Relocating a House

If you are planning on moving a house either to another site in Palmerston North or to another location on the same site within the Residential and Rural Zones, you will require a Resource Consent

It is Council’s intention through the ‘Relocated Houses’ provisions of the District Plan to ensure that houses are reinstated to a reasonable standard of external appearance and structural soundness. 

You will also need a PIM (Property Information Memorandum) and Building Consent.

• Relocating a House

Related Articles

• Resource Consents  
• Building Consents

Depending on whether the site is zoned Residential or Rural, the new location will need to comply with the Bulk and Location requirements of that zone.  The requirements for the Residential Zone are contained within the Residential Bulk and Location brochure or for the Rural Zone please see Section 9 of the District Plan.

• District Plan - 10 - Residential Zone
• District Plan - 9 - Rural Zone

Related Documents

• Residential Bulk and Location brochure

What do I have to do for a Relocated House resource consent?

A resource consent for a relocated house is treated in the same manner as a resource consent application.  You will need to provide the following:

• Site plan at 1:100 scale showing the location of the house
• Elevation plans showing the house and floor plan
• Photographs of the house to be relocated
• A Building Officers report detailing how structurally sound the building is and what upgrade work is needed.  If the house is coming from outside of Palmerston North, the applicant needs to arrange for a Building Officers report, where normally a building inspector from that local Council can provide the necessary information.  Check with the local Council where the house is coming from.  If a house is being shifted within Palmerston North, a Building Officer from the Palmerston North City Council will inspect the house as part of the resource consent application.
• Details of the removal of any trees which will be necessary to get the house off its existing site.
• $600 (GST incl) deposit fee (based on current charges)

A cash bond is required to be paid prior to the house being moved to a new site.  You will be informed of the amount as a condition on the resource consent.  The amount of the bond is assessed by a Building Officer to cover the cost of reinstatement work and will vary depending on the state of the house.  For example, a condition may be imposed on the resource consent requiring that the exterior is painted, or make good all exterior cladding, joinery, roofing, spouting etc.

Depending on the site history, if there will be multiple houses on the site or if there is a proposed subdivision, a Development Contribution may be payable.