What this checks
It runs your project against the everyday Schedule 1 exemptions – things like low decks, small sheds and outbuildings, and internal alterations – and the conditions attached to them. Exempt from consent does not mean exempt from the rules: the work must still comply with the Building Code, and any Restricted Building Work still has to be designed or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner.
💡 Homeowner tip: even when work is consent-exempt, it is worth a quick check with Council or an LBP before you start. Getting an exemption wrong is far more expensive to unwind than to confirm up front.
Please note: this is an indication based on what you enter, not a determination. Exemptions have detailed conditions and overlays can change the answer. Confirm with Auckland Council or a Licensed Building Practitioner before you begin.
Common questions
What can I build without a building consent in NZ?
Schedule 1 of the Building Act exempts a range of low-risk work – for example small detached buildings, low decks and platforms, and many internal alterations – each with size and use conditions. The tool checks your project against the common ones.
Does exempt work still have to meet the Building Code?
Yes. An exemption only removes the need for a consent, not the need to build to the Code. Restricted Building Work – the structural and weathertightness parts – must still be done or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner.
What is Restricted Building Work?
It is the work critical to a home being structurally sound and weathertight. It must be designed and carried out or supervised by Licensed Building Practitioners, even on some consent-exempt projects.
Not sure which way your project falls? We can confirm the consent path before you commit to a direction.
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