Site Plans in New Zealand: A Complete Guide for Council Consent

A site plan is one of the most important drawings used in a New Zealand building or resource consent application. It shows the council how a property is currently arranged, what work is proposed, and how the project relates to boundaries, buildings, accessways, drainage, and other site features.

Site plans are used by homeowners, builders, architectural designers, planners, engineers, surveyors, and council officers. Their purpose is not simply to make a project look professional. A site plan provides the information needed to understand where the proposed work will be located and whether it can be assessed against the applicable requirements.

The exact information needed depends on the property, project, council, consent type, planning zone, and site constraints. A small shed on a straightforward suburban section may need much less information than a new dwelling on sloping or flood-prone land.

This guide explains what a site plan is, when one may be required, what it should show, who can prepare it, and how to reduce avoidable delays during council review.

What Is a Site Plan?

A site plan is a scaled drawing showing a property from above. It explains how the land is currently used and where proposed building work or other changes will be positioned.

Depending on the project, a site plan may show:

• Property boundaries and lot dimensions
• The existing house and other buildings
• Proposed additions, decks, garages, sheds, pools, or other structures
• Setback distances from relevant boundaries
• Driveways, parking spaces, paths, and vehicle crossings
• Shared accessways and rights-of-way
• Easements and service areas
• Stormwater, wastewater, and water connections when relevant
• Retaining walls, contours, slopes, and ground levels when required
• Significant trees and landscaping features
• A north arrow, drawing scale, labels, and legend

The site plan should make it easy to distinguish what already exists from what is proposed. It should also use dimensions and labels that are consistent with the floor plans, elevations, and other submitted documents.

A site plan tells the story of the property through boundaries, measurements, structures, accessways, and clearly labelled proposed work.

Why Site Plans Matter for Council Applications

Councils use site plans to understand the proposed work in relation to the complete property.

A floor plan may explain the internal layout of a new room or structure, but it may not show where that work sits on the section. The site plan provides this wider context.

Council officers may use the drawing to assess:

• Whether the correct property is shown
• Where the proposed work will be positioned
• How close the proposal is to relevant boundaries
• Whether an easement or right-of-way may be affected
• How vehicles and pedestrians will enter or move around the property
• Whether site coverage or impermeable-surface limits may apply
• Whether drainage, earthworks, slope, or flooding need further consideration
• Whether the site plan matches the other application drawings

A clear site plan does not guarantee consent. It can, however, remove avoidable uncertainty and make the proposal easier to assess.

When Is a Site Plan Required in New Zealand?

Site plans commonly accompany building and resource consent applications, but the exact requirements depend on the project and council.

A site plan may be needed for:

• A new dwelling or commercial building
• A house extension or addition
• A garage, carport, cabin, or sleepout
• A deck, pergola, or outdoor living area
• A swimming pool or spa
• A shed or other outbuilding
• A retaining wall or major earthworks
• A new or altered driveway
• A relocated building
• A project close to a property boundary
• Work affecting an easement or shared accessway
• A resource consent application
• A subdivision or boundary adjustment

Some minor work may be exempt from building consent, but that does not automatically mean all planning, boundary, drainage, or property requirements disappear.

A site plan may still be useful or required where the council, builder, designer, property owner, or another party needs to confirm the location and dimensions of the work.

For more information, see our guide to
site plans for council consent in New Zealand.

Building Consent and Resource Consent Are Different

A project may require building consent, resource consent, both, or neither.

Building consent

Building consent generally focuses on whether proposed building work complies with the New Zealand Building Code.

The site plan may help explain:

• The location of the building work
• Access to the proposed structure
• Site levels and finished floor levels
• Drainage and service connections
• Relationships between buildings
• Fire-separation or boundary considerations where relevant

Resource consent

Resource consent relates to land-use and environmental planning requirements. A site plan may be used to assess the proposal against a District Plan, Unitary Plan, or other applicable planning provisions.

This may involve:

• Boundary setbacks and yards
• Site coverage
• Impermeable surfaces
• Building height or height in relation to boundary
• Vehicle access and parking
• Earthworks and retaining walls
• Natural hazards
• Heritage, coastal, flood, or ecological overlays
• Effects on neighbouring properties

The site plan should be prepared for the actual consent being sought rather than relying on a generic checklist.

Council Requirements Vary Across New Zealand

New Zealand councils work within national legislation, but local planning rules and application requirements can differ.

The information needed may depend on:

• The council assessing the application
• The property’s planning zone
• The applicable District Plan or Unitary Plan
• The type and size of the project
• The position of the project on the site
• Whether the land is sloping or flood-prone
• Whether heritage, coastal, landscape, or environmental controls apply
• Whether shared accessways or easements are affected

For example, one property may require basic dimensions and setbacks, while another may require contours, finished levels, overland flow paths, vehicle tracking, or an engineering report.

There is no single national setback that applies to every New Zealand property. Setback requirements can vary by council, zone, boundary type, site, and project.

Check the relevant council checklist and any written advice issued for your application.

Key Components of a Clear Site Plan

1. Property identification

The drawing should identify the property clearly. Depending on the application, this may include the street address, legal description, lot number, or deposited plan information.

2. Property boundaries

Relevant property boundaries should be clearly drawn and dimensioned. The line type used for boundaries should be visually different from fences, buildings, and other site features.

A standard site plan is not a legal cadastral survey. Where the exact legal boundary position is critical, information from a licensed cadastral surveyor may be required.

3. Existing buildings and structures

The site plan should show buildings and structures that already exist, particularly those relevant to the proposed work.

This may include:

• The main dwelling
• Garages and carports
• Sheds and cabins
• Decks and patios
• Retaining walls
• Swimming pools
• Fences and gates

4. Proposed work

The proposed structure should be clearly labelled and visually distinguishable from existing development.

Show its overall footprint, length, width, and relationship to the existing buildings and boundaries.

5. Setback dimensions

Setbacks show the distance between the proposed work and relevant property boundaries.

Where required, dimensions may need to be taken to:

• The external wall
• The roof edge or eaves
• A deck, stair, or landing
• A retaining wall
• Another existing structure

The correct measurement point depends on the rule being assessed.

6. Scale and north arrow

The drawing should include a scale suited to the property and project. Common scales include 1:100, 1:200, and 1:500, but the most suitable scale depends on the drawing size and council requirements.

A north arrow helps the reviewer understand the orientation of the property.

7. Access and parking

Where relevant, show:

• Driveways
• Vehicle crossings
• Parking areas
• Garage entrances
• Pedestrian paths
• Shared accessways
• Vehicle manoeuvring areas

8. Easements and rights-of-way

Easements and rights-of-way should be shown when they are relevant to the proposed project.

A structure may be located inside the property boundaries but still conflict with a drainage easement, shared driveway, utility area, or legal access right.

9. Drainage and services

Some applications require the location of stormwater, wastewater, water supply, downpipes, soakage devices, inspection points, or other services.

A standard site plan may show their general position, but detailed drainage design may require input from a suitably qualified professional.

10. Levels, contours, and earthworks

Sloping or complicated sites may require:

• Existing contours
• Natural ground levels
• Proposed finished ground levels
• Finished floor levels
• Cut-and-fill areas
• Retaining-wall locations and heights
• Drainage-flow directions

Survey or engineering information may be required where precise levels are important.

11. Site coverage and impermeable surfaces

Some applications need calculations showing how much of the property is covered by buildings or impermeable surfaces.

This may include roofs, concrete, paving, driveways, patios, or other hard surfaces, depending on how the local planning rules define them.

Site Plan Versus Boundary Survey

A site plan and a cadastral boundary survey are not the same.

A site plan presents the property layout and proposed project for planning, building, or design purposes.

A cadastral boundary survey is undertaken by a licensed cadastral surveyor to establish or confirm legal boundary positions.

Existing title plans, council GIS, aerial imagery, measurements, photographs, and previous drawings may provide enough information for some straightforward site plans.

However, a survey may be needed when:

• The proposed work is very close to a boundary
• The legal boundary position is uncertain
• A fence may not follow the legal boundary
• The lot has irregular or complicated geometry
• An encroachment may exist
• A boundary dispute is possible
• The council requests survey-certified information
• The project involves subdivision or a boundary adjustment

Online mapping can be a useful reference, but it should not be represented as a surveyed legal boundary when it has not been verified by a licensed cadastral surveyor.

Digital Information Used to Prepare Site Plans

Site plans may be prepared using information from several sources.

These may include:

• Land Information New Zealand property and cadastral information
• Record of title documents
• Deposited plans
• Council GIS and property viewers
• Aerial imagery
• Previous building consent drawings
• Existing architectural plans
• Survey plans
• Measurements supplied by the owner or builder
• Site photographs and project sketches

These sources should be compared rather than accepted blindly. GIS parcel lines, aerial photographs, fences, and existing buildings may not align perfectly.

Differences can result from image distortion, older data, mapping alignment, construction changes, or a fence that was not installed on the legal boundary.

Where those differences could affect compliance, further investigation or survey information may be needed.

Who Can Prepare a Site Plan in New Zealand?

The appropriate person depends on the complexity and purpose of the drawing.

Property owners

A homeowner may be able to prepare a simple layout for early planning or a straightforward project.

The risk is that a DIY plan may omit dimensions, use unreliable boundary information, or conflict with other application drawings.

Drafting professionals and architectural designers

A drafter or architectural designer can prepare a scaled site plan using the available property information and project details.

This is suitable for many residential projects where legal boundary certification, engineering design, or specialist planning work is not required.

Licensed building practitioners

Restricted building work may require design work to be completed or supervised by an appropriately licensed building practitioner.

This does not mean every standalone site-plan drawing must be prepared by an LBP. The requirement depends on the work, drawing scope, and wider consent package.

Licensed cadastral surveyors

A licensed cadastral surveyor is needed where legal boundary determination, subdivision, boundary adjustment, or cadastral certification is required.

Engineers and other specialists

Engineers, planners, geotechnical professionals, traffic specialists, or other consultants may be needed for projects involving:

• Structural design
• Complex drainage
• Retaining walls
• Flooding
• Steep land
• Large earthworks
• Vehicle-tracking requirements
• Natural hazards
• Environmental effects

A site plan can incorporate information prepared by these specialists, but it cannot replace their reports or certifications.

Common Site Plan Mistakes

Incorrect or unclear boundaries

Boundary lines should be easy to identify and consistent with the available property information. A fence should not automatically be treated as the legal boundary.

Missing setbacks

Showing a proposed structure without dimensioning its position can make it difficult for the council to assess the layout.

Existing and proposed work shown identically

Use labels, line types, hatching, or a legend to separate existing structures from proposed work.

Inconsistent dimensions

Dimensions on the site plan should match the floor plans, elevations, application forms, and any supporting documentation.

Missing roof projections

Eaves, canopies, stairs, decks, or other projections may affect the relevant setback or site coverage calculation.

No scale or north arrow

The drawing should provide enough information for its orientation and dimensions to be understood.

Low-resolution files

Blurry screenshots and compressed images can make labels and dimensions unreadable.

Ignoring easements or accessways

A project can create problems even when it is inside the property boundaries if it affects legal access, services, or an easement.

Using a generic checklist only

General site-plan guidance is useful, but the final drawing should respond to the actual project, property, council checklist, and any written information request.

How Much Does a Site Plan Cost?

Site-plan pricing varies according to the amount of work and information required.

Factors affecting cost can include:

• The size and shape of the property
• The number of existing structures
• The complexity of the proposed project
• The quality of the available property information
• Whether contours or levels are required
• Whether coverage calculations are needed
• Whether several revisions are required
• Whether a surveyor, engineer, planner, or other specialist is involved

A straightforward drafted site plan is generally less involved than a cadastral survey, engineering design, or complete architectural drawing package.

Review the service scope carefully so you understand what is included and whether additional professional work may be required.

What to Gather Before Ordering a Site Plan

Providing clear information at the beginning can make the drafting process much smoother.

Useful items include:

• The complete property address
• A sketch showing the proposed location
• The length and width of the proposed structure
• Approximate or measured distances to relevant boundaries
• Photographs of the property
• Existing floor plans or consent drawings
• Survey or title information if available
• Details of driveways, parking, and accessways
• Known easements or rights-of-way
• Any council checklist, letter, or Request for Further Information

The more complete the supplied information is, the easier it is to prepare a drawing that reflects the actual project.

How to Submit a Site Plan for Consent

Most councils accept consent applications through an online portal or electronic submission process.

Before uploading the site plan:

1. Check the council’s application checklist
2. Confirm whether building consent, resource consent, or both are involved
3. Export the drawing as a clear, high-resolution PDF
4. Confirm the intended page size and scale
5. Check that text and dimensions remain readable
6. Make sure the site plan matches every related drawing
7. Include the correct drawing title, number, revision, and date
8. Attach any required reports or supporting documents

Keep a copy of the submitted drawing set. When revisions are required, update the revision number and clearly identify what has changed.

Example: A Proposed Deck on a Wellington Property

Consider a homeowner proposing a deck at the rear of an existing dwelling.

A useful deck site plan may show:

• The complete property boundaries
• The existing dwelling footprint
• The proposed deck footprint
• The deck length and width
• The distance to the rear and side boundaries
• The deck’s height above ground where relevant
• Steps or stairs connected to the deck
• The driveway and pedestrian access
• Nearby drainage or easement information
• A north arrow and drawing scale

If the deck is comfortably inside the applicable boundaries and the available property information is reliable, a standard drafted site plan may be suitable.

If the deck is very close to a legal boundary or the boundary position is uncertain, survey information may be needed.

The site plan cannot determine by itself whether consent will be granted. It provides the layout information needed for the project to be assessed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every New Zealand building project need a site plan?

No. The need for a site plan depends on the project, property, consent requirements, and council. Site plans are commonly required where the position of proposed work must be assessed.

Can I prepare my own site plan?

You may be able to prepare a simple plan yourself, but it still needs to contain the information required for its purpose. Complex projects or uncertain boundaries may require professional assistance.

Does a site plan need to be prepared by an architect?

Not always. Site plans may be prepared by homeowners, drafters, architectural designers, licensed building practitioners, surveyors, or other professionals depending on the project.

Is council GIS information accurate enough?

GIS information can be a useful drafting reference, but accuracy varies between data layers and locations. It is not automatically equivalent to a cadastral boundary survey.

Do I need a survey first?

Not always. A survey may be needed when boundary accuracy is critical, the work is close to a boundary, the lot is complicated, or the council requests survey-certified information.

What scale should a site plan use?

Common scales include 1:100, 1:200, and 1:500. The appropriate scale depends on the property, page size, level of detail, and council requirements.

Does a clear site plan guarantee approval?

No. A clear site plan can support the assessment and reduce avoidable questions, but the complete proposal must still meet the applicable requirements.

Can a site plan be revised after council feedback?

Yes. The site plan can be updated to address missing dimensions, revised structure locations, easements, access, drainage, or other requested information.

What file format is normally used?

PDF is commonly used because it preserves page layout, drawing scale, and text quality. Check the council’s current submission requirements before uploading.

Order a Professionally Drafted New Zealand Site Plan

At NZ Site Plan, we prepare clear site-plan drawings for New Zealand homeowners, builders, and property owners.

Depending on the project and supplied information, your plan may show:

• Property boundaries and lot dimensions
• Existing and proposed structures
• Relevant setback measurements
• Driveways, paths, parking, and accessways
• Easements and rights-of-way
• North point, scale, labels, and drawing details
• Site features relevant to the proposed work

Where legal boundary certification, engineering, planning, surveying, or another specialist service is required, that work must be completed by the appropriate professional.

Final Takeaway

A site plan is more than a basic property sketch. It is a practical drawing that explains where existing and proposed development is located and how the project relates to the surrounding site.

The amount of information required depends on the project, council, planning rules, site conditions, and consent type.

A strong site plan should be:

• Clear and easy to read
• Based on reliable available information
• Consistent with the other project drawings
• Properly dimensioned and labelled
• Prepared for the actual council application

Preparing the correct level of information from the beginning can support a smoother review and reduce preventable requests for clarification.