Planning guides and forms
What is a resource consent?
Any development or proposed use of a site must be assessed against the Council’s District Plan. Any activity that is not permitted in the Plan requires a resource consent.
The District Plan aims to control activities to ensure that they do not have adverse effects on the surrounding area, environment and people. It sets standards for development as well as what activities can and cannot be done on land in the Invercargill area.
Activities that may require a resource consent range from building a new deck, to planning a new multi-level apartment building, or setting up a work from home business. A consent will also be needed if your activity doesn’t meet certain standards like height limits, noise levels.
Zoning information
The guides below provide a summary of the general environmental standards and rules from the Invercargill City District Plan that apply to different areas of our district.
If you are planning on building or subdividing in Invercargill, refer to these guides to get an idea of the key considerations relating to matters such as how small can you subdivide your property down to, how high can you build, and how close can you build on your boundary.
Guides and forms
If you would like more information about the guides and forms, phone us on (03) 211 1777 and ask to speak to the Duty Planner.
Guides
- Affected Person’s Written Approval Guide (PDF, 95.7KB)
- Code of Practice 2016 for Land Development and Subdivision Infrastructure Bylaw (PDF, 18.8MB)
- Code of Practice 2023 for Subdivision, Land Use, and Development (PDF, 33.9MB)
- Demolition or Removal of Buildings (PDF, 432.8KB)
- Erecting a Sign Guide (PDF, 72.7KB)
- Resource Consent Hearings Procedures (PDF, 96.1KB)
- Resource Consents Land Use: A guide to making a resource consent application (PDF, 13.7MB)
- Urban Design Considerations for Multi-Dwelling Housing Developments (PDF, 7.9MB)
Forms
- Affected Person’s Written Approval form (PDF, 513.6KB)
- Deemed Permitted Boundary Activity application form (PDF, 304.9KB)
- Local Authority Compliance application form (PDF, 52.3KB)
- Refund of Resource Consent Bond application form (PDF, 374.9KB)
- Resource Consent application form (PDF, 402.7KB)
- Resource Consent Bond application form (PDF, 821.1KB)
- S223 and/or S224(c) Certification application form (PDF, 372.8KB)
- Submission On An Application for Resource Consent (PDF, 73KB)
Subdivision, Land Use, and Development Code of Practice 2023
Council will no longer be using the 2016 Code of Practice for Land Development and Subdivision Infrastructure Bylaw, and will instead be using the Subdivision, Land Use, and Development Code of Practice 2023 moving forward (see above, under "Guides").
We have been transitioning to this since the 2023 Code of Practice was approved, and work is underway to update the District Plan to remove references to the former bylaw. The 2023 Code of Practice will be fully relied on from 1 February 2026.
Hazardous activities
Contaminated land
Land is considered to be contaminated when there are any hazardous substances present that could pose a threat to human health or the environment. Learn more about contaminated land.
Hazardous substances
Hazardous substances can be dangerous or poisonous, yet they are an essential part of our daily lives. Learn more about hazardous substances.
Outdoor burning
The rules for what you can and can not burn in Southland as part of the Southland Regional Air Plan. Learn more about outdoor burning.
Housing Dashboard
Invercargill City Council is a Tier 3 Authority under the National Policy Statement for Urban Development.
Council monitors and reports on housing demand and supply, prices, rents, affordability and housing development realisation - our housing dashboard makes this data available to the public to view here.
