Process

The statutory 20 working day clock starts the day after you submit a complete application to us.

Once your application is submitted, we check that it is complete against the requirements of section 45 of the Building Act – see information required for your building consent and/or PIM).

During vetting:

• Your application is given a unique application number. Use this number whenever you contact us – it helps us find information about your consent faster.

• We check that that all required documents and information have been supplied ad are of an acceptable quality.

If information is missing or unclear

• If your application is incomplete or not to the required standard, it may be refused (see Checking that you've supplied a quality application).
• If information is missing, we will send you a vetting request for further information (RFI). This will clearly list what additional information is needed.

The 20 day working day processing timeframe starts only after all required information has been received.

If your application is rejected

You will need to create a new application and resubmit it if your application is rejected (you can use the duplicate application function in the customer portal).

Processing does not start immediately after acceptance:

• Once accepted, your application is placed in a processing queue.
• Applications are processed on a first-in, first-served basis for the type of application received.
• Your application may remain in the queue for serval days before assessment starts.

During processing, your application is reviewed by the relevant teams within Council (ie planning, engineering, building, water, and drainage).

Your design and specifications are assessed for compliance with:

• Building Act 2004
• New Zealand Building Code
• relevant New Zealand Standards
• any alternative solutions as applicable
• Resource Management Act
• Selwyn District Plan
• Regional Authority consents.

The information you provide with your application must clearly show how your project complies with all relevant legislation.

During processing, your application will also be reviewed for (as relevant):

Development contributions

Development contributions may apply where:

• A subdivision is involved.
• A second dwelling is proposed.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) referrals

Some consent applications must be referred to FENZ for review by Fire Engineering Unit (FEU).

This is a requirement under section 46 of the Building Act 2004. The referral process is set out in the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017.

Projects that must be sent to FENZ are listed on the New Zealand Gazette website.

FENZ has 10 working days to provide feedback to the building consent authority on:

• the means of escape from fire, and
• the needs of authorised firefighters entering the building to fight fire.

In some cases, FENZ may provide additional recommendations to improve the overall fire safety of the proposed design.

Heritage New Zealand involvement

If your build project affects a historic place or area (wāhi tapu or wāhi tapu area) listed on the New Zealand Heritage List (Rārangi Kōrero), we have to notify Heritage New Zealand within five days after receiving your project information memorandum or building consent application.

This provides an early warning, allowing Heritage New Zealand to support the protection of historical and cultural heritage in the public interest.

As a territorial authority, we are responsible for heritage management and protection under the following legislation:

• Resource Management Act1991
• Heritage New Zealand Act 2014
• Building Act 2004
• Local Government Act 2002.

We can take a flexible approach when assessing applications for heritage buildings, recognising their historical or cultural significance.

Council makes the decision to grant or refuse an application based primarily on compliance with the building code.

If a heritage building is considered dangerous or insanitary t must be strengthened or any danger removed.

Professional opinions

Professional opinions or statements provided with your application (eg producer statements, design feature reports, subject matter expert opinion):

• are assessed on their merits, but
• do not have legal status under the Building Act.

To support professional opinions, we recommend providing verifiable evidence, such as calculations or technical reports. This helps us determine, on reasonable grounds, that your proposed building work will comply with the building code and Building Act 2004.

The professional is responsible for quality assurance and accuracy of information, including:

• Inspection records
• Construction statements.

Warnings or bans

From time to time, a warning or ban may be issued for a building product or construction.

• These are introduced where a product or method doesn’t meet the building code or may fail.
• This can have an effect on our ability to issue your building consent or code compliance certificate.

Warnings and bans are publicly notified by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), including the date from which they apply.

Details of warnings and bans are available on their website.

As the building owner, you’ll be advised of anything that may affect your ability to meet your responsibilities under the Building Act 2004.

Even if you’ve appointed an agent to act on your behalf, you’ll receive copies of all communications from us throughout the building process, including:

• Requests for further information
• Inspection reports
• Notices to fix.

You can’t opt out of receiving these communications. They ensure you have all the information needed to understand what is happening and to meet your responsibilities as the owner.

If we need more information to assess your application, we’ll send you a request for further information (RFI).

• You will receive an email notification automatically.
• A red RFI notice will show at the top of your building consent overview page – click on the link to open the outstanding RFIs for your consent.

What happens when an RFI is issued

• Your application is put on hold.
• The 20 working day statutory clock stops.
• The clock restarts once we receive all requested information.

We ask for this information so we can be ‘satisfied on reasonable grounds’ your work will meet the building code.

How to respond to an RFI

To avoid delays, please:

• Respond through the customer portal.
• Answer ALL questions at the same time.

• Clearly show what has changed on updated documents (eg revision clouds and document version numbering).
• Add a document transmittal or updated cover page showing:
  • documentation names
  • sheet numbers
  • current version references.

• Upload files as PDFs, printable to scale (maximum A3 size for residential projects).

If information is missing, your response will be treated as incomplete. We will need to ask again, which will delay your application.

Response timeframe

• You should provide all requested information within 20 working days.
• If you need more time, contact us before the due date to advise additional time needed.
• If you don’t respond, your application may be refused.

You can track your application through the customer portal.

If you don’t have access create your own login, and request access via your login.

Updating contact details on your consent

If you need to change or update the contact details for yourself or your tradespeople, you can:

• Update them online through customer portal.
• Email contactus@selwyn.govt.nz - include:
  • The consent number in the subject line
  • Updated contact details
• Call the Building Advisory team on 0800 SELWYN (735 996).

Changes to plans or specification

We understand that plans, products, and specifications can change during the design phase.

You can make changes before you consent is granted by submitting the updated information via incoming documents in the customer portal.

Provide:

• Clearly mark changes on plans with a cloud, with a clear description of what has changed
• Include any relevant supporting information.

This helps the Building Surveyor processing your application quickly identify and assess the changes during the RFI process.

Putting your consent on hold during processing

The Building Act 2004 does not allow the statutory clock to be paused, except when an RFI is issued.

If you need to pause your project for any reason, we recommend that you:

• Withdraw your application, and
• Re-apply when you are ready to proceed.

Please note any processing completed up to the date of withdrawal request will be charged at the applicable rate.