Building consents newsletter  – July 2026

Welcome to Go Ahead, a quarterly newsletter published by the Christchurch City Council’s Building Consenting unit. 

We aim to offer useful building related information and keep you up to date with what is happening across our unit. 

To get in touch with us  email: EditorHeadsUp@ccc.govt.nz or phone 03 941 8999 

In the news...

Checking with us before building your new granny flat could save you thousands!
The new ‘granny flat exemption’ introduced in January has made it simpler to build new detached minor residential units for residential use if certain rules are met – but that doesn’t mean no rules apply at all. Read more about the new granny flat exemptions on Newsline. 

Cost of city’s new stadium $26m less than budgeted  
The final balance for the construction of the new stadium, which opened in April, was under budget and the project was completed ahead of time. Find out more about the project on Newsline.  

New community facility for Shirley 
Construction started on Monday 6 July, after the former Community Centre at 10 Shirley Road was damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes and demolished in 2012. Find out more about the project or sign up for updates.  

Building consent fee changes...

There have been some changes to our fee structure which came into effect on 1 July 2026. For details of the new fees, please check our website. 

Erosion and Sediment control in winter 

During the wetter winter months, it is more important than ever to review your project’s site management and plan to ensure it remains effective and compliant. Your approved erosion and sediment control measures must be in place before siteworks commence. 

 Controls should be implemented early and maintained throughout the entire construction phase to minimise environmental impact and prevent sediment runoff. 

Footpaths are Council owned assets and must remain accessible and safe for pedestrians throughout construction.

We have a clear and practical resource with step-by-step guidance and links to informative videos on our website.  

Online services tips and tricks

Uploading and downloading documents through our online portal is usually straightforward however we know it can be frustrating when things don’t go smoothly.  

So, before you take an axe to your computer screen, here are a few troubleshooting tips to help get things back on track:

• Login issues: Reset your password via the login page and use your original registration details. If you already have an account, please do not create a new registration.
   
• Use the correct account: Make sure you log in with the same username that was used to submit the application, otherwise you may not be able to access related documents.
   

• Uploading documents: The total file upload limit is 1 GB. If your files exceed this limit, you can submit information in stages using the Additional Information for Building Approval tab. Where possible, combine related documents into a single PDF or upload supporting information separately.

• System timeouts: Sessions expire after 45 minutes. Larger files may take longer to upload, particularly on slower internet connections. To save your progress, click Next and return later via Applications > Review Drafts.

• Technical troubleshooting: Avoid having multiple portal sessions open at the same time. If you experience issues, clear your browser cache or try a different browser, such as Chrome or Edge.

• Company logins: We recommend using a generic company account rather than an individual staff member’s name or email address.

• Access restrictions: The portal can only be accessed from New Zealand and Australia.

If you’re still experiencing issues, please get in touch; we’re here to help.
📧 onlineservices@ccc.govt.nz | 📞 03 941 8999 

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We now plan to release one of these updates every quarter to keep you better informed and up to date with what’s been happening.

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Any questions? Get in touch – we're here to help!

For more information on Building Consents, head to our website or email DutyBCO@ccc.govt.nz or call 03 941 8999.