Consents

We explain the building consent requirements for removing and relocating an existing house. In some cases, you will also need resource consent. We also explain bonds which are a requirement of some local councils.

Consents required

When you relocate a house you will have to apply for:

Building consents to uplift the house from its current site and to re-establish it on the new site.
A Project Information Memorandum (PIM) for both the origin and destination.
Resource consent, in most cases.

Talk to your building consent authority before you start, and ask for details of their application requirements.

It is best to apply for the building and resource consents at the same time so that building and environmental factors can be considered together.

Building consents

At the place of origin you will need building consents for:

Lifting the building off its foundations and separating it from the services.
Any necessary temporary strengthening or separation of the building into parts for transportation.
Loading the building onto its transport vehicles.
Any necessary demolition of the existing foundations, services and subsequent work to restore the site.

At the new site you will need building consents for:

Constructing foundations and services.
Unloading the building and connecting it to those foundations and services.
Re-connecting any parts of the building which were separated for transportation, and fixing any damage done during transportation.
Doing any renovation work on the house.

If the place of origin and the new site are in different local council areas, you may need to apply to more than one building consent authority.

For details about what is needed to apply for building consent, see below.

A code compliance certificate must be issued for each building consent after the building consent authority does the final inspection and is satisfied that the work to which the consent relates has been completed and complies with the building consent.

Building consent for removal from the old site

Building consent needed to remove a house from the old site is often called demolition consent, and it is your responsibility to organise (not the responsibility of the previous owner or the building removal company). Note that buildings purchased directly from a recognised house remover's yard will not require building consent.

The demolition consent removes any reference to the house from the files on that property (if it is going to a different council’s area). It also requires inspection of the services that were connected to the house.

The building consent authority may do an assessment to see if the house is structurally sound enough to be relocated as part of the removal consent. And the building consent authority may require the building to be upgraded.

Note this is no guarantee that a building consent authority in the other council's jurisdiction at the new location will allow the house onto a new site.

Building consent for placement on the new site

You need to get a building consent and a Project Information Memorandum (PIM) for when the house is relocated onto its new site. Each building consent authority may have different requirements, but generally you will have to provide copies of:

A full site plan.
Pile layout and cross-section detailing anchor piles.
Floor plan.
Sub-floor bracing calculations.
Proposed drainage plan.
Stormwater disposal details.
Method of potable water supply.
Elevation plans showing heights from original and proposed groundlines.
If the building is to be moved in sections, details of how it will be rejoined at the new site.
Any proposed internal or external building alterations.
Engineering reports where applicable.
Sewage and water system where public sewage or reticulated water service is not available.
A plan for vehicle access and parking.
Bracing information where the building is coming from a lower wind zone or earthquake area.
Previous inspection records and the code compliance certificate for houses built since 1 July 1993.
Drawings and specifications for any new work to be done such as alterations, additions, decks, etc.

You can draw your own plans but they must meet the standards required for a building consent to be granted.

Building consent fees vary between building consent authorities – check with a building consent authority that deals with the area where the house is to be located. The application should be processed within 20 working days, assuming all information has been provided and is correct.

Change of use

If you intend changing the use of a relocated building - for example, moving and converting an old church into a home - it may require special work to bring it in to line with the Building Code which includes requirements like toilet and bathroom facilities, etc. Change of use must be notified to your council.

Building Code requirements for a new house

If the house is new, it will have to meet all the relevant Building Code requirements when it is being built, i.e. it requires building consent, inspections during and at the end of construction, and a code compliance certificate. Because the destination is probably not known when they are being built, these homes should be built to worst case scenario standard, i.e. for location in the worst earthquake and wind zones.

As with old homes, when the house is sold for relocation a new Project Information Memorandum (PIM) and building consent are required for the re-siting, foundations and drainage.

Resource consent

Resource consent may be required if locating the house on the new site is likely to impact on the environment in some way. For example, there may be rules in the district plan about the age, style, or size of the house allowed in some new subdivisions. Or you may need permission to remove native trees. This needs to be applied for at the same time, or before, you apply for a building consent.

When applying for resource consent you will have to provide some or all of the following, depending on council requirements:

A completed application form giving details of the new site.
The address where the building can be inspected.
A dimensioned site plan of the new site showing where the house will go.
Elevation plans showing the height of the building relative to the ground.
Photos of the elevations of the building to be relocated.
A statement of the proposed exterior work such as painting, additions and alterations intended to bring the building up to an acceptable standard.
A recent copy of the certificate of title.
Details of trees that require removal to get the building off its existing site or onto its new one.
A pegging certificate from a registered surveyor.
A statement of the work proposed on the house after relocation.

The council will assess the application on the following grounds:

The proposed appearance of the house and its compatibility with other houses in the vicinity.
The condition and quality of the exterior materials.
The period required for the restoration work.
Whether to impose a bond to ensure completion of the restoration work to an acceptable standard.
The structural integrity, soundness and fitness of the proposed use of the house being relocated.

If the council is of the opinion that the proposal would have a more than minor effect on the environment, then the application will be publicly notified.

If the application does not need to be publicly notified, and if you have submitted all necessary information, a decision should be given within 20 working days of the date of application.