Building Consent Fees NZ: Council Costs, Levies, Calculators

Building consent fees in New Zealand are the charges you pay to your local council for checking your building plans, inspecting the work, and issuing the paperwork that proves your project meets the Building Code. They’re not a single flat price—fees are made up of several parts such as processing time, inspections, administration, and government levies (like MBIE and BRANZ). Because every project is different, councils often take a deposit up front and reconcile the final cost once your consent has been processed and inspections are complete.

This guide explains how those costs are put together and what to expect before you apply. You’ll learn what fees cover (and what they don’t), how councils set charges, where to find council fee schedules and calculators, and how levies and GST are applied. We’ll compare typical costs across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and beyond, give example ranges for common residential and commercial projects, and highlight garage door-specific points for DoorsNZ customers. You’ll also get practical tips to estimate, reduce, and avoid extra fees. Let’s start with when a building consent is needed.

What a building consent is (and when you need one)

A building consent is the formal approval from your local council (the Building Consent Authority) that your plans meet the Building Code and can be built, with inspections during the job to verify compliance. It’s essentially today’s version of the old “building permit” used in New Zealand, and it underpins the paperwork you’ll need for sign-off at the end.

You typically need a building consent before starting new building work or significant alterations. While some minor, low‑risk work can be exempt, most structural changes, new buildings, and complex services will require consent. If you’re unsure, ask your council early. Resource consent (planning) is different and, when needed, is applied for and charged separately—this guide focuses on building consents and fees.

What building consent fees cover (and what they don’t)

Building consent fees pay for the council’s work to assess your plans, carry out inspections, and issue statutory documents. Councils often take an estimated fee up front and reconcile it later against actual work done during processing and inspections, so your final invoice can change. Fees also include government levies such as MBIE and BRANZ where applicable.

• Typically cover: application lodgement and vetting, technical processing of your plans, required site inspections, issuing the Code Compliance Certificate, record-keeping/archiving, and applicable MBIE/BRANZ levies. For commercial jobs, they may also include charges related to compliance schedules and specified systems administration.

• Typically don’t cover: your designer/architect/engineer fees, geotechnical or other specialist reports, the actual construction costs, or any separate planning (resource consent) fees. Special administrative actions (for example, separating an issued consent) can attract their own specific charges, and additional charges may apply depending on your project’s needs.

How councils set and charge fees in New Zealand

Councils use published fees-and-charges schedules and recover the actual cost of assessing and inspecting your project. Typically, you pay an estimated fee or deposit when you lodge your application, and the council reconciles this against the work done at key stages of the project. Charges usually combine time-based processing (hourly rates), inspection time, administration/records, and standard government levies (covered next). Some councils publish indicative ranges or value‑band estimates (for example, Whanganui lists estimated fees by project value), but the final figure still depends on the actual effort involved. Certain actions have fixed charges too—Auckland, for instance, lists separating an issued consent as a non‑refundable $1,500 base fee, with possible additional charges.

• Core components: hourly processing time, inspections, administration/archiving, applicable levies, plus GST.
• Charging approach: estimated deposit up front, then reconciliation against actuals during or after processing/inspections.

Standard levies explained: MBIE and BRANZ

Alongside council processing and inspection charges, most building consent fees in New Zealand include two standard industry levies. Your council simply collects these on behalf of the sector and passes them on. They’re calculated from your project’s estimated value and apply only when value thresholds are met, so they’re not “extra council charges” or profit.

• MBIE Building Levy: Set by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to support the national building regulatory system and Building Code oversight. Calculated from project value when thresholds apply.

• BRANZ levy: Collected for the Building Research Association of New Zealand to fund research and industry education. Commonly calculated as ~$1 per $1,000 of estimated building work value.

These levies appear on your consent invoice alongside council fees and may be adjusted if your project value changes.

The typical fee components on your consent invoice

Your building consent invoice is a bundle of line items that reflect the actual council work on your project. While wording varies by council, most invoices follow a similar pattern and are reconciled against the initial estimate or deposit you paid. GST is added at the end.

• Application lodgement/deposit: upfront estimate, reconciled later.
• Plan processing (hourly): technical assessment time by council staff.
• Inspections (per visit): site inspections booked through construction.
• Administration and records: file management, digital archiving, and issuing the Code Compliance Certificate (CCC).
• Government levies: MBIE Building Levy (threshold-based) and BRANZ levy (commonly ~$1 per $1,000 of project value).
• Property information: Record of Title search where required (some councils list this separately).
• Commercial items: specified systems assessment and compliance schedule setup.
• Special actions/requests: fixed fees for extras (for example, Auckland’s $1,500 base fee to separate an issued consent, plus any additional charges).

How to estimate your consent fees before you apply

You won’t get a precise figure until council reconciles actual time and inspections, but you can still build a sensible estimate. Combine value-based levies with council schedule charges, then add a buffer for complexity and rework. Treat the result as a range, not a fixed quote.

• Set scope and type: note if it’s commercial with specified systems (compliance schedule fees may apply).
• Estimate project value: calculate the BRANZ levy at roughly $1 per $1,000; the MBIE levy applies above set value thresholds (your council will add this).
• Check council schedules: find lodgement/deposit, hourly processing, and inspection rates. Some councils publish value-band estimates (e.g., Whanganui); others reconcile estimates through the project (e.g., Wellington).
• Processing and inspections: allow for technical processing time and the number of inspections you expect to book.
• Admin and property info: include CCC/records charges and any Record of Title search.
• Special actions: add any known extras (for example, Auckland lists a $1,500 base fee to separate an issued consent, plus additional charges).
• Add GST.

Council fee schedules and calculators: where to find them

The quickest way to confirm building consent fees in NZ is on your council’s website. Most publish a fees-and-charges page, and several also offer a guide or value-banded estimates; a few provide simple estimators. For example, Auckland lists special charges (like separating an issued consent), Wellington explains estimated deposits and reconciliations, Christchurch provides both a schedule and a guide, and Whanganui shows indicative fees by project value.

• Use the site search: look for “building consent fees” or “fees and charges”.
• Follow the menu path: Property/Building → Building consents → Fees/charges.
• Check guidance pages: “Guide to fees” or “how we charge” explain deposits vs actuals.
• Find commercial items: look for “specified systems” or “compliance schedule” fees.
• Confirm levies: councils note BRANZ/MBIE levies and any thresholds.

How fees differ across councils (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and more)

While the building consent fees NZ framework is similar nationwide (deposit up front, reconciliation later, plus MBIE/BRANZ levies), each council structures and signals costs differently. Auckland highlights specific fixed charges—for example, a base $1,500 (non‑refundable) to separate an issued consent, with additional charges possible. Wellington is explicit that what you pay at lodgement is an estimate that gets reconciled as processing and inspections occur. Christchurch publishes both a fee schedule and a guide, with line items such as “Residential minor building work $126” and “Residential accessory buildings and residential alterations $220,” alongside value‑band guidance.

Some councils publish indicative totals by project value—Whanganui, for example, lists around $3,300 for projects $0–$200k and $5,300 for $200,001–$400,000 (subject to actual work done). Others show small add‑ons like a Record of Title search (Otorohanga $25). Commercial differences also appear: Hastings lists a Compliance Schedule fee of $390. In short, check your local schedule and allow for council‑specific extras.

Example cost ranges by project type (residential and commercial)

To anchor your estimate, here are real figures published by NZ councils. Treat them as indicative only—Wellington notes the fee you pay at lodgement is an estimate that’s reconciled against actual processing and inspections. Use these examples to sanity‑check your own calculation of building consent fees NZ wide.

Project type	Example council signal	Notes
Residential minor building work	Christchurch: $126	Schedule line item; total increases with processing, inspections, levies and GST.
Residential accessory buildings/alterations	Christchurch: $220	Schedule line item; not a final total.
Typical residential project $0–$200k value	Whanganui: ≈$3,300 +/-	Estimated total fees; reconciled to actuals.
Typical residential $200,001–$400k value	Whanganui: ≈$5,300 +/-	Estimated total fees; reconciled to actuals.
Commercial with specified systems	Hastings: Compliance schedule $390	Additional to consent fees; totals vary by value and complexity.

Remember to add BRANZ (around $1 per $1,000 of project value), any MBIE levy that applies, inspection counts, and GST to reach a realistic total.

Commercial-specific costs: specified systems and compliance schedule fees

Commercial projects that include “specified systems” (for example, fire alarms, sprinklers, lifts) trigger extra council work and fees. The council must assess your systems information and issue a compliance schedule that sets inspection, maintenance, and reporting requirements. These charges sit on top of standard processing, inspections, and any levies. Councils publish their own figures—Hastings, for instance, lists a Compliance Schedule (Building Act 2004) fee of $390. Expect these items to be estimated at lodgement and reconciled later, just like other building consent fees.

• Specified systems assessment: council review of design documentation and system details.
• Compliance schedule issue/setup: for example, Hastings shows $390.
• Schedule updates at sign-off: councils may charge to reflect final systems on the CCC.

Processing timeframes and when you’ll be invoiced

Processing time depends on your council, the complexity of your plans, and how complete your documents are at lodgement. Councils typically take an estimated fee or deposit when you apply, then reconcile costs against actual processing and inspection work. Wellington notes they reconcile the estimate “at various points during a project,” so expect invoicing beyond lodgement. Inspections are booked during construction, and a final reconciliation usually happens when the Code Compliance Certificate is issued. For current time expectations, check your council’s published timeframes.

• At lodgement: you pay an estimate/deposit.
• During the project: councils may reconcile and invoice at key stages.
• At completion (CCC): final reconciliation and any balance due.

Amendments, extensions, separations, and refunds

Projects evolve, and councils have processes (and fees) to manage changes. Most of these are charged on actual time spent and will be reconciled against your initial estimate. Where project value changes, levy amounts may be adjusted at reconciliation. Knowing the common scenarios helps you plan for building consent fees NZ wide.

• Amendments: Changes to approved plans trigger extra processing (and sometimes inspections). Expect additional hourly charges; MBIE/BRANZ levies may be recalculated if your project value changes.
• Extensions: If your consent is nearing expiry, you can request more time. Councils typically charge an administration/time-based fee to assess and record extensions.
• Separations: Splitting an issued consent into multiple consents attracts specific fees. Example: Auckland lists a non‑refundable $1,500 base fee, with additional charges possible.
• Refunds/credits: Because councils reconcile estimates against actual work (e.g., Wellington’s approach), you may receive a credit/refund if less time was required—or further invoices if more time/inspections were needed. Non‑refundable items still apply.

Building consent fees vs resource consent fees

Building consent fees cover technical checks and inspections to meet the Building Code. Resource consent fees are separate planning charges for effects under your district plan. You may need one or both, and they’re invoiced by different council teams. Resource consents are often deposit-based; for example, Auckland signals land use deposits such as Residential $6,500 and Non‑residential $4,500, then reconciles to actual costs. When budgeting your building consent fees NZ wide, keep any resource consent costs as a distinct line.

• Purpose: Building = Building Code compliance; Resource = planning rules/land use.
• How you’re charged: Both use estimates/deposits and reconciliation, but on separate invoices.
• Levies: MBIE and BRANZ levies apply to building work, not to resource consent fees.

GST, project value and levy thresholds

Three variables shape your final total: GST, your declared project value, and levy thresholds. Councils base MBIE and BRANZ levies on the estimated value of building work you state at lodgement, then reconcile if the value changes during the project. Keep your estimate consistent with contracts/quotes—if it goes up or down, levies and fees may be adjusted at reconciliation alongside inspections and processing time.

• Project value drives levies: councils calculate MBIE/BRANZ from your estimated build value and may request evidence.
• BRANZ levy: commonly calculated at approximately $1 per $1,000 of project value.
• MBIE Building Levy: only charged once national thresholds are met; your council will add it when triggered.
• GST: added to the combined subtotal of council fees and levies at the prevailing rate.

Garage doors and consents: what DoorsNZ customers should know

For roller doors, whether you need a building consent depends on the scope: councils focus on structural change and Building Code compliance. If you’re creating a new opening, enlarging/shifting one, or altering lintels/framing, you should expect consent checks and the usual mix of processing, inspections, and any applicable levies. If your work is straightforward supply/replace, ask your council early so you don’t budget for building consent fees NZ wide that you don’t actually need.

To streamline any consent application, have:

• Accurate opening dimensions: verified site measurements.
• Product specifications: Door model, materials (NZ‑made Coloursteel or Zincalume), and accessories (openers, safety beams).
• Installation details: the fixing method and documentation supplied, plus any structural information from your designer/builder.

Practical ways to reduce fees and avoid extras

You can’t change levies, but you can influence the two big cost drivers in building consent fees NZ: council processing time and the number of inspections. Aim for a complete, consistent application and a clean build sequence so you aren’t paying for avoidable rework, amendments, or extra visits.

• Confirm if consent is needed: Check early; if exempt, you avoid the process entirely.
• Freeze your scope before lodgement: Amendments add processing time and may change levies if value shifts.
• Submit complete, quality documents: Coordinated drawings, specs, calculations, and producer statements reduce RFIs.
• State a realistic project value: Levies are reconciled; big changes can trigger adjustments.
• Use pre-application advice wisely: Even if charged, it often prevents costly redesigns later.
• Plan staging up front: Avoid late “separations” of issued consents (Auckland charges a $1,500 base fee).
• Schedule inspections smartly: Keep the site ready and respond quickly to RFIs to avoid extra visits.
• For commercial jobs: Lock in specified systems and compliance schedule details early to prevent rework.

Common mistakes that trigger extra charges or delays

The biggest cost blowouts come from rework and extra time. Because councils reconcile estimates against actual processing and inspections (for example, Wellington signals this), anything that generates extra staff time or repeat visits will increase building consent fees NZ and slow your project.

• Incomplete or inconsistent documents: drawings, specs, calculations, and producer statements that don’t line up trigger RFIs.
• Scope changes after lodgement: amendments add processing time and can alter levies if value shifts.
• Understated project value: BRANZ/MBIE levies get recalculated at reconciliation.
• Separating an issued consent: Auckland charges a non‑refundable $1,500 base fee, plus any additional charges.
• Late changes to specified systems: compliance schedule assessment and updates add time and cost.
• Site not ready for inspection: failed or repeat inspections mean extra inspection fees.
• Missing property information: lacking a Record of Title or relying on council to source it adds admin charges.
• Overlooking planning needs: lodging building consent when a resource consent is also required causes processing holds.
• Poor coordination: designer/engineer/builder misalignment leads to avoidable questions, redesign, and delays.

Who to contact for fee questions and advice

If you’re unsure about building consent fees NZ for your project, start with your local council’s Building Consents/Building Control team. They can confirm deposits, hourly rates, inspection charges, MBIE and BRANZ levy thresholds, and council‑specific extras like compliance schedules or consent separations. Have your project scope, estimated value, and address ready so they can give accurate guidance.

• Council fees desk: deposits vs reconciliation, inspection counts, CCC/admin, Record of Title costs.
• Planning/resource team: to check if a resource consent (separate fees/deposits) is required.
• Commercial/compliance officer: specified systems and compliance schedule fees and process.
• Designer/engineer: to tighten documentation and avoid rework charges.
• DoorsNZ support: for garage door measurements, specs, and install details to streamline submissions.

Key takeaways and next steps

Building consent fees in NZ are a bundle: council processing and inspections, plus MBIE and BRANZ levies, all reconciled against an upfront estimate and finished with GST. Charges and line items vary by council, so treat your budget as a range and control what you can—scope clarity, document quality, and clean inspections.

• Confirm consent early: if exempt, you avoid the process and cost.
• Budget as a range: include council time, inspections, levies, and GST.
• Check local schedules: watch for extras like consent separations (Auckland’s $1,500 base) and compliance schedule fees.
• Submit complete documents: coordinated drawings/specs cut RFIs and amendments.
• Plan inspections smartly: avoid repeat visits and delays.
• State a realistic value: levies adjust if the value changes.

Next step: map your scope, value, and council fees, then prepare solid documents. Planning a new or replacement roller door? Get accurate specs and pricing from DoorsNZ to streamline your quote and, if required, your consent submission.