Building consent system reform

Background

Building consent authorities (BCAs) are responsible for building control functions within their district. This includes checking that building work will comply with the Building Code and the building consent, and issuing code compliance certificates. 

There are 67 BCAs undertaking these functions in Aotearoa New Zealand. Having many BCAs with differing interpretations of compliance with the Building Code risks inconsistent decisions and outcomes in different parts of the country. 

The Building Code allows for innovation but a lack of consistency across the country may be stifling innovation, causing confusion and frustration for the sector.

Everybody will benefit from a clearer and more consistent building consent system. Homeowners, builders and designers will know what to expect if there are standardised procedures, policies and experiences across the country.    

Liability settings in the building consent system have been reviewed several times in previous years, each time resulting in the status-quo being retained. However, significant reform of the BCA structure may result in a shift in liability and require a realignment of accountability when building work goes wrong.  

What we’re doing

The Government has agreed to investigate significant reform of the building consent system in Aotearoa New Zealand. The aim is to drive consistency, certainty and efficiency, making it clearer and easier for Kiwis to build. 

MBIE’s Building Performance teams are working to identify the best way to deliver building consent services in Aotearoa New Zealand. Initial investigations will centre around: 

• A new BCA structure, by developing options that include either: 
  • facilitating voluntary consolidation   
  • consolidation into regional consenting authorities
  • establishing a national single point of contact for building consent applications.  
• Increasing the scope of building work exempt from a building consent. 
• Providing for private insurance to take a greater role across the building system, including potentially as an alternative to a building consent.   
• Changes to liability settings across the building system to ensure participants have consistency and certainty around the risks of their work.     

Increasing the scope of building work exempt from building consents would mean that more building work could take place quicker and easier. These nationwide exemptions will provide consistent signals on what building work does not require BCA involvement.  

Other functions that are not specifically BCA functions but relate to the building control system, will also be looked at as part of this reform programme to ensure a comprehensive review of all our building control functions. 

Risk, liability and insurance

Liability settings across the building system will be considered to ensure risk is shared appropriately and allows building owners, their designers and builders to determine their risk appetite for the intended building work.  

Private insurance could have a stronger role in the building system, removing the need for building consents where assurance is provided by private insurers.

What’s next?

MBIE's Building Performance teams will engage with the sector over the coming months, focusing on designing a building system that will deliver consistency, certainty and efficiency.  

We are at the very beginning of what will be a long-term, strategic and thorough work programme. With these significant changes, it is important we take our time and get it right. 

First, we want to talk to the key players in the building system to create and develop new innovative ideas. This is an opportunity to re-imagine a core part of our building system to make sure it works for us now and into the future. 

We will use the information from our engagement to prepare further advice for the Building and Construction Minister with the aim of conducting a public consultation in the first half of 2025. 

More information

Read more about building consents

Apply for building consent

Get in touch

If you have any questions or are interested in being part of these discussions, please contact the team at

BCAreform@mbie.govt.nz