When Do You Need Council Consent For Archgola?

There are a handful of building rules and regulations that you’ll need to follow if you’re thinking about for adding an outdoor porch, veranda, pergola, canopy or carport to your house. In this blog, we’ll touch on the local council regulations, and other requirements you may encounter.

The need to apply for consent through your local council will depend on the size of the proposed structure and whether or not it’s free-standing or attached to a building.

A structure that’s over 30 sqm and is attached to a building will require council consent. If you’re planning on having a free-standing canopy, anything over 40 sqm requires consent.

Does an engineer need to approve the design?

Yes, engineering signoff will be needed for larger structures. There is a fee for this service, in addition to the council fees. The team at Archgola can also arrange this for you.

If your planned structure is going to need consent, we’ll aim to make the process as painless as possible for you. Allow extra time and budget for your project – as a rough guideline, council building consent application fees usually range from $1500 to $2000, and resource consent application costs are additional.

What’s the process for applying for consent?

If you’re working with Archgola, we’re happy to complete the online building application on your behalf to save you time and make life easier.

We’ll prepare all of the required documentation, including a certificate of title, building plans, fittings/parts specification drawings, a completed PS1, and anything else required by your local council. For more complex structures, a building inspector may need to visit the site before and after processing the application.

Keep in mind that if your structure requires consent, you can’t start with the build until you have been granted council approval.  Once the online application is submitted it takes about 10 working days to hear back from the council. Often they will require further information. If resource consent is also required, this will add additional costs and take more time to the process.