In these newsletters, we cover the latest building industry news, trends, and tips. In this particular issue, we detail the latest updates on building consent system reforms, the basics around using a private Building Consent Authority, how to ensure your pool is safe for the summer ahead, and more.

Building trends

Welcome to a slightly later edition of Brace Yourself than we’d normally release, which I’d like to start by sharing the great news that our Building Consent Authority’s (BCA) recent biennial International Accreditation of New Zealand I(ANZ) assessment ended with the team’s best outcome to date. The assessment is a comprehensive four day programme that features three IANZ assessors reviewing all our processes and systems, and ensuring the BCA is complying with accreditation regulations and maintaining the BCA’s low risk status.

This is an excellent result for the team and really highlights their commitment to continually improving the way we do things, which ends up as a more effective and efficient process for the customer.

In other news, the busy days continue with building consent applications remaining high – 160 in August, 140 in September, and approximately 150 in October last month. The Processing team is keeping on top of consent timeframes, with approximately 95% of building consents being processed and issued within the 20-day statutory timeframe. And in another good result for the Processing team, 97% – 100% of Code Compliance Certificates (CCC) are being processed within the statutory timeframe. Altogether, over $100M of consent work is being processed each month.

Our Inspection team has plenty to do too! Last year saw a record 20,000 inspections undertaken and we’re expecting a similar number this financial year. The team now has a government-legislated target to undertake building inspections, meaning that 80% of inspections have to be undertaken within three working days of being requested. The team’s compliance with this target is monitored by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment through quarterly reports provided by Council. It is pleasing to note that in the first three months of this new target being introduced, 95% of inspections undertaken by QLDC have happened within 3 days of being requested - a great result for the Inspections team.

Queenstown Lakes District has rebounded from the 2023/2024 year where we only processed 1,300 building consents (a record low), to 1,600 in the last financial year, and a similar amount or more expected this time around. QLDC is probably the only Council in Aotearoa New Zealand experiencing growth in the construction sector, which is great for the industry.

Chris English
QLDC Building Services Manager

Building consent system reform

We’ve provided a general update on all proposed and actual changes to the building consenting landscape, so you can stay up to date with the latest details:

Changes to liability settings

A shift is being proposed from joint and several liability to proportionate liability. This means that if something goes wrong with a building project, each party will only be responsible for their share of the fault, rather than covering costs for others who may be unable to pay.

To support this change, MBIE is looking into additional protections, such as:

Mandatory home warranties (with an option to opt out)
Deposit security mechanisms

These tools are intended to give homeowners more confidence while keeping accountability fair.

Voluntary consolidation

The Government also plans to make it easier for councils to work together on building consent services. Known as voluntary consolidation, this would allow BCAs to group up and share services or transfer functions more easily.

To make this happen, changes will be made to the Building Act 2004 and related regulation, removing barriers and streamlining the process for councils that choose to collaborate.

A draft bill to support these reforms is expected in early 2026.

Inspection timeframes

As mentioned in Chris’ introduction to this edition of Brace Yourself, the government has recently implemented a new regulation requiring BCAs to complete the majority (80%) of building inspections withing three working days from the requested day. QLDC is currently sitting at about 95%, ensuring minimal disruption for building projects in the district.

Solar and setback – the new changes to Schedule 1

On 23 October 2025, changes to Schedule 1 of the Building Act came into effect, making it easier for property owners to carry out certain types of building work without needing a consent.

Two key updates were introduced:

Roof-mounted solar panel arrays can now be installed without a building consent, helping more people make the switch to solar energy
Setback distance rules have been relaxed for single-storey detached buildings up to 30 square metres (like sheds or sleepouts) making it simpler to plan and build small structures.

These changes are designed to streamline the process for homeowners and builders, but it’s still important to check your plans before starting any work. Projects must comply with the local district plan and the Resource Management Act.

Want to learn more?

>> Solar panel and boundary setback building consent exemption changes | Building Performance

Other changes…

Granny flats: Work is still underway to enable small standalone dwellings (known as granny flats) to be built without a building consent. Until the law changes, expected to be early 2026, small standalone dwellings still need a building consent.

Self-certification: The Government is introducing a self-certification scheme for trusted building professionals. The scheme will be a voluntary initiative through which eligible building companies, plumbers, and drainlayers can sign off on their own work on simple homes.

Make safety the voice of reason this pool season

With warmer days on the way, now’s a great time to check your pool is safe and meets the requirements of restricting access. Barriers are essential for protecting young children and preventing drowning incidents.

If your pool holds more than a depth of water of 400mm, it must have a compliant barrier to restrict unsupervised access. This applies not only to permanent pools, but also to inflatable, portable, and temporary ones. These barriers need to be inspected every three years, and your pool should be registered with QLDC to help ensure proper monitoring.

You can find more details - including any exclusions - on our website:

QLDC – Residential Swimming and Spa Pools

Or check out MBIE’s quick guide:

Follow the rules and stay cool this summer – Pool safety requirements

Also, earlier this year MBIE introduced new rules for manufacturers and retailers. Pools must now come with a warning notice that clearly states the need for proper barriers to help prevent accidents.

Want to learn more about the notice requirements?

Manufacturer and Retailer Notices | Building Performance

Private BCAs

For many years, councils have been the sole providers of building consent services in New Zealand. However, in June 2025, MBIE approved the registration of New Zealand’s first standalone BCA.

The addition of this private BCA means that homeowners can choose whether they apply to QLDC or a private BCA for their building consent applications. The private BCA may have limitations on the type of applications they accept though (for example, they may only accept applications for simple residential dwellings) so you will need to consider that before applying.

If using a private BCA, a brief overview of the process is below:

1. Obtain a project information memorandum (PIM) from QLDC as the local territorial authority. A PIM is a report that provides details about a proposed building project, including information on the land, special features, utility services, and potential hazards like erosion or flooding.

2. The building consent application will be handled solely by the private BCA from the application/processing/issuing of the building consent through to inspections and the code compliance certificate on completion.

3. If there is a development contribution triggered by the consent, this is required to be paid to QLDC as the territorial authority, prior to the code compliance certificate being issued.

4. The private BCA is required to submit to the territorial authority (QLDC) copies of the consent documents. QLDC will save all this documentation on our system so there is a record on the property file.

Christmas shut down coming

While we might not be ready to think about Christmas trees, pavlova and summer holidays just yet, it’s a good time to check your project timelines as the end of the year starts approaching.

Council offices will be closed from Thursday 25 December 2025 until they open again on Monday 5 January 2026.

It’s important to note that the statutory processing clock pauses over the holiday break - from Saturday 20 December 2025 to Saturday 10 January 2026. This period doesn’t count toward the 10 or 20 working days councils have to process applications, so please plan ahead to avoid delays.

Here are a few key dates to keep in mind:

LIM applications

To ensure a LIM is completed before Christmas, the application needs to be submitted on or before Thursday 11 December 2025.

Building inspections

Inspections will be carried out until Wednesday 24 December 2025. To avoid delays, please book early rather than leaving it to the last minute.

Bookings will reopen from Monday 5 January 2026.

Let us know early if you have a hard deadline – we will do our best to help!