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

Further changes - from 2005 onwards

The Act also includes major changes to be implemented over several years.

Building Code changes

The Building Code is being reviewed to examine how it could be more user-friendly, and ensure that performance standards for buildings are clear and meet community expectations. These changes will take into account the Act’s requirements for sustainable development and for buildings that help people stay healthy and comfortable. A report on the review must be completed by 30 November 2007.

Find out more about the Building Code review.

Certification of building products

Products can be certified as complying with the Building Code. Certificates will be issued by third-party certification bodies. These bodies will be accredited themselves, by an accreditation agency appointed by the Chief Executive of the Department of Building and Housing.

Find out more about product certification.

Registration of building consent authorities

The Building Act 2004 seeks to improve the control of, and encourage better practice and performance in, building design, regulatory building control and building construction. Establishing an accreditation and registration regime for regulatory building control is one of the tools that will contribute to achieving this.

After 30 June 2008, only registered building consent authorities (BCAs) will be able to undertake regulatory building control functions under the Act.

The Act requires that any territorial authority or regional authority carrying out regulatory building control work be registered as a BCA. A private body wishing to undertake regulatory building control functions under the Act must also be registered.

Find out more about building consent authority accreditation and registration.

Licensing of building practitioners

The Act sets up a system for licensing building practitioners.

  • Certain design and building work will have to be undertaken or supervised by a licensed building practitioner.
  • Licence classes will be set out in regulations.
  • The licensing system will be administered by the Department of Building and Housing.
  • People can make complaints about licensed building practitioners, to be heard by an independent board.

Builders have been able to apply for some licences from November 2007.

Find out more about occupational licensing.