Skip to content.
Return to Department of Building and Housing home page.

Tanks and pools

Water tank.

Exemption (e) of Schedule 1

A building consent is not required for the following building work:

(e) the construction or alteration of any tank or pool and any structural support of the tank or pool (except a swimming pool as defined in section 2 of the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987), including any tank or pool that is part of any other building for which a building consent is required,—

(i) not exceeding 35 000 litres capacity and supported directly by the ground; or

(ii) not exceeding 2 000 litres capacity and supported not more than 2 metres above the supporting ground; or

(iii) not exceeding 500 litres capacity and supported not more than 4 metres above the supporting ground.

Guidance

A building consent is not required for the construction of any tank or pool or its structural support, as long as certain requirements are met such as capacity limitations and the height of support above the ground. This exemption does not include a swimming or spa pool.

Examples where this exemption could apply Examples where building consent is required
  • A rural property owner wishes to install a 20,000-litre water storage tank to collect rain water from the house roof. It is proposed to situate the tank directly on the ground in a corner of the front garden.
  • A rural homeowner wants to install a 1000-litre water storage tank. To improve the water pressure, the owner intends to mount the tank on a structural steel frame. The tank will be supported 4.5 metres above the ground, so a building consent is required.