Townships

Tai Tapu

For properties in the Living 1A or 2A zones at Tai Tapu, any new dwelling or other principal building must have a finished floor level of at least 6.93 metres above mean sea level, or get resource consent before construction begins.

Read Living Zones Rule 4 – Buildings.

Rural

Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora Flood Area

For properties in the Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora Flood Area, any new dwelling or other principal building must have a finished floor level of at least 3 metres above mean sea level, or get resource consent before construction begins.

Lower Plains Flood Area

For properties in the Lower Plains Flood Area, any new dwelling or other principal building must have a finished floor level of at least 300mm above a 2% Annual Exceedance Probability flood event (that is, a 1 in 50 year flood), or get resource consent before construction begins.

This means that if a Consent Notice recording the minimum required floor level is:

  • registered against your Certificate of Title, your building consent application will need to include a copy of the Consent Notice and demonstrate compliance with that required floor level.
  • not registered against your Certificate of Title, your building consent application will need to include a report from an appropriately qualified and experienced person that identifies the minimum required floor level and demonstrate compliance with that floor level.

Although Environment Canterbury may be able to provide some information about historical flood events, they may not be in a position to provide a floor height recommendation. If they do not recommend a minimum floor height you will need to engage a consultant with access to both surveying and engineering expertise to undertake the assessment on your behalf.

Waimakariri Flood Category A Area

Any new dwelling or other principal building in the Waimakariri Flood Category A Area requires resource consent.

Seaward of the Coastal Hazard 1 Line

Any new dwelling or other principal building seaward of the Coastal Hazard 1 Line requires resource consent.

Between any water body and any stopbank designed to contain floodwater from that water body

Any new dwelling or other principal building between any water body and any stopbank designed to contain floodwater from that water body requires resource consent.

Read Rural Rule 3 – Buildings You may also need to consult Rural Rule 1 – Earthworks.

Not sure what zone you’re in? Consult the Canterbury Planning Maps.