Notified and Non-Notified Consents

There are two ways in which resource consent applications can be processed – notified or non-notified. The Resource Management Act 1991 provides specific guidance to councils who must decide whether or not an application is to be notified.

Most applications are not notified. This is because:

• the adverse effects which may result from the proposal are no more than minor; and
• there are no persons affected by the proposal or any affected persons (usually neighbours) have agreed in writing to the proposal.

Notified resource consents

The notified resource consent process requires the Council to either publicly notify the application in the local newspaper and circulate copies to people identified as being directly affected (public notification), or to notify the application only to those people affected by the proposal (limited notification).  People can lodge submissions supporting or opposing the application - details of how to do this will be published with the notification.

Once the submission period has closed, a hearing is arranged. The applicant and those who have lodged submissions then have the opportunity to present their case to a Council Hearings Committee, which is comprised of Councillors.

Timeframe

Notified resource consent applications generally take a minimum of three months. If any appeals against the Council's decision are lodged with the Environment Court, this will further extend the process. Any of the submitters or the applicant may choose to appeal either the decision of the Council or any conditions imposed on the consent.

Fee

A deposit is required at the time of application. The actual costs of a consent are calculated on the time spent processing the consent. An invoice for the costs (in excess of the deposit paid) of an application will be sent with the decision.

Notified and limited notified applications take significantly longer to process and are more expensive than non-notified applications.

Non-notified resource consents

If your proposal does not meet the planning standards and you are able to obtain the written approval of neighbours who you consider to be affected by your proposal (see affected persons) then your application can, in most cases, be dealt with on a non-notified basis.

Decisions on non-notified resource consent applications are generally made by a Council officer with delegated authority. The Environmental Consents Planner handling the application prepares a report and presents this to the officer together with a recommendation.

Non-notified resource consents are often approved subject to conditions, for example the implementation and maintenance of landscaping.  A monitoring fee will generally be required to cover the cost of Council inspections to ensure the conditions have been met. This also applies to notified resource consents.

Timeframe

Non-notified resource consent applications are normally processed within 20 working days. The application cannot be processed until the Council has received all the information it requires. The application may be suspended until further information is supplied.

Fees

A deposit is required for the consent at the time of the application.

Please note the actual costs of a consent are calculated on the time spent processing the consent. An invoice for the costs in excess of the deposit paid will be sent with the decision.

More information

For more information please contact the duty planner, Environmental Consents Planning team, by phoning Council.

Planning

Planning Fees and Charges approved for 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.

All fees and charges are inclusive of GST (except as noted *).