NZ SITE PLAN
Applying for a building consent in New Zealand can feel confusing, especially if you are a homeowner trying to prepare the right drawings for council review. One of the most important documents is often the site plan. A site plan shows how your proposed work sits on the property, where boundaries are located, how access works, and whether the project may affect services, setbacks, drainage, or neighbouring properties.
A good site plan does not need to be overcomplicated, but it does need to be clear. Council reviewers need enough information to understand the property, the proposed building work, and how the project fits within the site. Missing details can lead to delays, requests for further information, or confusion during the consent process.
Below is an easy-to-follow building consent site plan checklist for New Zealand homeowners.
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Why a Site Plan Matters for Building Consent
A building consent application is not just a form. It usually includes plans, specifications, and supporting documents that help the Building Consent Authority understand the proposed work. MBIE’s Building Performance guidance explains that building consent documentation should generally include application form information, plans, specifications, and supporting documents. It also says applications should be clear, correct, complete, and include a suitable level of detail.
That is exactly where the site plan comes in. It gives council the “big picture” of the property before reviewers look closely at floor plans, elevations, construction details, or engineering information.
Building Consent Site Plan Checklist
1. Property Boundaries
Your site plan should clearly show the legal boundaries of the property. These are usually shown as the outside lines of the lot. Boundaries help council understand where the project sits in relation to neighbouring properties, roads, accessways, reserves, and easements.
For many homeowner projects, boundary information is one of the first things council will check. If the proposed work is close to a side, rear, or front boundary, accurate boundary placement becomes even more important.
2. Existing Buildings and Structures
The site plan should show the existing house and any other structures already on the property. This may include:
- Existing dwelling
- Garage
- Carport
- Shed
- Deck
- Retaining walls
- Driveways and paths
- Other permanent site features
This helps council compare the current site layout with the proposed work. It also makes it easier to see whether the new project affects access, drainage, open space, setbacks, or site coverage.
3. Proposed Building Work
The proposed work should be clearly marked and labelled. For example, if you are applying for consent for an extension, deck, garage, shed, pool, or carport, the site plan should show exactly where that new work will be located.
Use a clear label such as:
- Proposed extension
- Proposed deck
- Proposed garage
- Proposed carport
- Proposed shed
- Proposed swimming pool
A simple but common mistake is showing the proposed structure without making it obvious what is existing and what is new. Council should not have to guess.
4. Dimensions and Setbacks
Dimensions are one of the most important parts of a site plan. Your plan should show the size of the proposed work and the distances from the proposed structure to nearby property boundaries.
Common dimensions include:
- Overall property dimensions, where available
- Width and length of the proposed structure
- Distance to side boundaries
- Distance to rear boundary
- Distance to front boundary or road frontage
- Distance to existing buildings
Setbacks matter because councils often need to check how close the work is to boundaries, neighbouring properties, roads, accessways, or other site features. If the plan does not show these distances, reviewers may ask for more information.
5. Driveway, Accessway, and Vehicle Access
If the project affects vehicle access, the site plan should show the driveway, accessway, or right of way. This is especially important for garages, carports, new dwellings, subdivisions, and projects on shared driveways.
Your site plan may need to show:
- Existing driveway location
- Proposed driveway changes
- Vehicle crossing location
- Accessway width
- Shared driveway or right of way layout
- Parking area location
- Garage or carport access
Access details are often overlooked, but they can be very important. A project that looks fine on the property may still raise questions if access is unclear.
6. Easements and Services
If your property has easements, drains, wastewater lines, stormwater lines, or other services, these should be shown where relevant. A building or structure placed over or near a service line can create problems during council review.
Your site plan may need to identify:
- Drainage easements
- Right of way easements
- Stormwater lines
- Wastewater or sewer lines
- Water supply lines
- Power or utility service areas
Not every homeowner will have all of this information available, but if the work is near a known easement or service, it should not be ignored.
7. North Point and Scale
A clear site plan should include a north point and a scale. The north point helps reviewers understand orientation. The scale helps them understand the size and spacing of the property features.
For simple homeowner projects, the site plan is commonly prepared at a scale that allows the whole property to fit clearly on the page. The most important thing is that the plan is readable and not distorted.
8. Street Frontage and Road Name
The road or street frontage should be shown and labelled. This helps council understand how the property connects to the road and where access is located.
Include the street name where possible. If the site has more than one frontage, such as a corner lot, both frontages should be shown clearly.
9. Site Levels, Slopes, or Retaining Walls
For flat sites and simple projects, a basic site plan may be enough. But if the property is sloping, has retaining walls, or involves excavation, council may need more detail.
Examples include:
- Existing retaining walls
- Proposed retaining walls
- Steep slopes
- Cut and fill areas
- Changes to ground level
- Drainage flow direction
Sloping sites can be more sensitive because building location, drainage, access, and structural requirements may all be affected.
10. Drainage and Stormwater Information
Stormwater is a common reason councils ask for more information. If your project adds roof area, paving, driveway area, or other hard surfaces, the site plan may need to show how stormwater will be managed.
Your plan may show:
- Existing downpipes
- Proposed downpipes
- Stormwater connection points
- Drainage lines
- Soakage or detention areas, where applicable
- Direction of surface water flow
The level of detail needed depends on the project and council requirements, but drainage should always be considered early.
What Other Documents May Be Needed?
A site plan is only one part of a building consent package. Depending on the project, homeowners may also need other documents. Simpli’s required-documents guide lists common building consent documents such as proof of ownership, architectural plans, architectural specifications, structural plans, and structural specifications.
Other possible documents may include:
- Floor plans
- Elevations
- Sections
- Construction details
- Engineering drawings
- Producer statements
- Specifications
- Drainage plans
- Certificate of title
- LBP design work documents, where restricted building work is involved
The exact requirements depend on the type of building work, the local council, and the condition of the site.
Common Site Plan Mistakes That Delay Consent
Many consent delays happen because the site plan is incomplete or unclear. Common issues include:
- No boundary dimensions
- No setback distances
- Proposed work not clearly labelled
- Existing and proposed structures mixed together
- Driveway or accessway missing
- No north point
- No scale
- Easements not shown
- Drainage information missing
- Plan is too blurry or hard to read
MBIE’s Building Performance guidance says that quality information, relevant information, and well-organised supporting documents can help speed up consent processing and reduce requests for further information. In plain English: the easier your plan is to understand, the easier it is for council to review.
When Is a Simple Site Plan Enough?
A simple site plan may be enough for smaller residential projects where the work is straightforward and does not create major structural, drainage, access, or planning issues. Examples may include some decks, sheds, garages, carports, or minor additions.
However, simple does not mean careless. Even a basic site plan should still show the property layout clearly, including boundaries, structures, proposed work, access, and important dimensions.
When You May Need More Than a Basic Site Plan
Some projects need more detailed drawings or professional input. This may apply where the project involves:
- Structural changes
- Restricted building work
- Major additions
- New dwellings
- Complex drainage
- Steep or unstable land
- Work near easements
- Retaining walls
- Flood-prone or hazard-prone areas
Building Performance notes that some areas in New Zealand may have special site issues, such as liquefaction or slope stability concerns, and councils may require additional information for those situations.
Final Checklist Before Submitting Your Site Plan
Before you submit your building consent application, check that your site plan includes:
- Property boundaries
- Existing buildings and structures
- Proposed building work
- Setback distances
- Key dimensions
- Driveway, accessway, or right of way
- Street frontage
- North point
- Scale
- Easements, if relevant
- Services, if known
- Drainage or stormwater information, where needed
- Clear labels for existing and proposed features
Need a Building Consent Site Plan in New Zealand?
If you are preparing a building consent application, a clear site plan can make the process easier. It helps council understand your property, your proposed work, and how the project fits within the site.
At NZ Site Plan, we help New Zealand homeowners prepare clear, easy-to-read site plans for building consent, council review, and residential projects. Whether you need a plan for a deck, garage, shed, carport, extension, driveway, or other home improvement project, we can help create a site plan that shows the key details reviewers expect to see.
Plan well. Build with confidence.
Ready to Order Your Building Consent Site Plan?
Get a clear New Zealand site plan showing your property boundaries, existing structures, proposed work, dimensions, setbacks, driveway access, easements, drainage, north point, scale, and other details commonly needed for council review.