Building a granny flat

A new building consent exemption allows you to add a second home of up to 70 square metres to your property, as long as you follow the rules.

The exemption is for small, single-storey, self-contained homes on the same property as your main house, often called granny flats. To qualify for the exemption, you need to meet certain criteria.

We do not inspect or approve exempt building work. If you build an exempt granny flat, you are legally responsible for making sure it complies with the Building Code.

You can find detailed guidance, including step-by-step guides and checklists, on the government's Building Performance website.

Granny flats exemption: Guidance and resources

You can build a granny flat without building consent if:

• it has a simple design and meets the Building Code
• you notify Council before you start building and once it's completed
• the work is carried out or supervised by a licensed building practitioner (LBP)
• all exemption conditions are met.

Please note, you may still need a resource consent. You will also need to pay a development contributions fee.

Apply for a project information memorandum before you start to build

Before you start construction, you need to apply for and receive a PIM. This is a summary of the information we hold about your property. It will tell you if there are any natural hazards or legal requirements for the land.

Apply for a PIM for a non-consented small standalone dwelling

When your build is complete, tell us what you've done

You need to tell us when you have finished building your granny flat, and provide us documents for our records. Documents must be submitted within 20 working days of building completion.

Got questions?

Contact our duty builder.

For technical advice, speak with your LBP.