In these newsletters, we cover the latest building industry news, trends, and tips. In this particular issue, we detail building reform updates on energy efficiency, everything you need to know about standalone dwellings (granny flats), and how you can help tackle construction and demolition waste.

Building trends

Our Building team has had one of its busiest December and January periods in recent times, with consent numbers for those two months being the highest we’ve experienced in the last six years. And while it’s great to see such strong building activity in the district, the sheer volume of consents has affected how many we can process within the 20-day statutory timeframe. As a result, the team is currently processing approximately 85%-90% of consents within 20 days, a slight reduction from the 95%-100% range they usually operate in. But with a couple of contractors to return after absences, I expect these reduced processing timeframes to only be temporary.

Driving around major subdivisions under construction in the district last week, it’s quite evident where such strong building numbers are coming from – especially given the amount of building going on in places like Hanley’s Farm, Longview, 3 Parks and the final stage of Northlake.

In the inspections space, new Ministry of Building, Innovation & Employment requirements mean that at least 80% of inspection requests must be undertaken by Council within three days of the inspection request. This is good news for the building sector in districts which have seen Councils not committing enough resource to inspections, at times resulting in some inspection timeframes stretching out to weeks, not days. In the Queenstown Lakes District, we continue to meet MBIE’s requirement and I’m pleased to share 95% of inspection requests here are being undertaken within the three day timeframe.

And finishing with more good news, Council has resolved the three outstanding non-compliances identified by the International Accreditation of New Zealand, and has had its accreditation confirmed for another two years with a low-risk status.

Chris English
QLDC Building Services Manager

Building consent system reform

Changes to H1 energy efficiency

Late last year, MBIE updated the compliance settings for clause H1 of the Building Code. These targeted changes refine the acceptable solutions and verification methods for H1 Energy Efficiency, making the requirements clearer, more flexible, and more affordable for designers, builders and homeowners.

Learn more about the updates here or check out the BRANZ H1 Hub.

Lead-free plumbing requirements

MBIE has confirmed that new lead‑free plumbing requirements take effect from Saturday 2 May 2026. These changes affect which copper‑alloy products can be used for drinking water systems and include updated transition arrangements.

You’ll find updates on these new requirements here.

MultiProof eligibility expanded for faster consenting

MultiProof eligibility has been expanded, allowing more developers to use this pathway for faster consenting of standardised designs.

MultiProof is a statement by MBIE that a specific set of building plans and specifications complies with the New Zealand Building Code, allowing faster consenting (10 working days) for repeated use of the same design.

Check out the latest updates here or learn more about MultiProof and how it works here.

Granny flats

From Thursday 15 January 2026, some small standalone dwellings - commonly called granny flats - can be built without needing a building consent or resource consent, provided they meet certain rules.

What counts as a granny flat under the Building Act exemption?

A granny flat under this exemption must be:

A new, single‑storey, standalone dwelling
No larger than 70m²
Simple in design and compliant with the Building Code
Built or supervised by a Licenced Building Practitioner (LBP).

Full requirements are listed in Schedule 1A of the Building Act 2004 and MBIE’s design checklist: Building design conditions checklist granny flat exemption.

It is important to note that while you may comply with the Building Act exemption requirements of not needing a building consent, you must also comply with any planning rules and resource consent requirements before any building work can start. Please contact QLDC’s Duty Planner for any queries: dutyplanner@qldc.govt.nz

Do I still need anything from Council for a granny flat?

Yes. You must apply for and receive a PIM (Project Information Memorandum) for Non-consented Small Standalone Dwellings before starting any building work. And as mentioned above, you will also need to meet planning rules under the Resource Management Act and may still require resource consent too. You might also receive a development contribution notice required to support infrastructure and services impacted by the development.

How do I apply for a PIM for a granny flat?

Submit your PIM application form including preliminary design plans and the description of the proposed building work via our Community Portal .

You will then receive an invoice (current fee for the PIM is $346). Once your application has been lodged and the fee has been paid, you will receive your paperwork within 10 working days. The build must be completed within two years of the PIM being issued.

What do I need to do after the build is finished?

Make sure you have completed all required actions, which you’ll find detailed in Granny flats exemption: Completion checklist. Once the work is completed, you must provide us with the final plans, records of work, certificate of work, gas and electrical certificates, and pay any required development contributions within 20 working days.

Who can I contact if I have questions?

Please see our website for further information Granny flat exemption and PIM requirements or contact us directly via email: building@qldc.govt.nz.

For any resource management questions contact QLDC’s Duty Planner: dutyplanner@qldc.govt.nz.

MBIE has also published information including helpful checklists: Granny flats exemption: Guidance and resources | Building Performance

Updates from WAO Aotearoa’s Better Building Group

For those who haven’t heard of the initiative, WAO’s Better Building Group is all about bringing the building community together - architects, builders, tradies, developers, and suppliers - to rethink how we build in the Queenstown Lakes District. At its heart, the programme focuses on circular economy thinking and climate‑smart construction. That means tackling big issues like construction and demolition waste, exploring smarter materials, and helping the industry shift toward more resilient, future‑ready ways of building. To support this, the team shares practical resources, runs events, and highlights real‑world examples that show what better building can look like in practice.

The short film This Is How We Build shines a light on just how much construction waste we produce - and more importantly, the simple, achievable changes builders can make to reduce, reuse, and recycle what ends up in landfill. Very shortly, the team will be releasing a follow up series of short videos that outline common problems and solutions when it comes to waste prevention and reduction in the industry.

The Better Building Working Group Southern Lakes is keen to hear more about the building sector’s behaviour, knowledge, and challenges with construction and demolition waste. Please take a moment to share your thoughts on their survey here.

To find out more and join the group check out their webpage here Better Building -Wao.

Reducing construction and demolition waste

Adopted by Council late last year, the Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) sets out a clear pathway for our district to move toward a zero‑waste future, built on circular economy principles. Community and stakeholder input, alongside the latest waste assessment, helped identify the areas where change will make the biggest difference.

One of the plan’s key priorities is preventing and reducing construction and demolition waste. This means tackling waste before it’s created and making better use of materials through reuse, recycling, recovery, and improved building and demolition practices—helping reduce what goes to landfill and supporting a more sustainable district for everyone.

You can view the full WMMP here: Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2025–2031

We also recommend you check out REBRI – a toolbox developed by BRANZ to help reduce building material waste.

They have a map where you can look up waste management sites nearby, and they provide signage, guidance, and plan templates too!

Put building waste in its place - see how on REBRI's website.

Building Services fees and charges

When you lodge an application, fees and charges are applied to cover processing, inspections, and any required levies too.

You can find details about fees, invoicing, and payment options all on our website under QLDC - Building Services Fees and Charges and in the Building Services Fees and Charges document.

You can also use QLDC’s Building Consent Initial Fee Calculator to estimate the applicable fees and levies of a potential building consent, amendment or Certificate of Acceptance application before lodging one.