Building
The Building Division is responsible for the regulatory control of all building work (including plumbing) in the Invercargill/Bluff area as under the Building Act.
This is to ensure that substandard or inappropriate building materials or practices do not become a problem for building users, now or in the future. Among the division's duties and responsibilities are processing and issuing building consents, building inspections and issuing code compliance certificates.
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If you would like us to email you or your work place on a regular basis with details about the latest building news and industry related seminars then please email the Council at building@icc.govt.nz.
The consent process
Most building, plumbing and structural projects require a building consent or permit (written permission from the Council). This includes, for example, new buildings, alterations and extensions to existing buildings, building relocation, merry-go-rounds, marques, scaffolding, swimming pools and spas. Building consents are concerned primarily with safety and are subject to national rules and regulations. However, buildings must also comply with the Resource Management Act and the District Plan and there may be circumstances when you will require a resource consent before you can be issued with a building consent. For more information:
Guide to ICC Building Consents process (756KB) 
Homeowner's Building Guide for Otago, Southland, Southern lakes 2010 (6.5MB pdf)
The application process
The Building Act allows the Invercargill City Council's Building Consents Authority up to 20 working days to either refuse or grant a building consent. When an application is received by the Council it is vetted for completeness and signed-off as "fit for the purpose of processing".
The application is then entered into the Council's system and the 20 working day statutory clock commences. If the Council requires more information during proccessing, the application is suspended (statutory time clock stops) until the requested information is provided.
Once the information is provided the time clock is restarted and processing continues. It is important for applicants to provide full details (as per the Council's checklists) with their applications.
Council policies related to buildings
More information
NZ Homeowner's Building Guide
Smarter Homes (independent information about how to design, build and renovate 'smarter' homes)
Southland Registered Master Builders Association