LIMs

A LIM enables you to check that all of the buildings and structures on a property are approved, such as decks, conservatories, swimming pools and fire places.
Many prospective house buyers have ideas of how they would like to develop a property, and a LIM will help you identify potential development restrictions before you buy. You may find it useful to know if your intended use of the land is feasible.

A LIM also identifies any potential hazards, e.g. it may show areas prone to ponding or flooding in heavy rain.

If you own a property with unauthorised building work, your insurance may be invalid and it could be expensive for you to rectify the unauthorised work.

To apply for a LIM, you can:

• Apply and pay online, or
• Download an application form below, or
• Collect an application form from one of our offices.

Applying for a LIM online

Register your details with myCouncil online services, then complete the application and pay online.
You can pay online by credit card or internet banking using Account2Account.

Apply for a LIM online >

Online LIM help

Download the application form

Complete the form and send it to us with the processing fee. You can also email your form and confirmation of online payment (details below) to LIMS@npdc.govt.nz or fax your application and confirmation of payment. The application will be processed once the fee is received in full. (Please note that a cancellation fee applies.)

Application for Land Information Memorandum (LIM) form 

If you are paying by online banking use your surname and LIM as the reference.

New Plymouth District Council bank account: 03-0713-0357528-08 

Note: Please check with us to make sure that you have the correct lot and DP reference on your application form so that the LIM relates to the correct property.

The type of LIM you will need to apply for depends on the type of activity taking place on the land.  It is not based on the District Plan zone.  The fees may need to change if the wrong category has been selected. We will contact you prior to work commencing on the LIM if further fees are to be applied.

Residential/rural LIM

Choose this type of LIM for a property that is primarily used for residential or rural purposes.

• Standard (10 working days) - $350
• Urgent (seven working days) - $480

Industrial/commercial LIM

Choose this LIM type for a property that is primarily used for industrial or commercial purposes. For example: motels, rest homes, factory farming.

• Standard (10 working days) - $580
• Cancellation fee or actual research fee (whichever is greater) - $65

• Electronic LIM reports sent by email or link - No charge
• Printed LIM report (printing and binding costs) - $50

If you are not sure which type to choose, please contact us first. Email LIMS@npdc.govt.nz or phone 06 759 6060.

Upgrading from standard to urgent

It is possible to upgrade a LIM from standard to urgent within three days from lodgement of the initial application. Additional fees apply. Please contact us to arrange this.

Cancelling a LIM

A $65 cancellation fee will apply or the actual processing and research costs, whichever is the greatest.

Examine the LIM closely with your lawyer and check that the information in the LIM is the same as the physical detail of the property. Conveyance lawyers know what to look for in a LIM.
Some of the basic things to look for:

• Check that any constructions or alterations have a building permit or consent. Where building consents have been issued, check that a code compliance certificate has also been issued.
• If any resource consents have been issued for the property, check that consent conditions are being met.
• Check that the waste disposal system is as stated on the LIM - if the LIM tells you the property is connected to council reticulation but you've seen a septic tank vent, confirm the situation with us.

Please contact us if there is conflicting information on the LIM.

Subsequent owners may have some redress, but generally you inherit the liabilities of any illegal building work. It is prudent to be satisfied prior to the sale that the work will not create an ongoing problem to you.

One option for assessing the standard of unconsented or unrecorded work is to obtain a report by an appropriately qualified professional such as an independent building surveyor or registered structural engineer.

Our role in relation to property information includes storing information and making it available to the public.

In many cases, we will be able to provide you with more information about an issue raised in a LIM. However the appropriate professional to assist you to interpret your LIM is a lawyer, so please do not be offended if we refer you to your lawyer.

We do not visit the property during preparation of a LIM. Therefore a LIM does not guarantee to identify unauthorised building works and land uses, and it does not attempt to provide an assessment of the development potential of a site.

As well as obtaining a LIM, a prudent purchaser would also obtain a pre-purchase building inspection. The Council's building inspectors do not undertake pre-purchase inspections. To contact a building inspector look in the Yellow Pages under 'building consultant' or 'building surveyor', or contact the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors on 0800 113 400.

To obtain a Record of Title you need to submit your application in person at the Civic Centre or a Council Service Centre in Waitara, Bell Block or Inglewood. The search costs $25.

We do not give interpretations on Record of Titles and we recommend discussing this with your lawyer.

Please note a LIM report will include a copy of the Record of Title.