The Coalition Government will do more to make it easier to build granny flats, by increasing the maximum non-consented size that can be built to 70 square metres.

RMA Reform and Housing Minister Chris Bishop, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk announced the news early this month after receiving 1970 submissions from public consultations between June and August on a plan to up granny flat sizes to 60sq m.

“It’s currently far too hard to build the homes New Zealanders need, with even the simplest dwellings tangling up homeowners and builders in red tape,” Bishop said.

“That’s a big part of the reason why we’re replacing the Resource Management Act with new laws based on property rights.

“At present, people who want to build a simple standalone dwelling on their properties need a building consent under the Building Act. In many cases, a resource consent under the Resource Management Act is required as well. These processes are complicated, time-consuming, and costly.”

Bishop said last year the Government consulted on allowing granny flats of up to 60sq m to be built without building or resource consents.

“The proposal received huge support, and as a result the Government has agreed to go even further by increasing the maximum size to 70sq m.

“A new National Environmental Standard under the RMA will be developed and in place by the end of this year to give effect to our proposals, timed to take effect with changes to the Building Act.

“This NES will require all councils to permit a granny flat on sites in rural and residential zones without the need to gain a resource consent.”

The move delivers on a National-NZ First coalition agreement to amend the Building Act and resource consenting system to make it easier to build granny flats, Jones said.

“I am delighted to see this proposal come to fruition through this Government, which enables pragmatic solutions to problems which have previously been thought too difficult to solve.”

Penk says the Government is laser-focused on making it easier for builders and all tradies to get on and do what they do best.

“Removing regulatory barriers and taking a commonsense approach to the consenting system is a critical part of increasing housing supply for Kiwis.”

The Government will introduce an amendment to the Building Act mid-year, which will exempt granny flats from needing a building consent if:

The granny flat has a simple design and meets the Building Code; building work is carried out by authorised building professionals; and homeowners notify their local council before they commence building and once it is completed.