Review to examine building consent exemptions
6 October 2026
New Zealand’s building sector contributes around 6.3 per cent of total GDP and supports more than 300,000 people across around 80,000 businesses nationwide. It plays a vital role in delivering homes, infrastructure, and commercial developments throughout the country.
The Ministry for Regulation, working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), is reviewing building consent rules to determine whether more low-risk, minor or routine building work can be carried out without a building consent.
We will work closely with MBIE on the Building Regulatory System Review as MBIE is progressing reforms that align closely with, and will inform, our review. Our review will complement MBIE's programme of work.
The review follows feedback from homeowners and the building sector that some lower-risk work faces the same requirements as more complex projects, and that existing consent exemptions can be difficult to understand and apply.
The review will keep public and community safety at the centre of any change, hear from across the sector, and report recommendations to Ministers in early 2027.
Have your say
We want to hear directly from builders, homeowners, territorial authorities, industry groups, consumers, providers of regulated services, and other people and organisations affected by building regulation.