Small standalone dwellings

A Project Information Memorandum for non-consented small standalone dwelling (PIM), provides site-specific information relating to the proposed project, including (where applicable):

• If the building work is likely, unlikely or unclear to comply in meeting clause 1 of schedule 1A Building Act 
• Planning rules and overlays
• Natural hazard and land information
• Heritage status
• Infrastructure availability
• Relevant bylaws
• Development contribution requirements 

Once the PIM is issued, the owner must ensure they have understood the PIM, update the proposal to meet all requirements and are confident it complies with the law because responsibility for any non-compliance rests with them. The building work must be completed within two years.

For more information visit:

• Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employments - Building Performance website 
• Ministry for the Environment - National environmental standards 

A Project Information Memorandum for non-consented small standalone dwelling (SSD) requires the following:

Small standalone dwelling exemption - Pre-application checklist.pdf (pdf 121 KB)

Note: To compliment the owner checklists MBIE has developed, we have created a small standalone dwelling exemption: Pre-application checklist. This allows you to complete a quality check on your application prior to submitting your application to ensure you have sufficient information. We are requesting all applicants must complete and provide this checklist in your supporting documents.

Once you have gathered your information, to submit your application, you will need to:

• Register with our Application portal: Objective Build
• Click the link in the verification email
• Log in and select “New Application” and enter the property address
• Select your application type: Small Standalone Dwelling PIM - Form 2AA
• Fill in the application form 
• Add documents as prompted (including the Small standalone dwelling exemption - Pre-application Checklist (pdf 121 KB))
• Submit your application

If you are unable to submit your application online, you can download and print a paper application form (pdf 357 KB) which can be submitted at your nearest Council Service Centre.

When we receive your application a check will be undertaken to ensure the application has sufficient detail to be accepted (we call this vetting). During this process we will ask for a deposit payment to be made and may ask for further information to be provided to support the application. 

Please note your application will not proceed without the deposit being paid. 

Statutory Clock: When all the information is received, and the application is considered complete, the statutory clock will be started. We then have 10 working days to process the application. 

The Project Information Memorandum will then be allocated to numerous specialists throughout Council.

The application will be reviewed and we will identify what is known about the site, if the project is likely (unlikely or unclear) to satisfy the exemption criteria.

Once all the specialists have contributed, they will recommend the PIM is Issued.

Once all checks are completed the PIM will be issued. 

STATUTORY CLOCK: Once the PIM is issued the statutory clock will stop. 

The PIM will be issued and will include:

• If the proposed building work is:
  • likely to satisfy the characteristics in clause 1 of Schedule 1A of the Building Act
  • unlikely to satisfy those characteristics, or
  • unclear whether it satisfies those characteristics
• site-specific information
• Any notifications required under any other applicable legislation which is known by the Territorial Authority which may be required.
• a development contribution notice 
• an invoice (please note deposits are a payment toward costs and additional charges may be incurred if additional time is required)

It is the owners responsibility to ensure they have understood the PIM, updated the proposal to meet all requirements and are confident it complies with the law because responsibility for any non-compliance rests with them. 

While there is no timeframe on starting work, however it is a requirement that this work is completed within two years of issue of the PIM.

Council does not inspect, or issue Code Compliance Certificates for exempt small standalone dwellings.

Using suitably qualified persons to carry out the work

All building work, electrical and plumbing and drainage work must be carried out by a licensed professional, you can search for or check registration using the links below:

These professionals will be required to provide evidence they have completed the work on the appropriate forms when work is complete. 

During construction you may identify changes that are required

If changes occur that may affect compliance with the small standalone dwelling exemption criteria, work must stop and the situation reviewed.

This may result in:

• a Certificate of Acceptance being required for completed work, and
• a building consent being required for remaining work.

Non-compliance may result in enforcement action against the homeowner and/or the licensed building professional responsible for the work.

Please note changes may also affect any development contribution assessment.

Once the building work is completed the owner is required to notify Council within 20 working days.

This notification must include the following documentation: 

When we receive confirmation work is completed and the relevant documentation, we will update your property file to confirm this. Development contributions will be required to be paid within 20 working days.

Building Assurance will contact you on your 22 month anniversary to advise that your two year anniversary is coming up and building work is required to to be completed. If your project is not going to be completed by the anniversary you may be able to apply for a time extension. This must occur prior to the anniversary date.

On the anniversary if we have not had confirmation that building work is complete and no time extension applied for, the PIM will lapse and have no effect. 

Please visit our Granny Flat exemptions page for FAQ's