The role of the Council 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.
The division's duties and responsibilities include maintaining the Council's property files and database, processing and issuing building and planning consents, building inspections, issuing code compliance certificates, etc.
Join our mailing list
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 Council's District Plan and there may be circumstances when you will require a resource consent before you can be issued with a building consent.
ICC Building Consent forms
Building Consents General Guide November 2008 update
Homeowners Building Guide 2009-2010 (6_7MB)
for Otago, Southland and Southern Lakes
The application process: summaryThe 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 proccessing".
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 proccessing continues. It is important for applicants to provide full details (as per the Council's checklists) with their applications.
The BuildingAct 2004The Building Act 2004 fully came into force on March 31, 2005 and introduced a new framework for the regulation of building work. The Act 2004 repealed the Building Act 1991 and represented a major change for people working in the building industry.
The 2004 Act aims to improve control of, and encourage better practices in building design and construction, so that buildings are designed and built right first time. This will give greater assurance to all building owners and users, particularly homeowners, that their building meets standards set out in the Building Code.
Click for a link to the latest version of the Building Act.
The changes are designed to provide: - More clarity on the standards we expect buildings to meet.
- More guidance on how those standards can be met.
- More capable people undertaking building design, construction and building inspections.
- More scrutiny in the building consent and inspection process.
- Better protections for homeowners through the introduction of mandatory warranties.
Council information / other links http://www.buildingguide.co.nz/
http://www.smarterhomes.org.nz/
(independent information about how to design, build and renovate 'smarter' homes)
Southland Registered Master Builders Association
| 
