Building Consent Exemptions

Changes to Schedule 1 of the NZ Building Act in September 2020 made it much easier for Kiwis to undertake low-risk building work. These exemptions mean that a building consent is no longer required for most:

• Garages up to 30m²
• Sheds up to 30m²
• Sleepouts up to 30m2
• Carports up to 40m²

Pictured above is a 6m x 5m garage - As under 30m2 (internally) no building consent is required.

Of course, there are still some rules and regulations you need to be mindful of. These include:

• The manufacturer or supplier must have the design carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer, or
• a Licensed Building Practitioner will carry out or supervise the design and construction, and
• the building does not have any plumbing work (kitchen, bathroom or laundry). Any plumbing work in a new building still requires a building consent, and 
• any electrical work needs to be carried out by a registered electrician.

Building work that does not require building consent must still comply with the Building Code and other legislative requirements, such as those under the Resource Management Act 1991, the Electricity Act 1992 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Pictured above is a 7.2m x 4.2m sleepout - As under 30m2 (internally) no building consent is required.

Find out more by viewing the MBIE Guidance for building without a consent. Your local Ideal distributor can offer you local advice and guidance for your next building project. Chat to them today.