Building Inspections
The building consent process is about protecting people and property. When you book and then pass each inspection, and are issued a code compliance certificate, you will have documented assurance that you have met the Building Act requirements. The type of inspections will depend on the nature of your building work.
Most inspections require on-site representation. Please check this when booking your inspection and make sure you can be around. The approved consent plans and associated documents must be on-site for all inspections.
In cases where design professionals (such as engineers) supervise the work, Council also requires documentation from those professionals that the work has been completed according to the approved building consent documents. This is often a producer statement supported by site notes.
Agreement for others to supervise and inspect the work is included as part of the building consent approval.
You must complete a Code Compliance Certificate Application.
Builders and installers usually arrange inspections relevant to their work, but property owners are ultimately responsible for ensuring the building is compliant.
When You Need an Inspection
Inspections cover a range of building and plumbing areas, including:
- foundations, retaining walls and slabs
- plumbing and drainage
- framing, including bracing and air-seals
- building wrap, flashings and cladding
- pool fencing
- solid fuel fireplaces
- waterproofing on showers, decks, roofs and retaining walls
- completed works.
The inspections required for your project are listed in the building consent documentation issued by Council. You must keep the approved copy of your building consent on site so the Building Control Officers can check them. If you intend to significantly vary your building work, you must get your building consent amended.
Amendments to a Building Consent
If your plan has changed and you don’t yet have a building consent, simply provide Council with two copies of your plans, showing the proposed changes.
If you already have a building consent and want to make a change
- Complete an Application to Amend Building Consent (available on the Building Form page)
- Provide the form and two copies of your amended plans to Council provide the form and two copies of your amended plans to Council (pre July 2017) or upload them to the online portal (post July 2017).
Arranging an inspection
Bookings require at least 24 hours notice. Phone Council to book an inspection.
The following information is required when booking an inspection:
- Building Consent number
- address of property where the building work is being done
- type of inspection required
- name and phone number of site contact person
A failed inspection
Failed inspections are due to one or more non-compliance being found. The areas of non-compliance will be discussed with the site representative. These will generally result in varying levels of site instruction such as conditional continuation or a stop work. Serious breaches can result in a notice to fix.
Please note that deviations to the plans require amendments and that you will need discuss this with your designer at the earliest opportunity. Amendments can be minor or major depending on the nature of the change.
Site Safety
On the construction site, the safety of people, including Council officers, is your responsibility. This includes providing safe access to all parts of the site to allow work to be inspected. It is a requirement that you or your representative to be on site during the inspection.
Building near powerlines
No person shall erect or cause to permit to be erected any building, structure, scaffold or any other thing, whether of the same nature or not, at a distance in any direction from an aerial conductor of an electric line than that prescribed in the following table (see below).
Notwithstanding subclause (1) of this regulation, an Electrical Supply Authority or Licensee may give permission in writing, for the use of a lesser distance than that prescribed in the table in subclause (1) of this regulation if such lesser distance is not less than the minimum clearance prescribed in Regulation 87 of these regulations in respect of any specific line, voltage and condition of use.
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Minimum Distance Under Normal Conditions
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Voltage of Line
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Vertical Metres
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Horizontal Metres
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Not exceeding 33,000 volts
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4
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4
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Exceeding 33,000 volts for spans up to 500 meters
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8
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20
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Exceeding 33,000 volts for spans exceeding 500 metres
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Such distances as prescribed by the owner of the line but not less than the clearance prescribed in Regulation 38
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