Go Ahead newsletter – May 2026

Kia ora and welcome to our May edition. This newsletter covers:

Greater Christchurch councils work together on building consenting
Our Building Consenting team swings by the Home Show
Small standalone dwellings (granny flats)
Know before you build: check floor levels with our flood map
Improving the quality of PIM information
Quicker Code Compliance Certificate processing: What’s changing and when
Why choose Christchurch City Council for your building consent?
Calling all Stormwater Superheroes!

Greater Christchurch councils work together on building consenting

Builders across the Greater Christchurch area will get a better experience through a new agreement which sees councils working together, improving the speed and process of building consents.

Christchurch City Council, Waimakariri District Council and Selwyn District Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to give a more consistent building consent experience across the region and to help each other manage busy periods.

The MoU means the councils can support each other by processing paperwork, carrying out inspections, or working together on large scale projects, without needing individual contracting agreements. Read more on Newsline.

Building Consenting team swings by the Home Show

The building consenting teams at Christchurch City Council and Selwyn District Council recently stepped out of the office and into the spotlight, attending the latest Home Show to connect directly with residents, builders, designers, and homeowners.

With thousands of attendees passing through the event, the Home Show provided an ideal opportunity for the team to engage in face-to-face conversations and answer any building-related questions. From renovations and new builds to minor works and compliance pathways, we encouraged visitors to bring their ideas and questions to the stand.

Supporting better building outcomes
Team members also spoke with industry professionals, including builders, architects, and designers, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between councils and the building sector. These discussions provided valuable insights into shared challenges and opportunities to streamline processes while maintaining building quality and safety.

The Home Show is a great opportunity to meet people where they are. Being able to explain requirements in person helps build understanding and trust, and it encourages better prepared applications.

Strengthening community engagement
Attendance at the Home Show reflects the Council’s ongoing commitment to transparent communication and proactive engagement with the community. By providing early advice and promoting understanding of the building consent process, the team aims to support safer, smoother, and more efficient building outcomes across Canterbury.

Following the positive response at the event, the Council is partnering with Selwyn District Council and Waimakariri District Council for the next Home Show in October. Due to high interest in resource consenting, we're also widening the scope and including some of our resource consenting team. We want to ensure residents and industry alike feel informed, supported, and confident as they plan and build.

Small standalone dwellings (granny flats)

The granny flat exemption allows certain small, standalone dwellings to be built without a building consent.

There are still requirements that will need to be met to build these structures. Below are some of the things you will require or need to consider if building a granny flat:

You must obtain a Project Information Memorandum (PIM) – no building work can start until this has been issued.
You must also comply with Chapters 5, 6, 8, 9 and 14 of the District Plan rules.
The existing house on the property will still need to comply with the District Plan rules e.g. outdoor living space.
The national environment standard for managing contaminants in soil to protect human health may still apply.
You will still need to meet certain requirements of the regional plan rules (managed by Environment Canterbury).
Design and building work must be completed by authorised persons (Licensed Building Practitioner, plumber, drainlayer, gasfitter as applicable) and must comply with the building code.
Building work must be completed within two years of the date of issue of the PIM.
Once built, the owner has 20 working days to provide the Council with the final design plans, all record of works, and all certificates of compliance.
Payment of development contributions will be required.
There may be an increase to your rates which will apply from the next rating year, beginning 1 July.

Further changes are on the way. The Government has just announced an expansion of the granny flat building consent exemption. You can read more here.

For further information, including guidance on how to apply for a PIM and upload documentation, please visit our website or scan the QR code on the right.

Know before you build: check floor levels with our flood map

The Council has released updated flooding predictions for parts of the city. The mapped flood events are predicted to happen, on average, once every 10, 50, and 200 years.

The new mapping makes it easier for residents, businesses, and developers to understand potential flood risk on a property and to check the minimum floor levels needed to protect buildings from floodwater.

The maps are based on detailed, local flood modelling for Christchurch’s river catchments – the Avon, Heathcote, Styx, and Halswell rivers – as well as the Sumner Coastal Catchment. They use the latest information on rainfall, tides, sea level, climate change, land development, and infrastructure, and are tested against historical flood events.

Flood maps are updated regularly, with major updates at least every five years. Where a property, or part of it, is affected by one or more of the modelled flood events, it gets noted on that property’s Land Information Memorandum. While the maps are a valuable first step, people are encouraged to seek site-specific advice and consider other information sources when making decisions about property or building.

You may find the following useful:

Improving the quality of PIM information

We've recently made improvements to how Project Information Memorandum (PIM) applications are assessed, with a focus on providing clearer and more complete information to support your project.

Our updated approach has us placing greater emphasis on confirming we have the right information at the outset, so we can provide a PIM that is accurate, clear, and useful for planning and design.

If key information is missing or unclear, we may request clarification or further details as part of the assessment process. Where information remains limited, the PIM may also be limited in the matters it can address.

These information requests provide an opportunity to refine your project plans and supply additional detail, which may reduce the requirement for resource consent.

Quicker Code Compliance Certificate processing:
What’s changing and when

Faster CCC processing and moving to online submissions
We've been focused on improving the speed at which we process Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) applications, with the clear goal of delivering faster, more consistent decisions.

Over the past six months, we've made significant progress. Nearly 97% of CCC applications are now completed within 20 working days, with the remaining applications typically involving more complex or project-specific matters. More importantly, we've seen a step change in processing speed, with more than 80% of CCCs now completed within five working days, compared with around 40% previously.

This reflects changes to how we prioritise and review applications, with a stronger focus on early engagement and timely decision-making.

Moving to online services
A large proportion of CCC applications and supporting documentation are already being submitted through our online services portal.

From 30 June 2026, CCC applications and supporting construction documentation will need to be submitted through this portal. Email submissions will no longer be accepted after this date.

Currently, documentation is received through multiple channels. Moving to a single submission channel will help to:

Reduce duplication and improve accuracy.
Provide clearer visibility of submitted information.
Reduce back-and-forth during processing.
Support faster and more consistent CCC decisions.

By receiving information in a consistent format and at the right time, we can assess applications earlier and avoid unnecessary rework.

In practice, all of this means fewer follow-up requests, fewer last-minute issues, and less rework for applicants, resulting in a smoother path to issuing CCCs.

Supporting faster processing
Our aim is to complete CCC applications within five working days where possible. While we are already achieving this in the majority of cases, continuing to improve relies on timely and well-structured information.

Providing documentation as it becomes available, rather than waiting until the end of the project, allows us to review information earlier and identify any issues sooner. This helps avoid delays at the final stage and supports a smoother CCC process.

You can help by:

Submitting documentation progressively as work is completed.
Ensuring all information is clear, complete, and consistent with the building consent documentation (including construction documentation and advice notes).
Where specialist construction monitoring (e.g. structural, geotechnical, fire) is required, ensuring it is carried out at the appropriate stages.
Submitting complete Producer Statements (PS3/PS4) supported by relevant site monitoring records and able to be relied upon by the Council.

Taking these steps helps reduce follow-up queries and helps keep your application moving.

Transition period
We'll still accept email submissions for a short transition period. However, we encourage you to begin using the online services portal now, ahead of the 30 June 2026 change. Step-by-step guidance and support are available to help make the transition as smooth as possible.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact onlineservices@ccc.govt.nz

Thanks for your support as we continue to improve the CCC process and reduce delays where we can.

Why choose Christchurch City Council for your building consent?

Your Building Project. One Council. One Streamlined Process.

When you’re planning a build, you need a consent process that’s clear, efficient, and supported by experts who understand local requirements. Christchurch City Council provides a seamless, end‑to‑end experience designed to make your building journey smoother from start to finish – and we’re here to stay.

All your approvals in one place
Building often requires more than just a building consent. Christchurch City Council lets you access all the approvals you need under one roof, including:

Resource consents.
Vehicle access/traffic approvals.
Water and wastewater connections.
LIMs and property information

No running between different agencies – we coordinate it all for you.

Integrated, collaborative teams
Our building, planning, engineering, and environmental specialists work together behind the scenes. That means fewer delays and faster, coordinated decision-making.

Local knowledge you can trust
As your local council, we understand the unique conditions, environmental constraints and requirements specific to Christchurch an Banks Peninsula. This ensures:

Accurate, locally informed assessments.
Consents tailored to Christchurch’s regulatory environment.
We're here for our customers and our city - not for profit.

Clear guidance from start to finish
We’re committed to helping you succeed. With Christchurch City Council you get:

Pre-application guidance.
Transparent timeframes and communication.
Access to experts when you need support.

No guesswork – just a clear path forward.

Calling all Stormwater Superheroes!

The 2026 Stormwater Superhero Awards are here.

The Community Waterways Partnership is on the lookout for Ōtautahi Christchurch businesses that are leading the way in preventing stormwater pollution and demonstrating outstanding stormwater management practices.

Nominate your business here.