As part of your building consent application, you must write a description of your project's work.
Follow these guidelines to write a description of work that is:
- accurate and complete
- quicker to process
- clear and useful for current and future property owners.
Residential
Residential new builds
Your description should include:
- number of developments, storeys, bedrooms and bathrooms
- building type (for example, detached dwelling, townhouse, duplex, unit)
- special rooms (for example, study, media room)
- garages and their size
- stormwater and wastewater systems (for example, tanks, wastewater pumps, onsite wastewater)
- other features (for example, retaining walls, swimming pools, solid fuel heater).
Format example:
"Construction of two three-storey detached dwellings, each comprising four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, media room, study, double internal garage. Includes stormwater tank, onsite wastewater system, retaining walls and solid fuel heater."
Additions and alterations
Your description should include:
- the exact location of work in the building (for example, first floor of a three-storey building)
- the specific building type being modified
- all major structural or functional changes (for example, adding a bedroom, relocating a kitchen)
- any associated site works or external modifications.
Format example:
"Ground floor alterations to existing two-storey dwelling including kitchen relocation, new bedroom addition and bathroom renovation. Includes new retaining wall."
Commercial
Commercial new build (single building)
Your description should include:
- project name
- current stage of total stages of work
- number of levels
- type of building
- intended use for each floor
- main features and systems.
Format example:
"SkyCity Convention Centre - Stage 3 of 3 - fit-out consent, services and facade. New five-level mixed use building. Level 1: Restaurant space designed for 120 patrons. Levels 2-5: Office space designed for 200 occupants per floor."
Commercial new build (multiple buildings)
Your descriptions should include:
- project name
- number of new buildings
- building numbers.
For each building, include:
- number of levels
- type of building
- intended use for each floor
- main features and systems.
Format example:
"SKHY Complex - Stage 1 of 8, foundation only. Three new buildings. Building A: three-level apartment building with car park on the ground floor. Building B: four-level apartment building with retail shops on the ground floor. Building C: five-level office building with car park in the basement and on the ground floor."
Commercial alterations
Your description should include:
- building or project name
- type of work
- main changes and systems.
Format examples:
- Sugar Tree Apartments Block D - alteration of the gym and update of fire safety systems.
- New restaurant in current office area on ground floor of 2-level building with apartments above.
- Countdown internal alteration and addition including plumbing and mechanical ventilation.
Other types of building work
Factory builds
Your description should include:
- factory location
- consent number (if known).
Reclads and amendments
Your description should:
- begin with "RECLAD:" or "AMENDMENT:"
- include specific changes (for example, elevation updates or modifications to compliance schedule items).
Staged consents
Your description should include:
- current stage of total stages of work
- scope of work for the current stage.
You must also include a cover letter that:
- outlines the building elements included in each stage of the consent (for example, foundation and site work)
- explains what to expect in each stage of the building consent process, starting from the beginning of the project (for example, Stage 1: foundation and site works, Stage 2: construction of the two-storey storage building, Stage 3: fit-out).
Format example:
"Stage 1 of 2: Stage 1 contains earthworks, piling, substructure, civil and all services required within and beneath the ground floor slab."
Change of use
Your description should include:
Format example:
"Change of use from office to restaurant including internal alterations."
More information
Learn How to prepare a good quality building consent application.
