Building Services fees and charges

Here are the fees we charge for Building Services, including building consent, building warrant of fitness and compliance schedules, and engineering checks.

All fees and charges include GST. Effective from 1 July 2025.

Note, building inspection fees are valid for two years from the date we issue your building consent. If you have an inspection after two years, you'll be charged the fee that applies at that time.

Building Services charges are imposed under the Building Act 2004 to recover the cost to Council for processing applications, carrying out inspections, and related work.

Fixed building consent fees

The fixed fee covers all applicable fees, however a refundable asset bond may be taken. Building and BRANZ levies may also apply (depending on the project value).

Minor consents (minor building works)
Criteria for submitting applications under minor consents are part of the application process. Criteria include: Building works comply with the District Plan and are clear of any easements, all buildings on 1 legal allotment. External building works on land subject to natural hazards, or on land with a high risk of liquefaction are excluded. The relevant checklist must be completed [download checklists from building consent for minor building work]. When the criteria are not met, the minor consent application will revert to a standard building consent application, at Council's discretion.
K1 Residential: Demolition/ removal of existing residential building or outbuilding. A separate consent is required to replace. $914
K2 Commercial: Demolition/ removal of existing commercial building or outbuilding. A separate consent is required to replace. $1,030
K3 Conservatory (proprietary). Conventional construction placed on existing deck or platform only. No foundations included. $867
K4 External wall insulation – from removing internal linings. $1,399
K5  Install additional sanitary fixtures into dwelling with timber subfloor – single storey. $1,399
K6  Install additional sanitary fixtures into dwelling with concrete floor. $1,633
K7 Remove non-load bearing wall with bracing element. $1,053
K8 Remove load bearing internal wall. $1,703
K9 Level entry shower – timber subfloor. $1,520
N1  Level entry shower – concrete floor. $1,699
N2 Stormwater to Council services. $1,100
N3 Erect unlined proprietary garage (excluding sanitary services and/or firewall). $1,559
N4 Freestanding wood burner – single storey residential only. $761
N5 Inbuilt wood burner – residential only, within existing chimney. $1,015
N6 Swimming pool and pool fence (barrier). $1,464

 

Fast-track minor consents
These are available to approved customers only. An "approved customer" must be pre-approved by Palmerston North City Council Building Services. Approved customers are those who submit applications within agreed construction parameters using a refined method, to Council's satisfaction.
F1 Freestanding solid fuel heater $706
F2 Inbuilt solid fuel heater $960
F3 Proprietary garage $1,481

 

Project information memorandum
PIM fixed fee work  $159

 

Processing fees

Private building consent authorities
BCA filing fee  $136

 

Warrants of fitness and compliance schedules 
Annual building warrant of fitness renewal $123
New compliance schedule $227
Alteration to existing compliance schedule $146
Building WoF site audit and reinspection $251 per inspection
IQP registration for new IQPs $471
IQP annual renewal $131

 

Engineering checks
Structural engineering check Actual cost as charged by the consultant engineer

 

Advisory service

This applies when staff provide information in response to customer queries.

 No cost for an individual enquiry of up to 30 minutes, whether this is in person or in writing. If the enquiry is for longer than 30 minutes, this will be charged based on the relevant officer's hourly rate (listed below). 

 

Pre-lodgement vetting
This applies when staff vet information before an application is lodged. Charged based on the relevant officer's hourly rate (listed below)

 

Other fees

Code compliance certificate
 Residential  $196
 Commercial  $634

 

Building inspections
Standard building inspection $251 per inspection
Late cancellation fee (inspections cancelled within 48 hours of scheduled inspection) $251
Additional paperwork in relation to a failed or extra building inspection Charged at relevant officer's hourly rate, plus any additional relevant fees and charges  
Third-party report $713
Section 72 certificate condition $874
Section 75 certificate condition $964
 Removal of certificate condition $795

 

 Application fees
Extend timeframe for building consent or code compliance certificate $111
Building consent application, amendment to building consent, certificate of public use, exempt building work, waiver and modification applications Charged based on the relevant officer's hourly rate, plus any additional relevant fees and charges. Officers' rates are listed below.

   

Licensed building practitioner registration 
This is an additional fee for all restricted building work projects $181
Certificate of acceptance
Lodgement fee (non-refundable) $750 
Processing fee Charged based on the relevant officer's hourly rate, plus any inspections, planning, checks and other applicable fees and charges. Officers' rates are listed below.

 

BCA accreditation fee
 Per $1,000 of project value  $1.96

  

 Scanning fee, digital storage and file management
This fee is for all building consent applications other than fixed fee applications. Online building consent applications or lodging additional information online in a format that meets Council requirements does not attract scanning, digital storage and file management charges.
 A0-A2  $3.75 per page
 A3-A4  $2.25 per page

 

Online consenting service and system implementation charge
This is a charge to use the online system, to recover the cost the council has incurred in implementing the system. It is charged against all applications we process.
Value of work less than $125,000 $92 
Value of work between $125,000 and $2.5 million 0.0863% 
Value of work more than $2.5 million  $2,157

 

Earthquake-prone building charges
These charges are to recover the cost Council has incurred in implementing the legislative requirements under the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016.
Extension of time $111
Determine earthquake rating (NBS) $1,459
Exemption $446
Alterations to EPB. This is added to building consent fees and charges $643

 

Charges for Council staff

Charged for processing consents that don't have a set fee.
Council officers Hourly rate 
Team Leader, Building $260
Senior Plumbing and Drainage Officer and Advanced Building Officer $260
Building Officer $240
Building Services Advisor $217
Senior Planning Officer $260
Team Leader, Planning Services $270
Planning Officer $245
Monitoring and Enforcement Officer $215
Manager, Environmental Protection $284
Environmental Health Officer $231
Team Leader, Business Support $227
Senior Business Support Officer $205
Manager, Building Services $282
General Manager $305
Technical and professional staff from other parts of Council $245
Administration staff $149

 

Levies

Additional to Council charges are levies imposed by the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on all building consents that have a building work value of more than $20,000 (BRANZ) or more than $65,000 (MBIE). BRANZ levies contribute to the cost of testing and certifying building materials for use while MBIE levies contribute to the cost of building consent administration at the national level.

Current levies (subject to change)
Building (MBIE) levies per $1,000 of project value, over the threshold of $65,000 (GST inclusive)  $1.75
BRANZ levies per $1,000 of project value, over the threshold of $20,000 (no GST) $1 
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