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Guide to applying for a building consent (simple residential buildings)
Building work that does not require a building consent
Guide to building consent amendments
Means of establishing compliance: alternative solutions
Building Act 2004: Guide to exemptions from building consent requirements
BCA Accreditation Regulation 17 Quality Assurance System Guidance
A beginner’s guide to resource and building consent processes
Compliance Schedule Handbook
Accessible car parking spaces
The international symbol of access
Accessible reception and service counters
Information for designers, builders and specialist trades
New safety measures for premises intended for public use – Section 363
Sales by residential property developers – Section 364
Building officials' guide to the Building Act
Building consent authority development guide
Building Officials' FAQs
Earthquake-prone building provisions of the Building Act 2004: Policy guidance for territorial authorities
Dangerous and insanitary building provisions of the Building Act 2004: Policy guidance for territorial authorities
Guide to amending building work from the approved consent

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Building Act 2004 guidance

Guidance information on Building Act initiatives that affect different people, including homeowners and consumers, building owners, managers and developers, builders, tradespeople and designers, and building officials.

You can browse the details of all Building Act publications below, or view our information for different people, which includes the relevant publications.

Dam Safety Scheme

What sort of publication it is: Colour brochure
Who it's for: Regional authorities and owners of large dams
What it contains: This document provides guidance to regional authorities and owners of large dams regarding the Dam Safety Scheme.

How much it costs: Free
How to get it:

Read the Dam Safety Scheme online »
Download the Dam Safety Scheme [PDF 888 KB, 36 pages]

Guide to applying for a building consent (simple residential buildings)
		What sort of publication it is: Colour brochure Who it's for: designers, builders, project managers, members of the construction industry and developers What it contains: This booklet provides information about the issues to consider when applying for a building consent, and describes the minimum documentation that should be supplied with an application to demonstrate compliance with relevant clauses of the Building Code. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF Guide to applying for a building consent (simple residential buildings) [PDF 3 MB, 48 pages]
Building work that does not require a building consent
		What sort of publication it is: Colour brochure Who it's for: This document is mainly for architects, designers, licensed building practitioners, and building owners who are undertaking building work. What it contains: This document provides guidance on the types of building work that do not require a building consent under Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004 (the Building Act). How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF or read it online Read the Building work that does not require a building consent online Building work that does not require a building consent [PDF 1.25MB, 36 pages]
Guide to building consent amendments
		What sort of publication it is: Colour brochure Who it's for: Building officials. What it contains: This document provides guidance to people seeking building consent amendments. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF Guide to building consent amendments [PDF 249KB, 22 pages]
Means of establishing compliance: alternative solutions
		What sort of publication it is: Colour brochure Who it's for: Building officials. What it contains: This document provides guidance to building consent applicants on how to use alternative solution proposals when applying for building consents. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF Read the means of establishing compliance: alternative solutions online » Means of establishing compliance: alternative solutions [PDF 481KB, 12 pages]
Building Act 2004: Guide to exemptions from building consent requirements
		What sort of publication it is: Colour brochure Who it's for: Building officials. What it contains: The purpose of these guidelines is to assist building consent authorities and building officials to deal with changes to Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004, that come into force on 16 October 2008. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF Building Act 2004: Guide to exemptions from building consent requirements [PDF 190 KB, 12 pages]
BCA Accreditation Regulation 17 Quality Assurance System Guidance
		What sort of publication it is: Colour brochure Who it's for: Building officials. What it contains: Regulation 17 of the Building (Accreditation of Building Consent Authorities) Regulations 2006 sets out the quality assurance requirements that building consent authorities must have implemented and be successfully accredited against before 1 December 2010. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF BCA Accreditation Regulation 17 Quality Assurance System Guidance [PDF 202 KB, 12 pages]
A beginner’s guide to resource and building consent processes
		What sort of publication it is: Colour brochure Who it's for: members of the public who are considering a building activity which may require both a building consent and resource consent. What it contains: Outlines the requirements of, and relationship between, the Resource Management Act and the Building Act. Jointly produced by the Department of Building and Housing and the Ministry for the Environment, it also shows where to get more detailed guidance on both Acts. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF or view online Read the A beginner's guide to resource and building consent processes online A beginner’s guide to resource and building consent processes [PDF 2.262 MB, 26 pages]
Compliance Schedule Handbook
		What sort of publication it is: Black and white publication Who it's for: building officials, independent qualified people or compliance companies, designers of specified systems, and building owners or managers What it contains: This Handbook provides information about the compliance schedule and building warrant of fitness regime under the Building Act 2004. The Handbook also provides a guide to developing a compliance schedule for a specified system or systems in a building, including guidance on the associated inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures. How much it costs: $35.55 in hard copy Free for PDFs of individual documents without updates How to get it: Order a hard copy from the Victoria University Book Centre . Download a PDF Compliance Schedule Handbook [PDF 418 KB, 56 pages]
Accessible car parking spaces
		What sort of publication it is: Colour brochure Who it's for: Designers, building owners and managers, building users and officials What it contains: The booklet provides information on the provision of car parking spaces suitable for use by people with mobility disabilities. It covers the number of parks that must be provided, and how they are to be constructed and located. It also discusses the use of Mobility Parking Permits and how accessible parks at motels and in commercial buildings can be managed. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF Read about Accessible car parking spaces online » Accessible car parking spaces [PDF 693 KB, 16 pages]
The international symbol of access
		What sort of publication it is: Colour brochure Who it's for: designers, builders, building users and officials What it contains: This booklet provides information on the international symbol of access; the symbol used to indicate the features and facilities in buildings that can be used by people with disabilities. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF or call 0800 242 243 for a hard copy Read the international symbol of access brochure online » The international symbol of access [PDF 378 KB, 12 pages]
Accessible reception and service counters
		What sort of publication it is: Colour brochure Who it's for: designers, builders, building users and officials What it contains: The booklets are intended to guide designers, builders, building users and officials on the correct use of the international symbol of access, and to help with the design and installation of accessible reception and service counters. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF or call 0800 242 243 for a hard copy Read more about Accessible reception and service counters online » Accessible reception and service counters [PDF 455 KB, 16 pages]
Building Act 2004: Information for designers, builders and specialist trades
		What sort of publication it is: Colour leaflet Who it's for: Building designers, building site supervisors and specialist tradespeople working on residential or straightforward building projects What it contains: Changes to building legislation brought about by the introduction of the Building Act 2004 and new Regulations. The main topics it covers are changes to the law about: contracts for building work building consents and inspections spec building and housing developments occupational licensing. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF Read more about Building Act 2004: Information for designers, builders and specialist trades online » Building Act 2004: Information for designers, builders and specialist trades. [PDF 250 KB, 16 pages]
Building Act 2004: New safety measures for premises intended for public use – Section 363
		What sort of publication it is: Colour leaflet Who it's for: Owners and occupiers of, and people who control, premises intended for public use What it contains: Information about section 363 of the Building Act 2004, which is about premises intended for public use that are affected by building work. The main topics it covers are: the situations in which section 363 applies responding to section 363 section 363 copied from the Building Act 2004. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF Read Building Act 2004: New safety measures for premises intended for public use – Section 363 online » Building Act 2004: New safety measures for premises intended for public use – Section 363 [PDF 241 KB, 16 pages]
Building Act 2004: Sales by residential property developers – Section 364
		What sort of publication it is: Colour leaflet Who it's for: Residential property developers selling household units, and spec builders What it contains: information about section 364 of the Building Act 2004, which is about consumer protection measures for people buying household units from residential property developers and spec builders. The main topics it covers are: the situations in which section 364 applies an explanation of terms code compliance certificates for household units contracting out. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF Read Building Act 2004: Sales by residential property developers – Section 364 online » Building Act 2004: Sales by residential property developers – Section 364 [PDF 358 KB, 4 pages]
Building officials' guide to the Building Act
		What sort of publication it is: Ringbinder Who it's for: Building officials What it contains: Information about the key changes to building legislation with the introduction of the Building Act 2004. The main topics it covers are: responsibilities of territorial authorities and building consent authorities operations (eg, project information memoranda, building consents, compliance schedules) miscellaneous provisions (eg, warnings and bans, offences, product certification) commencement tables comparison with the Building Act 1991. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF or call 0800 242 243 for a hard copy Read more about Building officials' guide to the Building Act online » Building officials' guide to the Building Act [PDF 983 KB, 84 pages]
Building consent authority development guide
		What sort of publication it is: Online publication Who it’s for: Building officials What it contains: A tool for applicant building consent authorities to use when preparing for accreditation. Includes process flowcharts and information about the technical processes and procedures of territorial authorities, regional authorities, and building consent authorities. How much it costs: Free to download How to get it: Online version for territorial authorities (opens in a new browser window). CD version for regional authorities is available on request.
Building officials' FAQs
		What sort of publication it is: Information sheet Who it's for: Building officials What it contains: Answers to building officials' most frequently asked questions about the consent and inspection processes under the Building Act 2004. The main topics it covers are: compliance schedules building Warrant of Fitness New Zealand Fire Service Commission project information memoranda (PIMs) building consents certificates of acceptance code compliance certificates (CCCs) notices to fix section 362A section 363 certificates for public use section 364. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Read more Building officials' FAQs online » Building officials' FAQs [PDF 882 KB, 20 pages]
Earthquake-prone building provisions of the Building Act 2004: Policy guidance for territorial authorities
		What sort of publication it is: Colour brochure Who it's for: Territorial authority chief executives and building officials What it contains: Guidance on how to make a policy for dealing with earthquake-prone buildings under section 131 of the Building Act 2004. The main topics it covers are: the intent of the legislation a policy template policy guidance (eg, identifying earthquake-prone buildings, assessment criteria, dealing with building owners, heritage buildings) model policy. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF or call 0800 242 243 for a hard copy Earthquake-prone building provisions of the Building Act 2004: Policy guidance for territorial authorities [PDF 881 KB, 36 pages]
Dangerous and insanitary building provisions of the Building Act 2004: Policy guidance for territorial authorities
		What sort of publication it is: Colour brochure Who it's for: Territorial authority chief executives and building officials What it contains: Guidance on how to make a policy for dealing with dangerous and insanitary buildings under section 131 of the Building Act 2004. The main topics it covers are: a policy approach (eg, principles, identifying dangerous and insanitary buildings, dealing with building owners, economic impact) priorities for action dealing with heritage buildings a template check sheet for inspections. How much it costs: Free How to get it: Download a PDF or call 0800 242 243 for a hard copy Dangerous and insanitary building provisions of the Building Act 2004: Policy guidance for territorial authorities [PDF 1 MB, 16 pages]