Building work that does not require a building consent: Glossary of terms
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Glossary of terms
Alteration: In relation to a building, includes to rebuild, re-erect, repair, enlarge and extend the building. (Refer to section 7 of the Building Act 2004.)
Assembly: A complete unit consisting of assembled components.
Awning: A roof-like cover, usually made of fabric or similar lightweight material on a frame, often used to shelter a window, door or the side of a building.
Canopy: Projecting hood supported on brackets, corbels or columns over a door, window or niche.16
Carport: A roofed structure for motor vehicle storage, with at least one side fully open to the outdoors.
Comparable materials: Materials with similar properties and configuration and whose performance in terms of the Building Code is equivalent to or as good as the originals.
Component: A part of an assembly.
Culvert: A drainpipe often made out of concrete, which is placed in rivers and streams to enable people, traffic or stock to cross safely and easily.
Dam: Means an artificial barrier, and its appurtenant structures, that-
- (i) is constructed to hold back water or other fluid under constant pressure so as to form a reservoir; and
- (ii) is used for the storage, control, or diversion of water or other fluid; and includes-
- a flood control dam; and
- a natural feature that has been significantly modified to function as a dam; and
- a canal; but
- (a) does not include a stopbank designed to control floodwaters.
- (Refer to section 7 of the Building Act 2004.)
Finishes: Coatings and paints used to protect the surface of a particular material.
Height restriction gantry: Overhead structure that restricts vehicles from passing underneath, such as in a car park or underpass.
Hoarding: A structure alongside a public way providing side protection but no overhead protection.17
Lawful repair: Repairs that comply with the Building Code and other relevant legislation (eg, Resource Management Act).
Lightweight material: Thin, flexible fabric material such as canvas, shade mesh or vinyl.
Linings: The rigid sheet covering for a wall, ceiling, floor or interior surface.
Maintenance: Lawful repair using comparable materials in the same position to replace something that wore out through normal wear and tear.
Network Utility Operator or NUO: Network utility operator (NUO) means a person who-
- (a) undertakes or proposes to undertake the distribution or transmission by pipeline of natural or manufactured gas, petroleum, or geothermal energy; or
- (b) operates or proposes to operate a network for the purpose of-
- (i) telecommunication as defined in section 5 of the Telecommunications Act 2001; or
- (ii) radiocommunications as defined in section 2(1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1989; or
- (c) is an electricity operator or electricity distributor as defined in section 2 of the Electricity Act 1992 for the purpose of line function services as defined in that section; or
- (d) undertakes or proposes to undertake the distribution of water for supply (including irrigation); or
- (e) undertakes or proposes to undertake a drainage or sewerage system.
- (Refer to section 7 of the Building Act 2004.)
Open-vented water storage heater: A water heater incorporating a vent pipe which is permanently open to the atmosphere.
Outbuilding: A building classified as an outbuilding under Clause A1 of the Building Code such as a carport, garage, shed, public toilet or farm building.
Patio: A roofless, paved outdoor area adjoining a building.
Pergola: An exterior, decorative, open-framed structure often to support climbing or trailing plants.
Playground equipment: Equipment and structures with, or on which children can play.
Plinth: A supporting base.
Porch: Projecting or recessed covered space at the entrance to a building or structure.18
Rodding point: A removable cap at ground level through which access may be made for cleaning and inspecting the drainage system.
Rural zone: Any zone or area (other than a rural residential zone or area) that, in the district plan of the territorial authority in whose district the building work is to be undertaken, is described as a rural zone, rural resource area, rural environment, or by words of similar.
Shade sail: Fabric or similar lightweight material extended over an outdoor area to provide shelter or protection from direct sunlight.
Sign: A structure, including any structural support, for the purpose of conveying information or an instruction.
Solid-fuel heater: Solid fuel-burning appliance such as a wood burner.
Stall: A temporary structure erected by merchants to display and/or shelter their merchandise or products.
Stopbank: Structures built along water courses such as rivers or streams to prevent the surrounding land from flooding.
Structural stability: The ability to withstand the combination of loads that a building can experience.
Supplementary heat exchanger: A device built for efficient heat transfer from one medium to another.
Supporting ground: Ground that is bearing all or part of the loads from building work.
Surcharge: A load imposed by adjacent activities (eg, vehicle movement, parking or storage stacks), buildings or structures.
Temporary: Intended to last or to be maintained in place for only a limited, relatively short, period of time. While each instance will need to be assessed individually, any period longer than one year should generally not be considered as temporary.
Veranda: A roofed space extending from a building.19
Water storage heater: A water tank with an integral water heater for the storage of hot water.
Wet area shower: The floor of a wet area or level-entry shower is a continuation of the floor of the bathroom, rather than a separate raised shower tray or cubicle.
Further information
For further information and advice on exempt building work including whether a specific building project is exempt or not, refer to the following:
Websites that provide further information
- Department of Building and Housing
- ConsumerBuild
- your local council's website
- a registered architect
- a chartered professional engineer
- a licensed building practitioner (relevant licence class)
- a registered building surveyor
- a building consultant
- a building consent authority within your local (district or city) council
- a solicitor.
This document's status
This document is intended as a general guide to Section 41 and Schedule 1 of the Building Act and should be read in association with the Act. While the Department has taken every care in preparing this document, it should not be solely relied upon for establishing whether any given building work requires a building consent or whether the exemptions in Schedule 1 apply. In each specific situation it may be necessary to seek independent technical and/or legal advice.
Footnotes