Building Inspections and Code Compliance Certificates

Building inspections are scheduled at critical stages of the construction process to ensure that the work being carried out onsite is in accordance with the approved building consent documents and that building regulations are being met.  A list of required inspections will be included with your building consent.  You need to book these as each stage of work is ready.

How do I arrange a building inspection?

Call us (06 871 5137) and make an appointment as soon as you know the related work will be ready to be inspected.  We require a minimum of 24 hours notice and will usually be able to inspect the work within 24 to 48 hours.  Up to three days notice may be required at times of high demand.  Please be aware that requests for exact inspection times and particular Building Officers can not be confirmed.
You will need to quote the following:

• Site address.
• Building consent number.
• Type of inspection (specific details).
• The name and contact phone number of the person who will be onsite at the time of the inspection.

What happens when the Building Officer arrives?

All approved building consent documents must be on site and available to the Building Officer. It is advisable that you or your contractor be onsite when the Building Officer visits as they may have questions or advice for you and this could reduce the number of inspections required.  If any inspections need to be repeated, additional costs will apply.

The safety of people (including Building Officers) on the construction site is your responsibility.  This includes providing safe access to all parts of the site to allow work to be inspected.  Ladder access must be securely founded and tied.  Scaffold access is likely to be required for larger buildings.
Once the works pass inspection, the Building Officer will sign off the appropriate inspection and work can continue.

What happens if the work isn’t approved?

Areas of non-compliance will be detailed on the onsite inspection report.  Re-inspection may be required if the Building Officer is not satisfied that work meets the requirements of the building consent and the Building Code.  Extra inspections will incur additional charges which will need to be paid before a Code Compliance Certificate can be issued.

Where issues are of a more serious nature, it is possible a Notice to Fix may be issued, requiring any building work not done in accordance with the Building Code to be corrected.  We may also direct that building work cease in the area affected by the non-compliance, until we are satisfied work is able to proceed in compliance with Building Act requirements. Failure to act promptly can result in an infringement fine or prosecution.

If inspections have been missed, contact us to discuss possible alternative evidence you can provide to show that the work is code compliant.  A subsequent inspection may not be able to be undertaken until it has been verified that the work already in place complies with the building consent.

Types of inspection

The following are the types of inspections that may be required depending on the type of building work:

Building inspections

• Site; location of the building on site (visible boundary markers or a Surveyor’s report may be required).  Foundation; before placing any concrete for foundation walls or footings.
• Piles; before placing any concrete for pile foundations (timber or concrete).
• Pre-Slab; before placing any concrete for concrete floor slabs and any integral footings.
• Retaining Wall; before back-filling against any wall or covering any tanking.
• Sub Floor; before covering any sub-floor framing.
• Pre-Wrap; prior to fitting building wrap to framing.
• Pre-Clad; upon completion of the building wrap with flashings/tapes installed and before fitting any external cladding and batten fixings where required.
• Brick; brick work at half height.
• Pre-Line; before fitting internal linings or installing wet area membranes, airseals fitted internally around joinery, bracing connections complete and moisture content testing of framing.  Acoustic; before fitting internal linings where specialist vibrationally isolated connections or in frame insulation is specified.
• Post-Line; post line bracing while fixings are still visible.  Where fire-rated walls are included, certification from the fire design engineer (PS4) or sufficient inspections to verify correct installation of specified linings and protection of penetrations.  Inspection of installed wet area membranes before installation of finish surfaces such as tiles when required.  Acoustic; where sound-rated walls are included, certification from the acoustic design engineer (PS4) or sufficient inspections to verify correct installation of specified linings and attenuation of penetrations.
• Final; final inspection on completion of all building work following a formal application for a Code Compliance Certificate (form supplied with approved consent documentation).

Plumbing inspections

• Drainage; testing any drainage work prior to back filling and before covering any field drains.
• Pre-Slab; plumbing in/under the floor slab.
• Pre-Line; plumbing systems before fitting any linings.
• Final; final inspection on completion of work.

Refer to the Inspections Fact Sheet for further information.

• Inspections fact sheet (PDF 56kB)

What happens after I've completed all work covered by the consent?

When the work is complete and the final inspection has passed, you will need to formally apply for a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) on the form provided by the inspecting Building Officer (Note: if required a copy of the application form can be obtained from HDC on request).  A CCC means that the building work complies with the Building Code and with the building consent. 

Any outstanding charges must be paid before the CCC can be issued.

What is a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC)?

When a building project has been completed and the final inspection has confirmed that the building work complies with the Building Code and with the building consent, a CCC will be issued.

A CCC is a very important document that building owners should pursue as quickly as possible - without one you may experience difficulties insuring your property or selling it in the future.

What delays or prevents the issue of my CCC?

• Required inspections have not been requested or carried out.
• Completed work is different from the approved plans and specifications.  Any changes from the plans consented to by us need to be approved as amendments prior to construction.
• Compliance certificates, Producer Statements or energy certificates, where required, are not provided.
• As-built drainage plans are not provided.
• There may be further fees outstanding.

The Building Act requires us to process your application for Code Compliance Certificate within 20 working days however we aim to issue a CCC in less than 10 working days when all required information has been provided.  The ‘clock’ starts when we receive your application.  As with building consent applications, the ‘clock’ will stop if your application is suspended, documentation or fees and will restart when the issue has been resolved.

If an application for Code Compliance Certificate has not been received within two years of the building consent being granted, Council is obliged to undertake an inspection and decide whether or not to issue a Code Compliance Certificate. If Council decides to not issue your Code Compliance Certificate, it will be refused. You can apply to the Department of Building and Housing for a determination if you disagree with Council’s decision.  Refer to the ‘Building Consents’ section for further information.

Refer to the Code Compliance Certificate Fact Sheet for further information.

• Code Compliance Certificate fact sheet (PDF 56kB)