Ngā wā e hiahia ohiatanga mahi hanga pūkaha ai koe When you need an engineering approval

Types of work that need an engineering approval

Some development projects need engineering approvals, particularly if they involve installing an infrastructure asset like:

• public stormwater and wastewater drainage
• public water supply
• roads, shared driveways and common accessways
• public parks.

To design and supervise the work, you will need a NZ Chartered Professional Engineer, Registered Engineering Associate or registered professional surveyor with experience in land development and infrastructure.

Types of engineering approvals

The approval you need depends on the work and situation.

Minor engineering approvals are for specific and less complex works, like:

• public stormwater connection within the site
• renewal of public stormwater pipe to same grade and alignment
• isolated rehabilitation of existing pipe or manhole
• raising or lowering a public manhole lid
• stormwater pipes that drain to the kerb The edge of a pavement where it drops off to the level of the road.  
• building over a stormwater pipe.

Major engineering approvals are for complex works, like:

• public stormwater, wastewater or water supply extension/system
• public road or road widening
• relocation of public drainage or water supply system
• public stormwater pond or wetland
• public stormwater catchpit The grate that sits over the top of a drain to catch any matter (leaves, rubbish etc) that might otherwise block the drain. , soak hole A soak hole collects water and allows it to soak slowly into the ground. For cleaning purposes, they may have a metal access cover similar to a manhole cover. Soak holes are only located in central Auckland.
• public swale A low tract of land, especially one that is moist or marshy. Artificial swales are often designed to manage water run-off, filter pollutants, and increase rainwater infiltration.  or raingarden
• bulk earthworks.

Common access way approvals are for construction of access ways and can be either:

• a stand-alone application
• included as an item of a major engineering approval for a larger project.

Get help with your approval 

Our team of development engineers:

• review the designs
• check that assets are built to our standards and the requirements of the asset groups The teams, units or entities that manage different types of infrastructure assets, such as roads, pipes and parks. Stormwater, Parks, Auckland Transport (AT) and Watercare are asset groups.
• give engineering advice
• inspect public drainage
• accept the assets into council ownership.

Help to complete an online application 

For help to complete an online engineering approval application, read our customer guide.

Find out more

For more information on requirements and procedures for engineering approvals, read our Quality Assurance Manual.

​Alternatively, contact us and ask to speak to the duty engineer in your area.