Unauthorised building work

Unauthorised building work is any building work carried out without building consent, or without proof that the Council gave consent.

This page explains your options and what to do next if you have unauthorised work on your property.

Apply online for a Certificate of Acceptance

If the work without consent was done after 1 July 1992, you can apply for a Certificate of Acceptance.

A Certificate of Acceptance allows us to assess and record the work done on your property.

We recommend applying through the Objective Build Portal:

  • It’s fast, easy, and convenient.
  • You can track your application.
  • No processing fees.

Apply online now

Prefer paper?

We process all applications online, but if you prefer, you can submit a paper application. We'll enter the information into our system for you. This will incur a processing fee. For our latest fees, see Building Services fees and charges.

To apply by paper:

  1. Download the Certificate of Acceptance application form(PDF, 661KB)
  2. Print and complete the form.
  3. Return it to us in person or by post.

What to do if the work was done before 1 July 1992

If the work was done before 1 July 1992, you can submit a third-party report (from a qualified building professional) to the Council.

We will add the report to the property file as a public record.

Please note:

  • The Council does not verify or endorse these reports.
  • We accept no responsibility or liability for their content.
  • Current laws do not allow us to officially “approve” unauthorised work done before 1992.

Download the third-party property information lodgment form(PDF, 131KB)

Government guidance

All building work in New Zealand must comply with the building code, even if it doesn’t require a building consent. This ensures buildings are safe, healthy and durable for everyone who may use them. For everything you need to know about building code compliance or anything else to do with building in New Zealand, see the government guidance available on the Building Performance website.

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