Request a minor variation to a building consent

When you’re building to your building consent, sometimes you may want or need to make a minor change to what’s been approved. A minor change is considered to be one of the following or similar (but not limited to):

• changing one internal lining for a similar internal lining
• changing the type of timber treatment
• minor wall bracing changes
• a change to a component (for example, fixing bracket)
• a construction change (for example, the framing method around a window when the window is changed to a door)
• changing a room's layout (for example, the position of fixtures in a bathroom or kitchen)
• changing one brand of insulation for another
• building work described in schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004.

This page outlines the process to request a minor variation, what you’ll need to do, and what Council does.

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Before you start

You must request the minor variation and have it approved before you proceed with it; a minor variation can’t be approved in retrospect.

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1. Owner or builder identifies need for building consent change

The owner or their builder follows these steps:

1. Identify proposed change to building consent.
   Note: if the variation is not considered minor, you'll need to Apply to amend a building consent
2. Owner advises Council in writing that they (the owner) agree to this minor variation.
   Note: this could be an email to Council, or a signed note on the updated plan.
3. Request the building officer’s approval for the proposed change when the building officer is next on site, or prior.
   Note: the work must not be started before the building officer gives their approval for the minor variation.

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2. Building officer reviews proposed minor variation

The building officer follows these steps:

1. Review the proposed minor variation with the owner and/or builder.
2. Check that owner has provided written approval for the proposed change (for example, noted and signed the updated plan, or provided an email to Council)
3. Decide if they approve the minor variation.

If the building officer…	then…
approves the minor variation	go to step 4
does not approve the minor variation	the owner and/or builder can either: apply for an amendment to the building consent continue as per their approved building consent this procedure ends.

4. Decide if any additional information is needed (for example, updated design certificate or plans).
5. Document the variation in the inspection notes, including any additional information to be provided to Council and the date the information must be provided by.
   Note: if this information is not received by the due date, no further inspections will be done or code compliance certificate issued until Council receives the information.
6. Stamp, date and initial any pages of the consent held onsite that are affected by the minor variation.
   Note: the owner and/or builder can start work on the minor variation once it’s approved.
7. Photograph the stamped and signed pages of the consent to add to Council’s building consent file.
8. Add these photos to the building consent file at Council.
9. Email the inspection site notice, containing details of the minor variation, to the builder/owner. 

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3. Building team receives additional information

On receiving the requested additional information the building officer follows these steps:

1. Check the information provided.
   Note: if further analysis of the information is required this will be done through a desktop inspection, which may incur an additional inspection fee. 
2. Update Council records that the information has been received.
3. Save the information to the building consent file, to ensure Council's documentation is complete and up to date, reflecting the proposed work.
   Result: this procedure ends.

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