Flood Assessment Certificates

The Partially Operative District Plan contains rules and processes to ensure that subdivisions, residential units and principal buildings are constructed so that they are unlikely to be affected by inundation in a 200-year Annual Return Interval Flood event.

There is a requirement for a Flood Assessment Certificate that will affect all:

• new subdivisions
• new residential units
• new principal buildings
• new commercial buildings
• additions of 25m² or more floor area to existing residential units or principal buildings

The rules apply to the Natural Hazard Overlays which includes, but not limited to the Plains Flood Management Overlay.

The Partially Operative District Plan requires that each new residential unit, principal building and additions to an existing residential unit or principal building have a finished floor height of at least 300mm above the 200-year Annual Return Interval (ARI) flood event.

The Flood Assessment Certificate issued by Selwyn District Council will certify the information provided by the applicant that confirms:

• That the site/s or activity are or are not located on land that is within a High Hazard Area; and
• Whether or not the site/s or activity are likely to be subject to inundation in a 200-year Average Recurrence Interval (ARI) flood event; and
• If the site/s or activity are likely to be subject to inundation in a 200-year ARI flood event, the minimum finished floor level for the building that is at least 300mm above the 200-year ARI flood event.

An application for a Flood Assessment Certificate will need to include some detailed property information and a proposed finished floor level that is 300mm above the 200-year ARI flood event.

Links to District Plan rules