It has recently been announced that the Government will be making extensive changes to current building and planning legislation to make it easier to build small standalone dwellings, also known as ‘granny flats’.
These changes will provide New Zealanders with greater housing options, catering to families with diverse housing needs and budgets, while also adapting to our evolving population and lifestyle. Here’s everything you need to know about the proposed changes to granny flat regulations and how they might affect your upcoming timelines and projects.
Updated Regulations
Changes to the rules will make it easier for property owners and developers to build a smaller or secondary standalone dwelling of up to 70m² without needing to get:
- Resource Consent: A national environmental standard (NES) will permit a granny flat on sites in rural and residential zones without resource consent. For sites with existing issues, such as flooding, the district plan rules will still apply. If there are title restrictions on a property, then the new rules will not override them. Council may continue to apply development contributions.
- Building Consent: A building consent will not be required. However, the building will need to be designed to meet the New Zealand Building Code or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP). Homeowners will need to notify their local council before they commence work and once it’s completed. A project information memorandum (PIM) is recommended to identify site constraints.
When Will the Changes Come Into Effect?
Changes to the current legislation are expected to be passed in mid-2025, with new rules anticipated to take effect from early 2026. For now, granny flats will still require building and resource consents, depending on the district plan rules.
Are You Impacted?
Contact us now on phone: (09) 836-1804 or email: sales@tcec.co.nz if you would like to make an early head start to your housing plans.
