Changes to the Building Act Print E-mail
Recent changes to the Building Act 2004 mean that from 1 February 2010, obtaining a Project Information Memorandum (PIM) for building work from a building consent authority that is also a territorial authority (e.g. Councils) will be voluntary.  Building consent authorities that are not territorial authorities (i.e. independent organisations that process building consents) will still need to apply for a PIM.

Although PIMs will be voluntary from 1 February 2010, Council encourages people who are designing a building project to still get one before applying for a building consent. 

“PIMs can give you advanced warning of problems that may arise when you are planning your building project,” says Council’s Environmental Services Manager Dennis Bellamy. “This is because PIMs are designed to provide information on building work that relates to your building site, such as letting you know that the proposed work needs a resource consent, the site is subject to flooding or in a high wind zone, or that development contributions will need to be paid.”

If you are considering a building project in the New Year talk to your builder or to Council about the benefits of obtaining a PIM before you make an application for building consent.