Download the current version of the Construction Standard Specification (CSS).

Construction Standard Specification 2025

The Construction Standard Specification is available online only. Printed copies are no longer available for purchase from Christchurch City Council. The current version is dated 2025.

See the 2025 CSS Amendments Summary [PDF, 342 KB].

Use of the CSS documents

These specifications set out the Christchurch City Council technical requirements for the construction of land and asset developments undertaken both on behalf of Christchurch City Council or that are intended to be taken over or maintained by Christchurch City Council.

The Infrastructure Design Standard set out the technical requirements for the design of land and asset developments. As such, there is a degree of interrelatedness between these two documents and they should be read in conjunction with each other.

While all possible care and effort have been taken in the development of the CSS, these documents relate to situations, practices and procedures that are likely to change.

Christchurch City Council accepts no responsibility for failure in any way related to the application of these standards. They should not be deemed as providing either the formal or the only answers to any particular situation or set of circumstances. Therefore, they need to be considered and applied with due care and forethought and should not be relied on in isolation from other sources of advice and information.

Document control

To allow for regular reviews, the above version of the Construction Standard Specification is the controlled version. It is your responsibility to be familiar with and refer to this version.

Subscribe to receive updates to the Infrastructure Design Standard, the Construction Standard Specifications (CSS), the approved materials specifications and other related matters.

Superseded versions