LIM reports in New Zealand: what is in one, cost and timing
A Land Information Memorandum (LIM) is a report the council prepares on request, summarising the information it holds about a property on that day. Councils provide it under section 44A of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.
What a LIM includes
- stormwater and sewage drains;
- any Heritage New Zealand protection;
- special land features, such as erosion or flooding;
- rates owing on the land;
- permits, building consents, requisitions and certificates;
- zoning;
- notices from statutory organisations and network utility operators;
- anything else the council thinks is relevant.
Greater Wellington Regional Council notes that recent changes to the Act make the way natural hazard information is included in LIMs more uniform, and that Greater Wellington must now give the hazard information it holds to the councils that prepare LIMs.
What a LIM does not tell you
A LIM shows only what the council knows. If the council has not been told about a weathertightness problem, for example, it will not appear. A LIM does not include the building plans submitted for consent. Christchurch City Council notes that councils are not required to prepare risk assessments for individual properties or search for hazard information beyond what the law requires.
Settled.govt.nz advises checking the plans and consent records for anything built without consent. A LIM condition in a sale and purchase agreement lets a buyer check this before committing. Settled.govt.nz also notes that the council is responsible if the information it provides is inaccurate and damaging.
Cost and timing
| Council | Standard residential LIM | Fast track | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch City | $320 | $420 | 10 working days; fast track 5 working days |
| Wellington City | $575.50 | +$288.00 (single residential) | Up to 10 working days; fast track 5 days |
GST included. Christchurch fees are its 2026/27 schedule; Wellington's are as published on its LIM page in July 2026. Wellington's timeframes do not run from 20 December to 10 January. Other councils set their own fees: check the council's website.
Before you order one
Where the data exists, each suburb page on this site shows public data that a LIM does not summarise in the same way, such as the slope under buildings and, for Christchurch, the share of titles under each District Plan hazard overlay. It is a starting point; the LIM and the council's records are the authority for any one property.
Questions
What is a LIM report?
A Land Information Memorandum is a report the council prepares on request. It summarises the information the council's departments hold about a property on the day it is produced, such as drains, flooding or erosion, rates owing, consents and zoning.
How long does a LIM take?
Wellington and Christchurch city councils say a standard LIM takes up to 10 working days, and offer a fast-track service for an extra fee: 5 working days in Christchurch and 5 days in Wellington.
How much does a LIM cost?
It depends on the council. Christchurch charges $320 for a standard residential LIM and $420 for fast track (2026/27 fees). Wellington charges $575.50 for a residential LIM, plus $288 for fast track on a single residential property. Check your council's current fees.
Does a LIM show unconsented work?
Not necessarily. A LIM shows what the council knows. Settled.govt.nz advises checking the plans and consent records for anything added without consent, and a LIM does not include the plans submitted for consent.
Official sources
- Settled.govt.nz: What is a LIM report?
- Settled.govt.nz: Doing your homework
- Wellington City Council: LIM reports
- Christchurch City Council: Land Information Memorandum
- Christchurch City Council: Regulatory and property information fees 2026/27
- Greater Wellington: LIM hazard information
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.
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