Building Regulations
The Building Regulations form an important part of New Zealand’s building controls.
- The Building Act 2004 sets out the law on building work.
- The Building Regulations 1992 contain the mandatory New Zealand Building Code, which sets out performance standards that all new building work must meet. It covers aspects such as structural stability, fire safety, access, moisture control, durability, services and facilities. All new building work must comply with the Building Code.
Building regulations are made under and in accordance with the Building Act. The type of regulations that can be made, including the process that must be followed when creating new regulations are given in Sections 400-410 of the Building Act.
The Building Regulations 1992, and subsequent amendments, were made under the Building Act 1991 but are now treated as if they were regulations made under the Building Act 2004. However, the majority of the 1992 Regulations were revoked on 31 March 2005 by the Building (Forms) Regulations 2004. The only part of the 1992 Regulations continuing in force is Schedule 1
containing the Building Code.
A number of new regulations have been made under the Building Act 2004, and more are scheduled. Future regulations will include those in respect of:
- the product certification scheme
- the building consent authority registration and accreditation scheme
- the infringement offences
- the dam safety regime
- the building practitioner licensing scheme.
The Building (Forms) Regulations 2004 set out the forms that must be used in various circumstances, mainly by territorial authorities.
Building Regulations made under the Building Act 2004
To date, the following regulations have been made under the Building Act 2004.
- 2009/410: Building Practitioners (Licensing Fees and Levy) Regulations 2009
- 2009/409: Building (National Multiple-use Approval) Regulations 2009
- 2009/408: Building (Minor Variations) Regulations 2009
- 2007/125: Building (Design Work Declared to be Building Work) Order 2007
- 2007/126: Building (Designation of Building Work Licence Classes) Order 2007
- 2007/102: Building (Consent Authority Accreditation Fees) Regulations 2007
- 2006/399: Building (Accreditation of Building Consent Authorities) Regulations 2006
- 2005/031: Building (Forms) Amendment Regulations 2005 [PDF 82 KB, 6 pages]
- 2005/032: Building (Specified Systems, Change the Use, and Earthquake-prone Buildings Regulations 2005
- 2005/338: Building (Specified Systems, Change the Use, and Earthquake-prone Buildings Amendment Regulations 2005 [PDF 85 KB, 3 pages]
- 2005/033: Building Levy Order 2005 [PDF 75 KB, 3 pages]
- 2005/055: Building (Fee for Determinations) Regulations 2005
- 2005/170: Building (Forms) Amendment Regulations (No 2) 2005 [PDF 87 KB, 9 pages]
- 2004/385: Building (Forms) Regulations 2004
- 2007/403: Building (Infringement Offences, Fees, and Forms) Regulations 2007
- 2007/299: Building Practitioners (Licensing Fees and Levy) Regulations 2007
- 2007/300: Building (Registration of Building Consent Authorities) Regulations 2007
Read the Regulations online
Visit the New Zealand Legislation (Public Access to Legislation Project) website .
Buy print copies
Buy a copy from a bookseller such as Vicbooks or Bennetts Government Bookshop.