What is a Certificate of Acceptance and when is it used?
Short answer
A Certificate of Acceptance (CoA) is a retrospective council certification for building work that was done without consent (often before it was the owner's house). The council inspects what's accessible and certifies the bits they can see comply with the Building Code as far as can be assessed. A CoA is weaker than a CCC — banks and insurers treat it cautiously — but it's the only path to legitimise unconsented historical work.
Source: Building Act 2004, section 96. Updated May 2026.
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Check a builderKey facts
- Issued under section 96 of the Building Act
- For work done without consent that should have had one
- Council inspects what's accessible (some hidden defects can't be verified)
- Limited weight on resale and mortgage applications
- Doesn't apply where work clearly breaches the Code
When you might need one
Buying a house with a sleepout or shed that turns out to be unconsented. Discovering a previous owner built without consent. Renovating and finding mid-job that a wall removed under the previous owner had no consent.
If you knew the work needed consent and went ahead anyway, the council can decline. Best to apply early in the process before things are hidden behind linings.
What CoA tells a future buyer
That the work was inspected to the extent possible at the time of CoA. It doesn't promise everything is Code-compliant — hidden defects (waterproofing, electrical inside walls, framing) often can't be confirmed retrospectively.
Banks and insurers usually accept a CoA but may load premiums or limit cover. CCC is always stronger if you have the choice.
Knowing the rules is half the job. The other half is knowing who you're hiring. Check any NZ builder against the public record: company status, licensing and insolvency notices, from the official NZ sources.
Related questions
Sources: Building Act 2004, section 96; MBIE — building.govt.nz. 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.