24/09/2026
Every new home in New Zealand over 60m2 requires a building consent. Is it fact, or fiction?
It's fact!
Every new primary dwelling requires a Building Consent before construction can begin. The consent process ensures the proposed building complies with the New Zealand Building Code, including requirements for structure, fire safety, durability, weather tightness and energy efficiency. There are exemptions for some building work, such as qualifying secondary dwellings under the new granny flat exemption, but these do not apply to the first home built on a property.