Applying for Resource Consent

Preparing your resource consent application

You are encouraged to speak to an Environmental Consents Planner at the Council before applying for resource consent. Please contact us to make an appointment, to discuss your application.

A pre-application discussion will help:

confirm whether a resource consent is needed
explain the resource consent process and what this involves
identify the relevant issues and information needed with your application
identify properties and people that might be affected by the proposal and any consultation required
identify specialists who may need to be involved in assessing the application, and
identify any initial concerns with the proposal that you will have to address in your application
determine the fee to be deposited with the application

The processing of a resource consent application is generally simpler, faster and less costly if you have already sought and taken the Council’s advice before making your application.

What should you include in your application?

You, or someone representing you - for example, your agent, surveyor, architect or planning consultant - must complete a resource consent application form. There is also available a prelodgement checklist, which is for your use and will help to identify the information that is required with your application. These can be referenced in the related documents below.

Plans and other material supplied with a land-use or subdivision consent application should be accurate and provide enough detail to enable any person to gain a reasonable understanding of the application, and the potential effects of the proposal.

One of the most critical parts of the application is the content and quality of the Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE). You must prepare an AEE to go with your application - learn more about AEEs and download the resource consent application form by going to the Assessment of Environmental Effects page.

If you lodge an incomplete application, it may be rejected by the Council. If this happens, you will be informed about the reasons for the rejection, the information that is required to make up a complete application, and you will have to reapply.

Written approval from affected persons/neighbours

It is courteous to consult your neighbours before starting construction work, but you are not legally bound to unless your project requires a resource consent and the Council considers your neighbours an affected party (see Affected Persons for more information).

If your neighbour is building something you are not comfortable with, you could pay them a friendly visit or contact us and ask for information about their project.

If your neighbour’s project is permitted by the District Plan you have no legal ability to become involved through the Resource Management Act processes. However, you could approach your neighbour to discuss your concerns or possible options.

Fees and charges

A fee (deposit) must be paid when an application for a resource consent is lodged with the Council. Council processing time is charged at an hourly rate and costs in excess of the deposit paid will be invoiced. This is irrespective of whether resource consent is subsequently granted or refused. If an application is granted, monitoring fees may also be payable.

You can find the applicable fees and charges here.

You may require the services of professional consultants, which will be additional to the cost.

Please note that the applicant is the person responsible for all costs associated with the application.

Submit an application

To submit your application to Council either:

Apply for a Resource Consent online
Download and print a Resource Consent application form from the related documents section at the bottom of this page and mail the documents to:

Customer Services
Resource Management
Hastings District Council
Private Bag 9002
Hastings

Or contact the Duty Planner and arrange to email your application to Council. Your emailed application must include the application form and proof of payment of the deposit fee.

Application Lodgement check

Before your application can be formally lodged it will go through a check to ensure that all the information needed to make a decision on the consent is included. The Resource Management Act checklist is available to help you check that all the information needed has been included with your application.

The following list provides a summary of the main details required for most consents.

payment of a deposit
current copy of the certificate of title (less than three months old) You can request that Council obtain a copy of this for which you will be charged
completed and signed resource consent application form
all requested information, including:
name and address of applicant and owner/occupier of the site to which the application relates
description of the activity and its location
type of consent sought and other resource consents required
assessment of Environmental Effects
one set of accurate plans to a recognised metric scale – eg, 1:100, 1:200
all plans should have a north point.
all plans should clearly show the name of the person and the company that prepared the plans; the address of property; the date when the plans were drawn; a scale and a unique plan reference or identification number and/or variation number where relevant (Please note that even if a building consent application has been lodged it will still be necessary to supply additional sets of plans for this application ◦provision of specialist reports supporting the application)

any other information required by the District Plan
written approvals of affected persons (if required), and
date and signature.

Please note that if your application does not include an adequate assessment of environmental effects or the information required by the District Plan, the Council may reject your application then return it, outlining the further information required in order for it to be formally accepted.

Lodging the application

Once your application has been checked for completeness it will be lodged for technical review. You will receive a letter confirming that you application has been lodged. The processing ‘clock’ starts at this point.