TDC relaxes building consent rules

October 3rd, 2014
[TDC press release]

A new policy was adopted at TDC's Environment and Planning Committee meeting yesterday allowing some buildings to be exempt from the need for a building consent.

Following an amendment to the Building Act last year the Council has adopted a new policy designed to reduce the regulatory burden for building work considered low risk.

The Government identified a number of building works that could proceed without a building consent and also gave local authorities further discretion to exempt work that would be constructed in compliance with the Building Code or, if not, in circumstances that will not endanger life or property.

Environment and Planning Committee Chair Stuart Bryant said the Council was keen to take up the opportunity and enable people to choose to be exempted where the costs associated with obtaining a building consent are likely to outweigh any benefits that requiring a building consent may offer.

"People will still have to demonstrate a building will comply with the Code but with kit-set garages, minor farm buildings, even stock bridges with an engineer's certificate, we are happy they should be able to proceed without having to go through the full consenting and inspection process and are prepared to empower staff to work to this end.

"The Council understands people may wish to have work consented but this option provides a choice and should reduce cost and documentation for the customer, shorten processing times, and mean eligible projects can start sooner."

The exemptions do not relieve the builder of complying with other regulations such as the Resource Management Act, the Electricity Act, or the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act.

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