When you need an engineering approval

Types of work that need an engineering approval

Apart from a resource and building consent, 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 type of engineering application you need to submit depends on the works you are proposing and the circumstances surrounding them.

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.

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, soakhole
• public swale 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.

We can help you get the engineering approval

Our team of development engineers:

• assess the designs
• confirm the assets are constructed according to our standards and the asset group's requirements
• provide engineering input
• inspect public drainage
• accept the assets into council ownership.

​Asset groups, like Stormwater, Parks, Auckland Transport (AT) or Watercare, manage the infrastructure assets.​

Help to complete an online application

For those having trouble completing an online engineering approval application, consult our downloadable customer guide.

Find out more

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

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