an increase in the rateable value and the addition of a second residential unit. The amount of any increase will largely depend on the increase to your rateable value, so it is not possible to estimate what the increase will be until the valuation has been set. Find more information about rates on the DCC website.