In this section

See our fee schedule to 30 June 2026

If you have any questions please contact the customer service team on 0800 SELWYN (735 996) or email contactus@selwyn.govt.nz

Approximate consent costs

Below are some approximate average consent costs for a selection of building work types.

Note: the costs will vary depending on the complexity of the work and quality of the consent application.

Building work

Estimated value of work

Approximate average cost of consent

R1 freestanding solid fuel heater installation

less than $20,000

Currently fixed fee of $517

Note under actual time and cost basis the approximate average cost of this consent would be $1,220.00.

R1 pole shed

$40,000.00

$1,800.00

R1 domestic garage approx 36m2

$30,000

$1,600.00

R1 transportable dwelling under 100m2

$320,000.00

$4,500.00

R2 detached dwelling

$450,000.00

$6,500.00

R3 3 x multiunit dwellings

$1,750,000.00

$12,680.00

What the fees cover

The cost of your building consent depends on the type of application, cost of work involved and the level of detail provided.

Our charges are based on the length of time it takes to process an application and include costs such as

  • levies payable to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (if applicable)
  • levies payable to BRANZ (if applicable)
  • levy to cover BCA accreditation costs and overheads
  • administration time – loading, vetting, incoming document control
  • time spent processing the application
  • number of Inspections required (type and number vary depending on application)
  • issue of code compliance certificate
  • issue of compliance schedule (if applicable)
  • development contribution (if applicable)

We can provide an estimate of the fees to you, however the final cost won’t be known until your application is processed.

In cases where the processing of a building consent is getting beyond the normal expectations, a progress invoice may be issued to ensure all parties aware of the escalating costs.

Further fees may apply if during your build an inspection failed and requires an additional inspection over and above the number included with your building consent.

Estimated value of building work

It’s important that you supply us with an accurate estimated value of your building work. This should take into account all actual costs and any additional materials or labour provided free of charge to the project.

Please ensure you provide an accurate estimated value, as this information is needed to work out what levies are due to the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, and BRANZ (Building Research Association New Zealand).

Anything with an estimated value of $20,444 or more includes both levies. The levies will be included with your invoice to be paid by you before your building consent is granted.

The value of building work may also affect your total property valuation as QV use this information for establishing the rateable value of your property. This information may also be required for the insurance value and mortgage requirements for your project, while banks and insurance companies sometimes ask us to confirm the value of work submitted on the consent.

Levies Explained

BRANZ Levy

In the late 1960s the building and construction industry asked for a compulsory levy on building work to fund relevant research into improved techniques and materials for the good of the industry.

The Building Research Levy Act 1969 sets the levying of building contractors at $1.00 per $1,000 value (or part thereof) of the contract value of building work valued at $20,000 or more of every construction project put forward for building consent.

The levy is payable by the builder to the Building Research Association of New Zealand Inc. In practice, it is charged and collected by Building Consent Authorities and then paid to BRANZ on behalf of the builder.

Money raised by the levy is used by BRANZ for

  • carrying out construction industry-related research and other scientific work
  • allocating  grants to people and organisations carrying out construction industry-related research
  • publication of information
  • establishing and maintaining a library of resources
  • holding lectures, seminars, exhibitions and public meetings to distribute information about building research
  • proving advisory services
  • purchase of land and premises for the BRANZ activities
  • payment of staff salaries and honouraria of directors.

Use of levy funding and what it how it can be used for is set by the legislation. The amount of actual levy funds collected each year can vary significantly with changes in the level of building activity.

BRANZ therefore has no direct control over the levy income it receives. They smooth out the high and low years by putting reserves aside in high levy income years to be used in times of low levy income.

Details about BRANZ approach to Levy stewardship can be found  on the BRANZ website.

Building Levy (MBIE)

This government levy depends on the value of the project. The levy contributes to the development and management of national building regulations (Building Act and Building Code).

The Building Act sets the levy at $1.75 per $1,000 value (or part thereof) of building work valued at $65,000 or more of the contract value of every construction project put forward for building consent.

It is payable to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment. In practice however the levy is charged and collected by Building Consent Authorities when the building consent is granted and then paid to the ministry.

Where building work is completed in stages the levy is calculated taking into consideration section 57 of the Building Act 2004. This is to establish the appropriate estimated value of work to calculate the levy for each subsequent stage.

Quality Assurance Levy

The quality assurance levy is set by council through the annual fees and charges process. It goes towards covering the costs of meeting criteria under the Building (Accreditation of Building Consent Authorities) Regulations 2006 for BCA Accreditation, and ensuring quality management systems are in place across all aspects of the building teams’ workflow as TA Functions are also reviewed by MBIE in a similar manner.

This levy is currently set at $0.80 per $1,000 value (or part thereof) of building work, the levy is capped to a maximum rate of $10,000 per project.

Invoicing

Invoices are addressed to the agent by default.

Please indicate in the notes on your application if the invoice should go to another person (e.g. owner or third party).

Responsibility for payment of fees

You, as the owner, are responsible for paying the fees, unless your contract with your agent states otherwise. Ultimately you are still responsible for the payment.

Payment

  • Must be made on time when you receive your invoice.
  • You cannot hold payment if you are still waiting on the issue of your resource consent – we have made our decision on your application, which is independent of other approvals you may require in association with your project.
  • Overdue payments will be sent to debt collection.
  • A cancellation fee may apply if you withdraw an application at any stage - this is to cover time already spent on your application.

Your documents will be released after payment is made.

Note that where a development contribution is required, a code compliance certificate or certificate of acceptance will not be issued until the development contribution is paid.

You can make payment to us via

  • internet banking using the details provided at the bottom of your invoice
  • through our online transaction processing service - please read our terms and conditions for using this service
  • dropping into our customer services area at our Rolleston headquarters.