If you’re starting on a new build project here are the essentials of what you need to know.

The Building Act 2004

All building work needs to meet certain requirements to help keep buildings safe, healthy and durable.

The purpose of the Building Act is to

  • regulate all building work
  • provide for licensing of building practitioners
  • promote accountability of stakeholders involved in building work
  • set the standards required for building work.

This is to ensure that

  • people using buildings are safe and don’t endanger their health
  • buildings are suitable for anyone to use, no matter their mobility
  • people can escape safely from the building in the event of a fire
  • buildings are designed and constructed and able to be used in ways the promote sustainable developments.

Responsibility for the Act falls under the Ministry of Building, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Their Building Performance website has information on the Act, New Zealand Building Code, and other essential building information.

To understand what your responsibilities are see our information on Roles and Responsibilities.

What is a building consent

A building consent is the formal approval to undertake building work in accordance with the plans and specifications approved by the building consent authority. It establishes that your proposed building work will comply with the building code if the work is properly completed in accordance with the documentation.

After we have issued the building consent, we undertake inspections during construction and issue a code compliance certificate when the building work is all completed.

A person cannot carry out building work except in accordance with a building consent. There are some exemptions but any building work is still required to be carried out in accordance with the Building Code, even if no building consent is required.

More information