Building Consent System Performance Monitoring

Background

This report establishes consistent monitoring on the performance of the building consent system, with a particular focus on building consent and code compliance certificate timeframes. The data shown here is as reported by Building Consent Authorities (BCAs).

Timeframes for building consent and/or code compliance certificate approval are some of the key indicators for building consent system performance. Delays in the system can have flow-on effects for builders and homeowners and can limit the capacity of the industry to work as efficiently and quickly as possible.

By establishing regular performance monitoring, we aim to identify and address these delays promptly, thereby enhancing our operational and system efficiency. 

Overall timeframes – all applications

The overall timeframe results include all application data (ie building consent applications, amendments, and code compliance certificates).

Data for the third quarter of 2024 shows the overall median time to process an application was 9 working days. All BCAs had a median processing time of less than 20 days (see figure 1 below).

In total, 93% of applications were processed within the statutory period. Of the 69 BCAs, 13 processed 100% of their applications within the statutory timeframe. 

Figure 1. Median number of days for processing all applications

Timeframes – application types

During the third quarter of 2024, a total of 20,418 applications for Building Consents (including amendments), and 19,358 applications for Code Compliance Certificates (CCCs), were processed.

Out of all the Building Consent applications, 91.9% were processed within the statutory timeframe. The median processing time for these applications was 13.3 working days.

On the other hand, the median processing time for Code Compliance Certificates were much shorter at 4.3 working days, and 94.3% of the applications were processed within the statutory timeframe.

All 67 BCAs (excluding the regional authorities due to the low number of applications) has a median processing time for Building Consents below 20 working days, while almost all (except one BCA) also had a median processing time for Code Compliance Certificates below the statutory timeframe.

Figure 2. Median days for processing Building Consent applications, excluding regional authorities and Consentium

Timeframes – building categories

The median time to process all applications (building consent applications, amendments, and code compliance certificates) was 8 days for residential buildings, and 14 days for commercial buildings.

94.7% of residential applications and 84.2% of commercial applications were processed within the statutory timeframe.

Note that most of the applications processed (82.6%) were for residential buildings. 

Figure 3. Median days for processing applications for residential buildings, excluding regional authorities and Consentium

Building consent system performance monitoring report downloads

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Update to 2024 Q3 report

We have updated the 2024 Q3 figures due to the receipt of new or updated information from BCAs. A number of BCAs had not provided MBIE with the full set of data for 2024 Q3, which led to five BCA’s results have been reviewed and corrected. The overall proportion of applications met the statutory timeframe is at 93% which is unchanged compared to the previous publication. The 5 BCAs affected were New Plymouth District Council, Ōtorohanga District Council, South Taranaki District Council, Wellington City Council and Southland District Council. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.