New regulations about building issues

18 December 2009: New regulations for National Multiple-Use Approvals and minor variations to building consents, and reduced licensing fees for trade-qualified building practitioners were made on 14 December 2009. These regulations will come into effect in February 2010.

National Multiple-Use Approvals 

•  Regulations were made on 14 December 2009 and will take effect on 1 February 2010.
• These regulations introduce National Multiple-Use Approvals to streamline the building consent process for volume builders. National Multiple-Use Approvals will enable building designs intended to be replicated multiple times to be ‘pre-approved’ for Building Code compliance.
• The regulations are available on the NZ Legislation website.
• More information about National Multiple-Use Approvals is available.

Minor variations to consented building work

• Regulations were made on 14 December 2009 and will take effect on 1 February 2010.
• These regulations set out criteria defining a minor variation to consented building work. Minor variations meeting the criteria will not require a formal application or amendment to the building consent.
• The regulations are available on the NZ Legislation website.
• The Department has prepared a minor variations guidance document for users.

Reduced licensing fees for trade-qualified practitioners

• Regulations were made on 14 December 2009 and will take effect on 15 February 2010.
• These regulations reduce the application fees for licensed building practitioner (LBP) applicants who hold a recognised qualification. The LBP rules have been revised to streamline the application process for qualified practitioners. More information about the fees, recognised qualifications and streamlining will be available in February 2010.
• The regulations are available on the NZ Legislation website.
• More Information about the LBP scheme is available.