Building Act 2004
The Building Act 1991 has been repealed and the Building Act 2004 is now fully in force.
The Act introduces major changes for New Zealand’s building control system. It is about improving control of and encouraging better practices in building design and construction, to ensure buildings are built right first time.
The Act introduces a range of measures to achieve this, including bringing more scrutiny into the building consent and inspection process. Those new measures come into force 1/4/2005 and include the following:
- A new timeframe of up to 20 working days for councils to consider building consents.
- New conditions for issuing building consents that will see more detail required and the use of a new application form.
- Code compliance certificates will now be issued against the conditions in the original building consent.
- The notice to fix replaces the notice to rectify.
- More detailed information to be included in project information memoranda.
- The introduction of the certificate of acceptance. Interim code compliance certificates will no longer be issued.
- A new role for the Fire Service in the consent process.
- Changes to building warrants of fitness and compliance schedules.
- New provisions for change of use of a building.
- Transitional provisions for building work granted a building consent before 31 March 2005 and yet to be completed.
When any building work is done, even if it does not require a building consent, the work must meet the requirements of the New Zealand Building Code.
This is a guide only - if in doubt discuss your specific proposal with a building official.
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