Building Consents update – December 2021

Season’s greetings from the Building Consenting Unit!

We'll still be open for business throughout this period (excluding public holidays) to provide any building advice you may need. Email us at dutybco@ccc.govt.nz, call the duty phone from 7.30am–4pm or visit the front counter from 8am–5pm. During this period, even though the statutory clock being on hold from 20 December 2021 to 10 January 2022, we will still be processing applications. 

Check out the checklist before submitting a building consent

If you are submitting a building consent application before heading off on your summer holiday, minimise the risk of delays by checking out the handy B-062 checklist [pdf]. If the Vetting team receive applications with missing information they may need to invalidate or not accept it if the missing information cannot be provided over the Christmas break.

Here are some more tips to make sure your application is good to go:

• Application forms need to be completed in full.
• Proof of ownership for property in the process of being purchased; a sale & purchase agreement.
• Signatures; ensure they are showing on application forms, memorandums for certificate of design work and producer statements. There have been cases where signatures "drop off".
• Geotechnical report provided where foundation work is proposed.
• Plans and specifications; ensure they are ready for construction – not marked with ‘draft’ or ‘preliminary’. Also ensure they include the date drawn and version number.

Make sure consultants' records are available onsite for the inspector

A building consent may be issued requiring third-party consultants to confirm that building work is being carried out in accordance with a building consent. For example, a structural engineer may need to undertake construction monitoring or a surveyor may need to confirm the building’s location.

Our building inspectors use these documents to support compliance of the building work. Where required by the construction documentation notes attached to the building consent, the following consultants' records need to be available onsite for the inspector to review:

Foundation or slab

• Building location certificate (or building setout certificate), where a surveyor is required to confirm boundary setbacks or finished floor levels.
• Site inspection records, where a structural or geotechnical engineer is required to undertake construction monitoring of foundation elements or ground conditions.

Pre-roof

• Building location certificate, where a surveyor is required to confirm the building location relative to recession planes and building heights.

Pre-line

• Site inspection records, where a structural engineer is required to undertake construction monitoring of structural elements.

Final

• Construction review statements (PS4) and the associated site inspection records for acceptance of all consultants required to undertake construction monitoring.

Making changes after receiving a building consent

With supply shortages for some building products, builders are needing to amend consents to make product substitutions. If you need to make changes to a building consent, get in touch to talk about the options available for amending your building consent before going ahead.

Minor changes (minor variation)
If the proposed change to your building consent does not differ significantly from the plans and specifications to which it relates, it can be processed as an application for a minor variation. Depending on the change, an application for a minor variation can be processed by Christchurch City Council either by:

• a building inspector onsite, or
• a building consent officer when submitted as an application.

All applications for a minor variation must be authorised by the owner.

Changes that don't reduce the degree of compliance with the building code can be processed onsite by a building inspector. 

If your minor variation change involves technical assessment or quantity beyond what can be processed onsite, you'll need to complete an application form and supply any relevant plans and specifications.

Talk to the building inspector if you're unsure about whether the proposed minor variation can be processed onsite before going ahead with any changes.

Submit your minor variation via Online Services or email to minorvariation@ccc.govt.nz

Major changes (amendment to building consent)
If the proposed change to a building consent is significantly different from the plans and specifications to which the building consent relates, it must be processed as an application for an amendment to a building consent.

To apply for an amendment, complete an Application for a Building Consent [PDF, 811 KB] (Form B-002) also available in Word [DOCX, 429 KB]. 

Submit your amendment application via onlineservices.ccc.govt.nz

Changes to building code clause H1 – Energy Efficiency

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has made updates to acceptable solutions and verification methods to make new builds warmer, drier and healthier.

Higher insulation requirements for buildings will come into effect on 3 November 2022. During the transition period leading up to this date, the previous acceptable solution and verification method can still be used.

The new requirements set significantly higher construction R-values for roofs, floors and windows. At this point, the construction R-value required for walls in housing will remain unchanged because of timber supply issues. A change would also have required different framing practices to be adopted.

These changes are part of achieving lower carbon emission targets set by the ‘Building for Climate Change’ programme. The new requirements are expected to reduce the energy needed to heat homes by up to 40 percent. Find out more about the 2021 Building Code update at building.govt.nz.

New technology to make inspections easier

The Council has been testing a new remote inspection tool, which is being used alongside GoGet. ZYTE is an app designed for virtual viewing and smart phone calling. It is a great tool for certain types of inspections and re-inspections.

A small group of inspectors has been trialing the app, which removes the need for inspectors to travel to site.

In the new year, all inspectors will be trained to complete ZYTE inspections. Having this capability across the entire team will be a real asset, especially with our current workload and Covid challenges in mind!

If you'd like to get involved or learn more, contact our senior building inspectors at SeniorBI@ccc.govt.nz. 

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Get in touch

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