A Land Information Memorandum (LIM) is a report prepared by the Council that includes any information or knowledge held by the Council relating to a specific property.
As of 1 July 2026, LIM fees are $375.00 for residential/rural properties; and $500.00 for Commercial/Industrial properties.
See below for further information on applying for a LIM.

About this dashboard

The dashboard below provides information about both recently completed LIMs and LIMs currently being processed by Selwyn District Council. It also provides an overview of the number of LIMs completed over the previous twelve months.

There are three key concepts represented in the visualisation below:

  • LIMs currently being processed: These are LIMs that the Council is currently working on.
  • Completed LIMs: These are LIMs that have been completed (processed and issued by the Council) in the last 7 days.
  • Process days: Under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA), the Council has a statutory obligation to respond to LIM applications within 10 working days (referred to as process days here). The process days measure shows either how long an application is currently taking, was taking before it was completed, or what the average was over a month.

Things to note

This report replaces the previously provided LIM Processing Report and is updated once daily overnight. New applications or changes in status will not appear immediately. Council has 10 working days to provide a Land Information Memorandum. This timeframe starts once an application has been processed.  Processing includes confirming payment, any incorrect information has been corrected, and that Council has all information required to accurately identify the property within our systems. If you have lodged a LIM request and it does not appear on this report within 24 hours, please contact us at lims@selwyn.govt.nz or call 0800 SELWYN (735 996).
LIM applications are processed in the order in which they are entered. While many LIMs can be completed quickly, some properties are more complex and require additional time to research and compile. This can include properties with a longer consent history, known or potential hazards, or related information that need to be checked across different teams. As a result, a LIM for a more straightforward property may be issued sooner than one lodged earlier for a more complex site.

All LIMs are processed in accordance with the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, and we work to provide each LIM as soon as practicable within the statutory timeframe.

Land Information Memorandum (LIM) processing is paused annually from 20 December to 10 January, in accordance with the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.  During this shutdown period, these dates are excluded from the statutory ten working day deadline required for issuing LIMs.  As a result, any LIM application submitted between 20 December and 10 January will be considered as being received on 11 January and processed from that date.  If you need your LIM before Christmas, please ensure your application is lodged before 5 December, as applications received after this date may not be processed in time. Please allow for this shutdown period in your planning, especially during the busy December period and when arranging property sales or purchases.

Who might require a LIM

  • Property Buyers and Sellers
  • Real Estate Agents
  • Valuers
  • Solicitors

If you are buying a property, a LIM may answer some important questions that need to be asked about the land or any buildings on the property.

A LIM will tell you what the Council knows about the property or any issues that may affect it. Knowing this information may be vital before a property purchase is finalised.

When selling a property, you have a responsibility to disclose important information about your property.

Information contained in a LIM

The following types of information may be included in a LIM:

Note: Council can only provide information that it holds at the time the report is written. Some issues may exist of which the Council is unaware and on which the Council has no information.

  1. Information on special land features and natural hazards, including:
    • Flooding and inundation risks (including coastal hazards and sea-level rise)
    • Erosion and avulsion (loss of land due to water action)
    • Alluvion (silt deposition)
    • Land stability hazards (subsidence, slippage, landslides, liquefaction)
    • Earthquake and seismic risks
    • Climate change impacts on natural hazards
    • Potential presence of hazardous substances
    • Heritage features (historic buildings, notable trees)
    • Archaeological sites
  2. Details on private and public storm water, sewerage and drainage systems including maps, where available, as shown in Council’s records.
  3. Outstanding sewer/water loan charges
  4. Information relating to Government Valuation
  5. Information concerning any certificate, permit, consent, notice, order or requisition affecting the land or any building on the land issued by the Council (Whether under the Building Act 2004, Resource Management Act 1991, or any other Act).
  6. Information concerning access, road type and classification
  7. Other information concerning the land which the Council considers to be relevant.

NOTE: Environment Canterbury may have information on matters that affect a particular property or on effects caused by surrounding properties. Information should be sought from them if concern exists - Environment Canterbury, Phone (03) 365-3828 or Fax (03) 365-3194.

Apply for a LIM

Fees:  Residential and Rural: $375.00 | Commercial and Industrial: $500.00

What you need:  Apply for a LIM application online. Applications must be made on the official LIM Application Form, completed in full, and accompanied by a current search copy of the Certificate of Title, to correctly identify the property.

Processing: Council has 10 working days to provide a LIM. This timeframe begins once Council has received a complete application.

A complete application means

  • all required information has been provided,
  • the property can be accurately identified in Council's systems,
  • payment has been received (unless you are an approved LIM account holder).

LIM account holders:  processing will begin once a complete application has been received.

Non-account holders: following submission you will receive a payment request, as part of our processing. Your application will be entered once full payment is confirmed and processing complete. The 10 working day timeframe commences at this point.

Cancellation: You must cancel within 24 hours of submitting your application. Once a LIM has been completed, the full fee is payable regardless of whether you choose to collect or use it.