Resource Consents Update – May 2026

In this update

• High application volumes
• Noise insulation and ventilation requirements 
• Topographical plans
• PIM process changes

Applications have surged

As you may know, we’re very busy at the moment with a lot of applications coming in and added complexity due to new national direction on natural hazards. Unfortunately, this means we’re experiencing some delays with how quickly we can turn things around for you. 

Applications are generally being allocated to a planner according to processing days, to ensure fairness to applicants. The day count starts after the deposit/fee is paid. There are some exceptions, depending on complexity and the experience of the available planners.

We know that delays can be frustrating and costly for applicants, and also make it difficult to plan ahead for construction projects. We apologise for this. We're doing as much as we can to manage the additional workload, including outsourcing processing for more applications, where possible, and developing a consistent practice in the management of natural hazards. 

To help minimise delays, please ensure that your application, and any responses to further information requests, are complete. Also, to aid us in efficient resourcing, let us know a few weeks in advance if you're preparing a complex application or a bundle of similar applications (e.g. housing applications in greenfield areas). 

Our website has information on the current allocation timeframe and applications received and issued. 

Noise and ventilation

Acoustic insulation near railways, major roads, and the airport

If you're building a new home or proposed building for other sensitive activity, or making changes to an existing building (such as an extension or conversion) near a railway, State Highway, other major road, or the airport, you may need to include extra soundproofing. This is to make sure indoor noise levels stay comfortable and within acceptable limits.

These requirements are set out in the District Plan's rules:

• 6.1.7.2.1 Sensitive activities near roads and railways 
• 6.1.7.2.2 Activities near Christchurch Airport
• 6.1.7.2.3 Sensitive activities near roads in the Central City
• Residential zone rules for sensitive activities within the 50 dB Ldn airport noise contours (RS, RSDT, RNN, MRZ, and HRZ zones).

In most situations, you'll need to provide an acoustic design report prepared by a qualified acoustic specialist, at the time you apply for your Building Consent (as required by the rule), or, for the central city, you can also achieve compliance via the acceptable solutions in Appendix 6.11.4. The building plans must accompany the report, and all acoustic recommendations must be incorporated into the plans. Our Environmental Health Team will review this report to check it meets the required standards.

If your building consent isn't being processed by us, please send any required acoustic information directly to the Council via dutyplanner@ccc.govt.nz

Ventilation and air-conditioning in buildings near the airport

In parts of the Medium Density and High Density Residential zones that are affected by airport noise, rules 14A.5.2.19 and 14A.6.2.20 also require mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning, so that people can keep windows closed and still have good airflow and comfortable temperatures. 

These rules were added to allow more housing in areas affected by airport noise, while making sure homes remain comfortable and quiet.

The applicant or consent holder must supply a Producer Statement (PS-1A) from a chartered professional engineer experienced in HVAC systems. This statement must confirm that the ventilation and air-conditioning system has been designed to meet all requirements of the rule. The system then needs to be installed according to that design.

The Council must be confident that the system will work as intended. Because this is a specialised engineering area, detailed technical information is needed. A PS-1A (not a standard PS-1) is required, because this rule isn't assessed as part of the building consent process, so separate documentation is needed.

The acoustic report, which is also required, must confirm that the air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation units listed in the HVAC engineer’s PS-1A meet the indoor noise limits required by the rule. This will require coordination between the acoustic engineer and the HVAC engineer.

Topographical plans

We’re changing our practice so that, for almost all applications in the urban area, we'll be requiring a topographical plan from a surveyor. There will be a few exceptions, including:

• Where the scale and nature of the development is of little consequence (e.g. a small garage at the front of a site). 
• For greenfield areas, where the confirmed design and levels are available on file.

Levels should still be shown on the plans for both of these situations, though.

Why this change is being made

In the past, our practice has been to not always require topographical information from a surveyor when assessing applications on flat land, as long as the designer has provided suitable information on levels of the site.

However, sometimes 'flat' land isn't so flat, and changes of grade can catch people out in terms of drainage, earthworks, retaining walls, recession planes, and building height. It's better to provide the detailed information upfront, to avoid potential delays at the construction phase. 

About topographical plans

A topographical plan needs to be prepared by a surveyor (or surveying engineer) and should show existing ground levels on the site and surrounds relative to property boundaries. It should also illustrate other existing topographical features, such as retaining walls, buildings, waterway banks, invert levels/locations of services, and road kerb and channel. Levels should be relative to the NZVD2016 datum.  

Note that a topographical plan isn't necessarily a representation of original 'ground level' (as defined in the District Plan) for the purposes of measuring recession planes or building height. You should engage a licensed surveyor to undertake this task too.

Improving the quality of PIM information

Improvements have been made to the way Project Information Memorandum (PIM) applications are assessed, with a focus on providing clearer and more complete information to support your project.

Project Information Memoranda are prepared using the information available at the time of application. The quality and completeness of that information play an important role in the scope and usefulness of the PIM issued.

With our updated approach, we're placing greater emphasis on confirming we have the right information at the outset, so we can provide a PIM that's 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. Providing complete and accurate information upfront will help ensure your PIM contains the most relevant and reliable information for your project.

The usefulness of the PIM depends on the information available at the time of assessment. Where information remains limited, the PIM may also be limited in the matters it can address.