How long does a building consent take in NZ?
Short answer
By law, your council has 20 working days to process a complete building consent application. But the clock 'stops' if the council asks for more information (an RFI), so in practice it often takes longer — allow several weeks to a few months once you include preparation and any back-and-forth.
Source: Building Performance (building.govt.nz) — building consent process. Updated May 2026.
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Check a builderKey facts
- Statutory limit: 20 working days for a complete application
- The clock stops when the council requests more information (RFI)
- Incomplete applications are the main cause of delay
- Realistically budget several weeks to a few months end-to-end
The 20-working-day rule
The Building Act gives councils 20 working days to process a building consent from the point they receive a complete application. That's working days, not calendar days, so public holidays and weekends don't count.
Why it usually takes longer
If the council needs more information, they issue a Request for Information (RFI) and the clock stops — sometimes called 'stopping the clock'. The suspension doesn't count toward the 20 days, so a few rounds of RFIs can stretch the timeline considerably.
How to avoid delays
The single biggest lever is a complete, well-documented application. Using an experienced designer and Licensed Building Practitioners, and answering RFIs quickly, keeps things moving.
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Related questions
Sources: Building Performance (building.govt.nz) — building consent process; Building Act 2004. General information for NZ homeowners, not legal advice. Building rules change and vary by council, so confirm critical details on the official source before acting. Last updated 2026-05.