A Building Consent is issued by the Local Council (Territorial Authorities) when they are satisfied that the plans and specifications submitted to them show that the proposed building work will, when completed, comply with the New Zealand Building Code.

Where a Building Consent is required, the Contractor must not commence any building work until the Building Consent has been obtained. The Contractor must forward the Building Consent and Code Compliance Certificate at the completion of the modifications to the Property Owner.

The Building Consent should not be obtained until Enable New Zealand has approved the modification grant in writing.

2. What work requires a Building Consent?
All building work requires a Building Consent, unless listed in the third schedule of the Building Act 1991. The building work must, however, still comply with the requirements of the Building Code, whether covered by a Building Consent or not.

Note: the following list is not a comprehensive listing

A Building Consent is required for the following types of modifications:

Access

• Ramp or easy steps where a person can fall more than 1 metre.
• Door widening - especially where wall framing is being altered.
• Platform lift where a person can fall more than 1 metre and/or when connected to a water supply.
• Domestic Passenger (through floor) lifts.

Plumbing
Altering existing showers, where the existing shower linings are being replaced and/or plumbing is being altered.

• Installing a shower over a bath.
• Installing a new, or relocating a W.C. pan.
• Wet area shower.

Safety

• Fences that are over 2 metres high above the supporting ground.

A Building Consent is not required for the following:

• External and Internal Rails
• Altering a basin or vanity unless it involves changes to the plumbing.

3. Code of Compliance Certificate
A Code of Compliance Certificate is issued by the Local Council (Territorial Authorities) and/or the Building Certifier when they are satisfied that the building work has been completed in accordance with the documents used for the Building Consent approval.

A Code of Compliance Certificate can only be issued after a Building Consent has been issued.

At the completion of the building work where a Building Consent is required the Contractor or the Consultant (where one is involved) is responsible for notifying the Local Council in writing that the building work has been completed and arrange for the Local Council/Building Certifier to inspect the work and issue the Code of Compliance Certificate.

The Contractor or Consultant (where one is involved) must forward a copy of the Building Consent and Code of Compliance Certificate at the completion of the modifications to the Property Owner.

4. Sketch Plans and Specifications
Documents according to which building work is proposed to be constructed, altered, demolished or removed, consist of drawings, specifications and/or the housing modification schedules.

The Specialised Housing Assessor will consider the following points when drawing sketch plans:

• A floor plan showing the existing layout and the proposed new layout.
• All modifications (including minor works such as rails, slide showers etc.) require an accurate indication of locations of those assessed for environmental changes eg. height and length of handrail, the position on the wall it is to be fixed to.
• The Summary Housing Schedules form is to be used in conjunction with the Specialised Housing Assessor sketch plans.

5. Enable New Zealand Housing Modifications Schedules
Housing Modifications Schedules are issued to all Contractors approved and registered with Enable New Zealand. The schedules outline the roles and responsibilities, minimum standards for material and workmanship and are applicable to all modification work.