Extension to building consent authority timeframe

Local authorities are being given more time in which to become registered as building consent authorities or to have transferred their building control functions to an accredited and registered building consent authority.

An amendment to the Building Act 2004 extending the date from 30 November 2007 until 30 June 2008 was passed by Parliament on 21 August 2007.

Introducing the amendment on 7 August 2007, the Minister for Building and Construction, Hon Clayton Cosgrove, said the majority of councils are expected to be accredited and registered by 30 November 2007 or to be close to accreditation.

However, some councils - particularly small, rural authorities with capacity or capability limitations - may not complete accreditation or transfer their functions to a registered building consent authority on time.

'A few councils need a bit more time to come up to speed with the new, higher building consenting standards required of them. The date-change amendment gives these councils certainty and added confidence to complete the work necessary to improve the speed and quality of their building consenting, inspection and approval functions,' Mr Cosgrove said.

The extension will enable a managed process for completing the accreditation/transfer process, while maintaining local building consent, inspection and approval activities. Without this change, councils would be unable legally to continue to undertake building control activities.

Extending the date will not alter the accreditation process or affect its credibility or integrity by lowering the accreditation standards.

As at mid-August 2007, 73 territorial authorities and three private organisations contracting to councils had applied to International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) for accreditation as building consent authorities. One territorial authority intends transferring its building control functions to an accredited and registered territorial authority. Nine of the 12 regional authorities intend transferring their building control functions, which only relate to dams, to the three regional authorities that intend applying to become accredited.

The Department will continue to work with councils to assist them to gain accreditation and be registered within the proposed new timeframe.

Mr Cosgrove also introduced a consequential amendment to the Building Act to allow more time for territorial authorities to transfer the responsibility for issuing building consents for new dams built in their area to regional councils.