FAQs tagged with 'Council & Compliance'

Unfortunately, there is no straightforward black-and-white answer to whether a unit needs consent or not. Due to the unorthodox nature of portable housing, it can be a little confusing as some councils will say you do, and others will say you don't. HouseMe is happy to offer guidance, as every situation differs. The rules and regulations vary from region to region, and it is up to the individual purchaser to open dialogue with their local council should they feel the need to. More often than not, you will be required to go through a building consent, and possibly a resource consent process. 

Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) Overview:

• Every new HouseMe unit has a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC), a vital document that legally affirms the unit's construction meets the New Zealand Building Code standards. It's important to note that the CCC applies explicitly to the HouseMe Unit as manufactured in the factory and does not cover site-specific work such as foundations or sewage connections.

Issuance of CCC:

• Upon delivery, each unit has already undergone and passed a final building inspection. The formal CCC documentation is then issued to HouseMe within approximately 6 to 8 weeks post-inspection. Should you need your CCC, please reach out to us directly.

Resource or On-Site Building Consent:

• Should your project require additional resource consents or on-site building approvals for aspects like foundations and sewage systems, these are considered separate endeavours. We advise consulting with a local draughtsperson and engaging with your local council to explore your project ideas further.

Coastal Zoning Considerations:

• For properties situated within roughly 1000 meters of the ocean and undergoing the comprehensive site consent process, an upgrade to coastal cladding may be necessary to comply with specific regulations. 

Regional Regulations:

Be aware that building rules and requirements can significantly differ across various regions. Familiarising yourself with the local regulations pertinent to your area is essential.

More info can be found here

Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) Overview:

• Every new HouseMe unit comes with a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC), a vital document that legally affirms the unit's construction meets the New Zealand Building Code standards. It's important to note that the CCC specifically applies to the HouseMe Unit as manufactured in the factory and does not cover site-specific work such as foundations or sewage connections.

Issuance of CCC:

• Upon delivery, each unit has already undergone and passed a final building inspection. The formal CCC documentation is then issued to HouseMe within approximately 6 to 8 weeks post-inspection. Should you need your CCC, please reach out to us directly.

More info can be found here

Customer: "When will we receive our CCC?"

Code Compliance Certificate: Expected Time Frames.

Your CCC is not issued immediately.

Please note there is a substantial delay between when your unit is delivered, and when you will receive your final Code Compliance Certificate (CCC).

Once the build is 100% completed, your HouseMe unit will receive a Final Inspection and become “Signed-off”. This allows us to progress to the next step of applying for the formal Certification (CCC).

Once the issuing Council receives our documentation, it enters an administrative process in their very busy system and can take up to 6-8 weeks for the PDF Certificate to hit our Inbox. This is fairly standard for the construction industry, and we have zero influence on the timeframes. Auckland Council manages the process as this is where the build takes place. They will issue the CCC for the unit only, with nothing to do with the land, foundations, or sewage.

All of our units are constructed on a galvanised steel chassis with skids that run the full length of the unit. We used to put wheels on our smaller units for the purpose of delivery, but no longer do.

We DO NOT build units on trailers.

Some companies will tell you that if a tiny home is built on wheels or trailers, they do not require council consent as technically it is a vehicle. This is not entirely true and we advise that you tread carefully and do your homework. 

Companies that build their units on trailers are legally registering them as vehicles (WOF and Rego) and if something is a vehicle and not a 'building' then they don't need to build it to NZ Building Code standards, as they're building a vehicle...not a house! This is why there are lots of new companies popping up and why there is such a huge DIY following. This has created a lot of cowboys in the industry. Read More Here.

You need to question any company that constructs "houses" that aren't built to a suitable standard. HouseMe has decided to distance itself from this as we are proud to say all of our new builds are built to NZ Building Code standards, and we issue all new units with a CCC.