Granny flat rules in New Zealand (2026)

Two national rules took effect on 15 January 2026: a building consent exemption for small stand-alone dwellings up to 70 m², and national standards under which one minor unit per site needs no resource consent under those standards when it meets them, though other district and regional plan rules still apply. They work independently, so a project can meet one, both or neither.

The building consent exemption

The exemption is in Schedule 1A of the Building Act 2004. MBIE's checklist sets out the design conditions. The dwelling must be:

new, single-storey with no mezzanine, detached and self-contained, for a single household;
70 m² of floor area or less;
no more than 1 m from floor to the supporting ground, and no more than 4 m high above floor level;
at least 2 m from other residential buildings and from legal boundaries, and not built across allotment boundaries;
clad with lightweight roof materials of up to 20 kg/m² and wall cladding of up to 220 kg/m², on light steel or timber framing;
plumbed with no more than 30 fixture units and no pumped systems inside, with its own electricity supply (and gas, if used);
on land not subject to a natural hazard as advised by the council, or where adequate provision has been made to protect the land and buildings.

From 8 October 2026, certified composite structural products with a current CodeMark certificate can also be used, and existing water, wastewater and stormwater connections can be used or modified if the utility provider agrees the connection is suitable.

How the exemption works in practice

Licensed people. Only licensed building practitioners, registered architects or chartered professional engineers can design it, and only licensed building professionals can build it. Registered plumbers and drainlayers complete their own record of work.
PIM first. The owner must get a project information memorandum (PIM) from the council before work starts. The council has 10 working days to issue it. MBIE notes that the PIM is not an approval.
Two years. The build generally has to be finished within two years of the PIM unless an extension is granted; if the PIM lapses, the exemption no longer applies.
Tell the council. The owner sends the council all the required documents within 20 working days of finishing. Any development contribution is due within the same 20 working days.
No inspection. Councils do not inspect exempt work, certify Building Code compliance or issue a code compliance certificate. The work must still meet the Building Code, and the documents appear in future LIMs.

The resource consent side

The National Environmental Standards for Detached Minor Residential Units apply in residential, rural, mixed-use and Māori-purpose zones. One minor unit per site needs no resource consent under these standards when it meets them and the other requirements:

an internal floor area of 70 m² or less;
in residential zones, building coverage of 50% or less, and front, side and rear setbacks of at least 2 m;
in rural zones, a front setback of at least 10 m and side and rear setbacks of at least 5 m;
at least 2 m from the main house, and held in common ownership with it on the same site.

Under the standards, such a unit does not need to meet district plan rules on outdoor space, privacy, sunlight, glazing or parking. District plan rules on subdivision, protected sites, earthworks, natural hazards and infrastructure still apply, as do regional plan rules. The Ministry for the Environment warns that using a council's more lenient standards may take a design outside the building consent exemption.

What still applies

MBIE says the exemption is only a building consent exemption. Owners still need to check planning rules, bylaws, covenants, easements and consent notices, whether the land is affected by natural hazards, network utility connections and vehicle crossings. Some projects qualify for both exemptions; others still need a building consent, a resource consent or both.

Shared sections

The MBIE and Ministry for the Environment granny flat material linked here does not mention cross-lease or unit-title land, and the national standards define a minor unit as held in common ownership with the main house on the same site. 8.7% of New Zealand's live titles are cross-leases, where changes to exclusive-use or shared areas need the other owners' agreement under the lease, and adding lease areas to a flats plan is a subdivision that needs subdivision consent. See cross-lease explained.

Christchurch, section by section

For Christchurch, this site screens every residential section against the two size rules that can be measured from public maps: room for a small stand-alone unit, suburb by suburb. It is a screen of two measurements, not advice.

Questions

Do granny flats need a building consent in New Zealand?

Since 15 January 2026, a new single-storey stand-alone dwelling of up to 70 m² does not need a building consent if it meets every condition of the exemption in Schedule 1A of the Building Act 2004 and licensed professionals design and build it. A project information memorandum (PIM) from the council is still needed before work starts.

Do granny flats need a resource consent?

Under the National Environmental Standards for Detached Minor Residential Units, also in force from 15 January 2026, one minor unit per site in residential, rural, mixed-use and Māori-purpose zones needs no resource consent under the national standards if it meets them, including an internal floor area of at most 70 m² and, in residential zones, no more than 50% building coverage and setbacks of at least 2 m. District and regional plan rules that still apply may require a consent. The two national rules work independently.

Does the council inspect a granny flat built under the exemption?

No. MBIE says councils do not approve or inspect exempt work, certify Building Code compliance or issue a code compliance certificate. The documents are kept on the property file and appear in future LIMs.

What about cross-lease and unit-title sections?

The MBIE and Ministry for the Environment granny flat material linked here does not mention cross-lease or unit-title land; the national standards define a minor unit as held in common ownership with the main house on the same site. On a cross-lease, changes to the exclusive-use or shared areas need the other owners' agreement under the lease, and LINZ says adding lease areas to a flats plan is a subdivision that needs subdivision consent.

Official sources

Checked on 1 October 2026. Rules change: the linked pages are the authority, and this page is general information, not legal, building or immigration advice.

More guides

Cross-lease explained: What a cross-lease is, flats plans and converting to freehold
LIM reports: What a LIM report includes, what it costs and how long it takes
Moving to New Zealand: Compare New Zealand towns and cities on rent, income and climate
Unit titles and body corporates: Unit titles and developments by council
Leasehold property: Leasehold titles and lease terms by council
Christchurch small-unit screen: Room for a small stand-alone unit, suburb by suburb
All suburbs: Every suburb page, by council