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Building

"Granny Flats" (Small stand-alone dwellings)

Know the rules before you start

On the 15 January 2026, the amendments to regulations for the granny flats (small standalone dwellings) building consent exemption will commence. The new provisions of the Building and Construction (Small Stand-alone Dwellings) Amendment Act 2025 come into force on the same day.

 

This exemption cannot be used until 15 January 2026.  

 

To submit an Application for Project Information Memorandum (PIM) for non-consented small standalone dwelling, please apply online via Objective Build (please ensure you are completing the correct application - Form 2AA: Application for project information memorandum for non-consented small standalone dwelling):

Apply online  

 

Before submitting an application check you have met all the exemption criteria (Building design conditions checklist). Some of the basic criteria include (But not limited to): 

  • Building must be:

    • New  

    • Single story  

    • Stand-alone  

    • Self-contained & intended for a single household or family  

  •  Dimensions of the build: 
    • Floor area of 70 square metres or less. 
    • A max floor level of 1 metre above supporting ground. 
    • A max building height of 4 metres above floor level. 
    • 2 metres or more from other residential buildings and or legal boundaries (Note planning requirements may be different please check below).
    • Not built across boundaries between allotments 
  • Certain construction materials must be used. Check the full list in the checklist linked above. 
  • Compliance with water, drainage. foul water and electricity & gas criteria must be met. 

Make sure all the actions required by the exemption have been carried out - Granny flats exemption: Completion checklist.  

You are required to submit this documentation to council once you have completed your work. 

For more information, please see the below link to the Building Performance website. and lines to the Factsheets for building professionals, homeowners, and designers (LBP design, architects, engineers): 

"Granny Flat" building consent exemption  

Factsheet - Granny flats for building professionals  

Factsheet - Granny flats for homeowners  

Factsheet - Granny flats for designers (LBP design, architects, engineers)  

 

Planning Requirements

There is further criteria that must be met relating to your zone and infrastructure requirements, when you apply for your PIM, these will be checked by our team. We will let you know if your development is likely to meet the exemption criteria. The full list of criteria can be found here. Some of the criteria includes: 

Zones that are permitted for Detached Minor Residential Unit (DMRU/Granny Flat) exemption 

Maori purpose zone 
Mixed use zone 

Residential zone 

Rural Zone 

In residential zones 

Have a maximum of 50% building coverage 
Minimum front, side & rear boundary setback of 2m

In rural zones 

Have a minimum front boundary setback of 10m and a minimum rear and side boundary of 5m 

In Maori purpose zones 

For urban areas: 

Have a minimum front boundary setback of 3m minimum rear and side boundary of 1.5m.  

 

For rural areas: 

Have a minimum front boundary setback of 5m minimum rear and side boundary of 5m

Across all zones 

A DMRU must also comply with rules and standards in the District Plan that deal with the following matters where applicable:  

  • subdividing land  
  • protecting important natural or cultural sites  
  • using the DMRU for non-residential purposes  
  • papakāinga (communal Māori housing)  
  • earthworks  
  • Any health and safety requirements that also apply to the main house – such as: 

- natural hazards (for example: minimum floor level requirements to manage flood effects)

  • Reverse sensitivity (for example: setbacks from neighbouring industrial sites)

 

If your DMRU triggers resource consent in relation to the above rules, then you must apply for and obtain resource consent before building your DMRU. A full list of NPDCs planning rules can be found on our EPlan. 

NPDCs planning and development team cannot provide advice on your development without seeing your final plans. If you apply for your PIM, we will review your application and provide a full breakdown on if you are likely to meet the criteria for the permitted exemption status of the DRMU or if you require a resource consent before you build. 

Infrastructure Requirements 

There are requirements and restrictions applicable to infrastructure for DRMUs, these include (But are not limited to): 

  • Check that your proposed location is not being built over or near council infrastructure using our GIS Viewer. No structure can be built within 1.5m of any NPDC asset OR it must be the depth of the of the pipe + Diameter of the pipe + 0.2m (Whichever is greatest) 

  • Development contributions may be applicable, please check the policy here to see if your development will include development contributions. 

You may also want to apply for a new water connection, this way you can track each residential units water usage. Please apply here. 

 

If you have further questions, please contact us: 

Phone: 06 759 6060 

Email: Enquiries@npdc.govt.nz 

 

 

Page last updated: 11:36am Wed 14 January 2026

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06 759 6060 enquiries@npdc.govt.nz
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