What changed in 2026.
The New Zealand Building Act was updated on 15 January 2026, introducing a simplified building pathway for self-contained granny flats up to 70sqm — provided the build meets specific criteria and is carried out by licensed professionals. For many sites, this removes the need for a traditional building consent. Whether it applies to your build depends on your site, council region and build configuration.
For most homeowners, this removes the biggest barrier to adding a granny flat: the time, cost and paperwork of the traditional consent process. Building consents for minor dwellings typically cost $2,000–$5,000 and can take several months to process. That's no longer a hurdle for qualifying builds.
All Cottage Life models are designed to meet these requirements and qualify on most standard residential and rural sites.
Does my build qualify?
To use the consent-free pathway, the granny flat must meet all of the following criteria. Most standard residential and rural sections qualify without issue.
- Under 70sqm of internal floor area. All Cottage Life models from the Arrowtown through to the Meadowbrook qualify.
- Fully self-contained. Must have its own kitchen, bathroom and toilet. All our cottages are fully self-contained as standard.
- Single storey. All our cottages are single storey.
- A new standalone build. Not a conversion, garage or sleepout.
- Built by Licensed Building Practitioners. All Cottage Life builds are LBP supervised throughout — this is a non-negotiable part of how we work.
- On a standard residential or rural site. Site-specific factors — such as title encumbrances, consent notices or natural hazard classifications — can affect eligibility. We check this with you early.
What doesn't qualify: Sleepouts, garages, sheds and tiny houses on wheels do not qualify for this pathway. Garage or sleepout conversions also don't qualify — the exemption applies to new standalone builds only. Cottage Life cottages are purpose-designed self-contained dwellings and qualify in full on most standard sites.
Beyond the qualifying criteria above, the build must also meet these construction conditions. All Cottage Life models are designed to comply with each of these as standard.
| Maximum height | No more than 4 metres above floor level. All our cottages are single storey and well within this. |
| Boundary setbacks | At least 2 metres from any boundary and any other residential building on the site. |
| Floor level | No more than 1 metre above ground level. |
| Framing | Light timber or light steel framing only. All our cottages use light timber framing. |
| Services | Independent electricity supply required. Gas supply if applicable. Plumbing and drainage must connect to council network systems where available. |
| Natural hazards | If the site is affected by flooding, erosion, land instability or similar hazards, the design must adequately mitigate those risks. Where that's not possible, a building consent may still be required. We check this with you via the PIM process. |
What's still required.
The exemption removes the consent process, but there are two steps that are still required by law. We guide you through both.
Project Information Memorandum — before work begins
Before any building work starts, you must apply to your local council for a Project Information Memorandum (PIM). A PIM is an information document — not an approval — that records any known matters affecting the land, such as hazards or encumbrances. Work cannot legally begin until the PIM is issued. We guide you through this application.
Council notification — after completion
Once the build is complete, the council is notified. There is no inspection and no Code Compliance Certificate issued by council under this pathway. Responsibility for meeting the Building Code sits with the homeowner and the LBPs involved in the build — which is why our LBP supervision is the critical piece, not council sign-off.
Completing the build.
Once your cottage is finished, it's legally complete when all documentation from the licensed professionals involved has been gathered and filed. You have 20 working days after completion to submit this documentation to the council that issued your PIM. We manage this on your behalf.
The documentation required includes Records of Work from LBP builders and plumbers, Certificates of Work from LBP designers, and electrical and gas safety certificates where applicable.
Important: Councils do not inspect the work, issue approvals, or provide a Code Compliance Certificate under this pathway. Responsibility for meeting the Building Code sits with the homeowner and the licensed professionals engaged — which is why our LBP supervision is the key piece of this process.
Development contributions.
Some councils charge development contributions — infrastructure levies — when a new dwelling is added to a section. These vary significantly by council and zone and are the property owner's responsibility. They are separate from the consent process and still apply under the new rules.
We recommend checking with your local council early. We're happy to point you in the right direction.
What we take care of.
We've guided homeowners through this process many times across the North Island. Here's what we handle on your behalf:
- Confirming your site qualifies for the consent-free pathway before you commit to anything
- Guiding you through the PIM application and what information your council needs
- All LBP supervision and Building Code compliance documentation throughout the build
- Connecting you with local trades for foundations, electrical and plumbing connections where needed
- Council notification on completion
Foundations and site access.
Before we deliver your cottage, your site needs to be prepared. Here's what to expect and what to allow for in your planning.
| Foundations | Your cottage sits on a prepared foundation — typically screw piles or a concrete pad. Screw piles are the most common choice: they're cost-effective, fast to install, and suit most soil types. Cost varies by site. We can recommend foundation contractors in most areas. |
| Delivery access | Our delivery vehicle needs clear access to your section — minimum 3.5m wide clearance with no low overhead power lines along the route. Not sure about your site? Send us a photo and we'll let you know. |
| Mains power | After delivery, a local electrician connects mains power to the cottage fuse board. We can recommend trades in most areas of the North Island. |
| Water & wastewater | A local plumber connects water supply and wastewater. Whether you're connecting to existing mains or setting up a new system depends on your site — we can talk this through with you early. |
Foundation, delivery, and services costs are quoted separately as they vary by site and location. Your full quote will include everything we know at that point, and we flag anything site-specific early.
Still have questions?
We've answered just about every site and consent question there is. If yours isn't covered here, give us a call.