Apply for a resource consent

There's a few things you can do when you apply for a resource consent to help make your application process go more smoothly.

Resource consent applications can be complex, detailed, and quite technical. We recommend you work with a planning consultancy, surveyor or architect to apply for resource consent for you.

Steps

1. Agent/Designer submits application.
2. Council assesses application for completeness.
   Note: this is not a technical check.
3. Council accepts application for lodgement.
4. Owner/Agent pays Council fees

You’ll need to pull together all the information we need to consider your application under the relevant legislation. If you’ve had a pre-application meeting, this process will help you pull together the information we discussed for your particular situation; if your project is more straightforward and didn’t need a pre-application meeting, this process will also help you with what you’ll need to include.

You, or someone representing your project (your builder, architect, surveyor or planning consultant), must complete one of:

• a land use resource consent application form
• subdivision resource consent application form
• request for deemed permitted boundary activity form.

You’ll then need to email it to the Council's Resource Consents team – [email protected]. You’ll also need to pay the appropriate fee.

Reviewing application for lodgement

Before Council can formally accept an application for processing, our Resource Consents team need to check it to make sure it’s complete. Checking applications at the start shows us early in the process if any information we need is missing, so helps avoid delays once we’ve formally received the application.

The applicant must include an assessment of environmental effects (AEE) with their resource consent application.

Natural and Built Environment Act 2023

The Natural and Built Environment Act 2023 was repealed in December 2023 by the Resource Management (Natural and Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal and Interim Fast-track Consenting) Bill, with the exception of some interim fast-track consenting provisions. 

Deemed permitted boundary activity

Where a rule is breached in relation to a boundary, such as a setback or height in relation to boundary, an applicant can ask Council to issue a written notice deeming the activity to be permitted.

This request must include all of:

• A completed application for a deemed permitted boundary activity form [PDF 446 KB] for the aspects that do not comply with the District Plan
• written approval [PDF 176 KB] from all owners of the affected boundary
• plans detailing the encroachment.

If Council issues a written notice as a result, no resource consent is required.

You can’t apply for a deemed permitted boundary activity when non-compliance is along a public boundary, such as a road or reserve.

Council does not have to undertake an effects assessment and if all the information is supplied (there’s no ability to ask for further information), must issue a written notice within 10 working days deeming the activity to be permitted.

Fast-track resource consent applications 

Where a land use resource consent has been applied for in respect for a controlled activity, we must process and issue a decision within 10 working days. We have no discretion to decline controlled activity consents. The most common applications received for land use controlled activities are for home occupations and relocated buildings. Applicants in this instance are receiving a priority service, although they can opt out and pay a lower deposit fee if they wish.

A fast-track consenting process is available for some housing and infrastructure resource consent applications. See Resource Management (Natural and Built Environment and Spatial Planning Repeal and Interim Fast-track Consenting) Bill for more information.

Deemed permitted marginal or temporary exemptions

We have the discretion to determine if effects of a proposed activity are marginal or temporary and issue a written notice which exempts the requirement for a resource consent. There is no formal application process for public participation as Council determines what is marginal or temporary and there is no working day timeframe to assess marginal or temporary effects and make a determination. These exemptions are for situations in which the effects of an otherwise permitted activity are no different in character, intensity, or scale than the permitted activity and the adverse effects on any person are less than minor. Sufficient information must be supplied for Council to be able to determine what the effects are and if they are marginal or temporary. Council must issue a written notice if the activity is considered to meet the requirements of the RMA. Written notices lapse within five years unless given effect to prior.