Building and renovating
For many years New Zealanders have placed great importance on owning their own home.
Our pioneering background and an abundance of land and wood to build with encouraged many people to build their own home – often with the help of some friends.
This attitude is a big part of New Zealand culture, as you will see from the many building and renovation retailers throughout the country.
However, over time this approach also led to instances of unsatisfactory design or build quality, with potentially serious consequences for future owners.
There are now well established guidelines and regulations in NZ with which all new buildings and renovations must comply.
Building Regulations in New Zealand
Some restrictions and regulations are nationwide – such as minimum sizes or performance standards for specific building materials, while other regulations are determined and enforced by local councils, because they relate to the town planning or specific safety requirements of that region.
For example, buildings in the Wellington region require a higher standard of earthquake strengthening, and buildings in coastal areas often require stainless steel to be used for construction fixing.
Copies of the local regulations for each area are available from local councils. The majority of building work, new or renovations, will require a consent from the relevant council, which needs to be applied for before the work is begun.
In some cases a separate resource consent may be also required, relating to the intended land use.
Both consent applications will require fees to be paid, to assist in funding the on-going compliance process. If you don’t have these consents, the building or renovation work may have to be to be taken down.
Restricted Building Work
Restricted Building Work applies to most residential building or renovation work. Only a Licensed Building Practitioner can undertake or supervise this work.
If you apply for a building consent from March 1 2012 you must make sure that the practitioners you use are correctly licensed to carry out the work.
Licensed Building Practitioners include:
- Designers
- Carpenters
- Roofers
- External Plasterers
- Brick and Blocklayers, and
- Foundation specialists
Professional Engineers, Architects, Plumbers and Gasfitters are treated as Licensed Building Practitioners and can carry out some Restricted Building Work.
You can find out more by visiting the Department of Building and Housing website at www.dbh.govt.nz/lbp
The Department of Building and Housing is a government agency with oversight across all building and housing in New Zealand, including policy making, regulation and dispute resolution. For more information about all aspects of building and renovation, this is our recommended place to start.
