Hei neke whare Relocate a building

To relocate a building you may need both a building consent and a resource consent.

Check if you need a building consent

You will need to Apply for a building consent to relocate any building, including moving:

• a new building
• a secondhand building
• on the same site
• onto another site.

Building work must comply with the Building Code, even if no building consent is needed. It must also not damage public service drains if its foundations are close to the pipes.

To check if you need a building consent, contact us on 09 301 0101.

Before you apply for a building consent to relocate an existing building

Before applying for a consent you will need to engage a third party to:

• inspect the building you want to relocate
• provide a written report confirming whether the building is suitable for relocation and how you intend to use the building.

What a third party report should include

A third party report must include information on:

• the structural integrity of the building
• the condition of the building
• how the building will be relocated
• any remedial works needed after relocation
• the presence of asbestos (including a plan of how to safely remove it, if required)
• any other requirements, such as fumigation
• photographs of each elevation of the building
• the floor plan of the building showing existing wall layout.

You should also provide:

• a floor plan showing the layout, elevations and a site plan of the original site, including the location of other items, for example, buildings and trees
• a foundation layout and subfloor The open space under a building, between the natural ground level and the floor structure (also known as crawl space). framing plan for the new location
• subfloor bracing calculations
• a schedule outlining all works undertaken as part of the relocation
• details of any new work being carried out, for example plumbing, drainage, or means of access into the buildings
• any new work that will be added into or onto the building.

You may also need:

• an over-dimensional load permit from NZ Transport Agency
• a Non-Excavation Corridor Access Request (NECAR) permit from Auckland Transport.

Before you apply for a building consent to relocate a new building

You will need:

• floor plans and elevations of the building
• records of the building consent and construction
• a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC).

If your new relocatable building will be built in the Auckland Council area and moved to your Auckland property, you only need to apply for one building consent.

In your application form, state the address where the building will be relocated. You also need to tell us:

• who will build the building
• the address where it will be built.

You may also need:

• an over-dimensional load permit from NZ Transport Agency
• a Non-Excavation Corridor Access Request (NECAR) permit from Auckland Transport.

Check if you need a resource consent

You may need to Apply for a resource consent if your building is:

• located in a special character area
• subject to historic heritage protection.

View the Auckland Unitary Plan to find out if your building falls into either of these categories. To check if you need a resource consent, contact us on 09 301 0101.

Preparing a consent to relocate a building

For information on preparing a building and resource consent application, guidelines for online applications and what to include in your application, visit:

• How to prepare a good quality building consent application
• How to prepare a good quality resource consent application.

How to apply for a consent to relocate a building 

Visit Apply for a building consent.

Visit Apply for a resource consent.

If your building is close to a boundary and you have the neighbouring owners’ written approval, you may Apply for a Deemed Permitted Boundary Activity Notice. This replaces the need to apply for a resource consent for your proposed activity.

Moving or relocating a building guide

To find out how we deal with applications involving the moving or relocation of a building, access the 'Moving or relocating a building guide'.