WHAT RENOVATIONS NEED BUILDING CONSENT IN AUCKLAND

If you’re thinking of renovating and have been doing some research, then there no doubt that the term “building consent” has come up once or twice. Most people would try to avoid renovation works that require building consent, and builders/renovation companies are guilty of this as well for a number of reasons such as:
It’s too complicated dealing with the council
It might uncover more things that need to be done
Building consent related works sounds too expensive
It will create unnecessary issues during the project
It will create unnecessary delay
And the list goes on
However, it’s not all true – we will generally weigh up both sides (with and without consent) and draft up an action plan with scope of works that reflect both. The deciding factor really comes down to matching the scope of works (client’s requirements) with their budget; and whether that requires building consent or not – we manage the process for the client.
Building Consent applications needs to be included project documentation and specifications which identify the compliance path used for each aspect of building performance, with evidence to show how that will be achieved.
If you are renovating, always do your own research into what requires consent – you may find that different builders have different opinions on the situation, and may make suggestions that favour them.
Do you need a building consent for a kitchen and/or bathroom renovation?
When you’re renovating a kitchen or bathroom, whether you need to apply for building consent or not can be a bit tricky, and it’s not always so clear – here are some examples of what may require consent, and what doesn’t.
You are unlikely to require a building consent to:
re-position or replace sanitary fixtures (e.g. a bath, bidet, wash hand basin, shower or toilet pan) within an existing home bathroom
move a toilet pan from a toilet compartment into an adjacent existing bathroom
remodel an existing kitchen within the same space, leaving the kitchen sink in the same position
move an existing home laundry tub to a new location to an adjacent room
relocate or remove an existing hose tap
remove a bath with a shower over it, and replace it with a new proprietary shower enclosure and a new bath within the existing bathroom space.
You will need a building consent to:
install a tiled wet area shower – as it involves critical building work that is not sanitary plumbing, such as carpentry and installing waterproof membranes
move a vanity, bath, and shower within an apartment of a multi-level building – as it may involve new penetrations through a fire separation
add a shower, hand basin, and toilet to an ensuite – as these sanitary fixtures are additional to those already existing in the building.
Where sanitary plumbing work could adversely affect the performance of structural elements, such as floor joists or wall framing, this work may require a building consent. You are required to obtain a building consent if the work involves adding an additional sanitary fixture to your house – for example, a new bath, new toilet – where there was not one previously.

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