Usually no - if your property is located within one of the identified zones and your project meets the permitted activity standards in the National Environmental Standard for Detached Minor Residential Units (NES-DMRU) and other relevant rules in the District Plan such as standards relating to earthworks. 

If it doesn’t meet these rules, you will need a resource consent.

You may also need a building and/or resource consent if your site is on, or could be affected by, natural hazards.   

Usually no - if your project meets the exemption conditions. You can access more information about the exemption conditions here.

If it doesn’t meet these conditions, you will need a building consent.

You may also need a building or resource consent if your site is on, or could be affected by, natural hazards.

Your PIM application must include the following requirements:

• Proof of ownership

• Site plan showing:
  • Distance to boundaries and any existing buildings
  • Stormwater, wastewater and water connections or on-site disposal methods (stormwater and wastewater). If connections are to Council utilities, show where drains/pipes will connect to (will this be direct to Council drains/water mains or to the existing dwelling drains/water connection?).
  • Site coverage
  • The outdoor living area of the principal dwelling. This is because the position of the granny flat on the site can not compromise the outdoor living area available to the principal dwelling
• Floorplan

• Elevations showing:
  • Height from supporting ground level to floor level
  • Height from floor level to the highest point of the building

• Cross section showing:
  • Building materials (framing type and cladding)

If everything was done properly when it was built, it’s covered by those consents. The new rules under the Building Act and NES-DMRU won’t affect it.

If you want to build a new granny flat, you’ll need to follow the new rules and requirements.

You might need additional approvals from Council and/or other providers before you begin. These requirements are separate from the Building Act and must be factored into the planning and design of your granny flat—even if the building work doesn’t require a building consent.

Common additional approvals include:

• Utility connections – water, wastewater, stormwater, electricity, or gas
• Vehicle crossings – new or altered access to the road or kerb
• Land use restrictions – easements, covenants, or consent notices that affect where and how you build

Contact Council and the relevant providers to confirm what applies to your site and project.

Yes. A granny flat is considered an improvement, which typically increases your property’s value. If your property is in an urban area, you may also pay extra rates for services like water, wastewater, and rubbish collection.

Development Contributions are necessary as they help councils cover the costs for the additional infrastructure needed when new homes, like granny flats, are added to an area. This includes services like water, wastewater and roads. 

Even small dwellings like granny flats increase the demand on these services, so development contributions make sure upgrades can happen when needed.

We keep our usual powers to deal with any building work that is unsafe or doesn’t comply with the rules.

If you build without a PIM being issued you’re carrying out illegal building work under the Building Act. Council can issue a Notice to Fix, which is a formal legal notice requiring you to correct the situation.

This means you must stop work and take steps to comply with the law, which may include:

• Getting a Certificate of Acceptance for what’s already built
• Applying for a building consent and/or resource consent for what is still to be built
• Removal of all/or some of the building work

Ignoring a Notice to Fix can lead to further enforcement action and penalties.

No - the exemption only applies to new granny flats.Your current sleepout is covered by its original building and/or resource consent. If you want to make changes, you may need another consent process, depending on what those changes are.

Yes - if services are available. Your granny flat must connect to Council’s water and wastewater systems and make sure stormwater is managed appropriately. Council need to approve these connections. This work must follow MPDC’s Development Manual or the Regional Technical Specifications.

If you can’t connect to existing services, you might be able to use onsite systems for water supply, wastewater, and stormwater. In some locations, this could trigger a resource consent. 

Examples include:

• A rainwater tank for water supply
• A septic tank or aerated wastewater treatment system
• Soakage trenches or storage tanks to collect stormwater

It’s important to check whether the pipes on your property are of the correct size and there is capacity for the additional flows. No one wants an overflow on their property!  

To keep a permanent record for the property. Council keeps these documents so there’s an ongoing record of the building work on the property for future owners. This information is important if the property is bought or sold.

No - In some subdivisions, there are private covenants that restrict the number of residential units and where residential units are placed on a site. The Council does not enforce private covenants. If a person constructs a granny flat (detached minor residential unit) on a site in breach of a private covenant, then it’s a matter between the landowner and the person who takes the legal action.  

Not under the NES-DMRU and the small stand-alone building provisions of the Building Act.  These provisions apply to new buildings only.  If your building is second hand then the standard District Plan and Building Act provisions apply.

Maybe, it depends if your farm has more than one title. The NES provides for one granny flat per title – providing there is already a house on the title. So, if your farm has three titles each with their own house, one granny flat could be constructed on each of the titles. 

Yes. The PIM and NES-DMRU requirements apply whether your granny flat is newly built off-site and moved onto your property or built directly on your property.