FAQs tagged with 'Council & Compliance'
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Yes — in most cases, you do.
Don’t be fooled by anyone who tells you otherwise. In New Zealand, if a home has plumbing and/or is being lived in, it’s classed as a dwelling — and that means it requires building consent to make sure it meets the New Zealand Building Code.
All HouseMe homes are fully consented before leaving our factory and come with a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC). This certificate confirms the home itself meets all requirements of the Building Code.
However, you’ll typically need to apply for a second building consent for your land — usually just for foundations, drainage, and sewage connections specific to your site.
We deliver homes across around 68 different council districts across New Zealand, and every region has slightly different planning and zoning rules. While it’s impossible for us to know the exact requirements for every property, we can provide guidance and point you in the right direction if you’re unsure where to start.
In some cases, a Resource Consent may also be required — for example, if your property sits within a special zoning area, overlay, or coastal zone.
Code Compliance Certificate (CCC)
Every new HouseMe unit is built under a full Building Consent and issued with a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) once it passes its final inspection.
This CCC applies to the HouseMe home itself, not the land or site-specific works.
On-site elements like foundations, decks, ramps, or sewage connections are covered under your own site consent.
Once delivered, your home has already passed inspection. The formal CCC document is usually issued to HouseMe 6–8 weeks after that inspection. If you’d like a copy, just get in touch with our team.
Resource or On-Site Building Consent
If your project needs extra approvals (for example, for earthworks, drainage, or unique site conditions), these are managed separately through your local council. We recommend engaging a local draughtsperson or planner to help with the process.
Coastal Properties
If your site is within about 1,000 m of the coast, you may need to upgrade to a coastal cladding system to meet local requirements. This is often triggered as part of the full site consent process.
Regional Differences
Rules can vary significantly across regions. We strongly encourage every customer to open a dialogue with their local council early on — it’s the best way to confirm exactly what’s needed for your property.
Yes — every brand-new HouseMe home is built under a full Building Consent and comes with its own Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) once construction is complete.
The CCC confirms that your home has been inspected and approved as meeting all requirements of the New Zealand Building Code. It’s an essential document that gives you peace of mind your home is built to the same legal standard as any permanent house.
The CCC applies specifically to the HouseMe home itself as built in our factory. It doesn’t cover site-specific work such as foundations, drainage, or decks — those are handled separately through your local council as part of your site consent.
Once your home has passed its final inspection, the CCC is formally issued to HouseMe within about 6–8 weeks. If you need a copy of your CCC, simply get in touch with our team, and we can provide it.
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.
No — we do not build our homes on trailers or wheels.
All HouseMe units are constructed on a galvanised steel chassis with full-length skids, designed for strength, stability, and easy delivery. We used to fit wheels on some smaller units purely for transport purposes, but no longer do.
Some companies will tell you that if a tiny home is built on wheels or a trailer, it doesn’t require council consent because it’s “technically a vehicle.” That’s not entirely true — and it’s something we strongly advise you to tread carefully with.
When a company builds on a trailer, they’re legally registering the unit as a vehicle (with a WOF and registration). Because it’s not classed as a “building,” they don’t have to meet the New Zealand Building Code. In other words, they’re building a vehicle — not a house.
This loophole has led to a flood of low-quality “DIY” and unregulated builders entering the market — and unfortunately, it’s created a lot of cowboys.
At HouseMe, we’ve made a deliberate decision to stay well clear of that. Every new HouseMe home is built to NZ Building Code standards and issued with a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC). That means your home is legally recognised, safe, insurable, and built to last. Read More Here.
Great news for Kiwi homeowners.
The Government has made it faster and easier to build small, self-contained homes — often called granny flats or minor dwellings — without going through the full traditional building consent process.
Standalone homes up to 70m² can now be built without a standard building consent, provided specific conditions are met.
What does that mean for you?
Less red tape. Less waiting. More opportunity to create flexible living spaces for family, rental income, or lifestyle needs.
Key details of the law:
• Applies to small, standalone homes up to 70m²
• Homes must still meet the NZ Building Code
• Design and construction must be carried out or supervised by licensed professionals
• Applies mainly to residential and rural-zoned land without special overlays, hazards, or restrictions
• Councils must still be notified before and after construction
• Standard infrastructure and service connection fees may still apply
Why this works well for HouseMe customers
This aligns perfectly with what HouseMe already does — building fully code-compliant homes in our factory that meet NZ Building Code requirements.
Our homes already tick every compliance box.
That means a smoother pathway through council processes and fewer surprises along the way.
Whether you’re creating space for family, adding income potential, or developing a secondary dwelling, the current framework makes it faster and more straightforward to move ahead.
If you’re ready to explore your options, you can get started now.
The new Granny Flat rules are a building consent exemption for small standalone homes.
They allow you to build a minor dwelling up to 70sqm without going through the full building consent process — if your project qualifies.
It’s not a free-for-all.
There are still rules around size, location, services, and who designs and builds it.
Here’s how it works:
1. Check if your property qualifies
Every site is different.
You must confirm:
- Your local council rules allow a minor dwelling on your property
- The size is under 70sqm
- It meets boundary setbacks and height limits
- Services like water and wastewater can connect compliantly
If it doesn’t qualify, the standard building consent process is still available as a fallback.
2. Apply for a PIM (Project Information Memorandum)
Instead of a full building consent, you apply for a PIM through your local council. This must be done by a certified professional, and the customer cannot submit it themselves.
This confirms key planning details such as:
- Zoning
- Site restrictions
- Infrastructure requirements
This step ensures you’re building in the right place and meeting local rules.
3. Design must meet NZ Building Code
Even though building consent may be exempt, the home must still comply with the New Zealand Building Code.
That means:
- Proper structure
- Insulation
- Fire safety
- Plumbing and drainage compliance
You’re building a real home, not a shed.
4. Construction and sign-off
A qualified builder must complete the work properly, in this case, HouseMe
Council inspections may not be required in the same way as full consent, but compliance still matters. Insurance, resale value, and safety all depend on it.
The key point
The new rules make the process faster and simpler — if you qualify.
If you don’t qualify, you simply go through the normal building consent pathway, which has always existed.
Either way, there is always a pathway to build.