2 Jun 2020
From the end of August, some common low-risk building work will no longer require a building consent. Some of the new exempt work will be able to be completed without the help of a professional, other work will require the involvement of a Chartered Professional Engineer or Licenced Building Practitioner. All work still needs to comply with the Building Act and Building Code.
Engineering New Zealand worked with SESOC and MBIE to provide comment on the changes and understand that more information, including technical requirements, will be coming out in August before the changes come into effect. Details will be published on building.govt.nz
Why the change?
The change will reduce the number of building consents processed by councils by approximately 9,000 a year. This will free up capacity, allowing building consents for higher-risk building work and larger projects to be processed faster. Enabling construction on larger projects to get underway as soon as possible supports the Covid-19 recovery.
Building work exemptions that require the involvement of a Chartered Professional Engineer or Licenced Building Practitioner include:
- Single-storey detached buildings
- Ground-mounted solar panels
- Carports up to 40 square metres
- Ground floor awnings up to 30 square metres
- Ground floor verandas and porches up to 30 square metres
- Short-span (small) bridges
- Single-storey pole sheds and hay barns in rural zones
