A pre-application meeting is an opportunity for you to discuss your proposed project with Council staff.

Pre-application meetings are available for projects requiring building consents or resource consents. A building consent establishes that your planned building work complies with Building Act 2004 and the building code.

A building consent is separate to a resource consent, which is formal approval under the Resource Management Act 1991 that is required when a proposed building or activity does not comply with all the relevant rules in the Christchurch District Plan.

You may need one or both types of consents for your proposal. 

Discussions with us before you lodge your application can be especially helpful before or at design stage for the following types of projects:

  • Commercial (including non-residential activities within or adjoining living zones)
  • Multi-residential
  • Complex building issues
  • Port Hills
  • Large scale or complex subdivisions
  • Change of use (e.g. residential home into a shop)
  • Staged building consents.

If you are not sure whether you need a pre-application meeting, contact the Council on (03) 941 8686 or email CCGRegulatoryAdvice@ccc.govt.nz.

You might also want to apply for a project information memorandum (PIM) to find out information known to the Council, which may be relevant to your proposal.

If you are planning a large development, subdivision or building that may need consents or permits, we recommend you engage an experienced professional (see the New Zealand Planning Institutes Online Consultants Directory(external link)) as they will be able to help you make informed decisions about your proposal and submit a comprehensive consent application for you.

Please note: Pre-application meetings are confidential; information about these meetings cannot be disclosed to other parties.

Are you a developer with a significant or multiple projects?

Partnership Approvals offers a case management service to help developers with all aspects of approvals required for their projects from initial concept until a building is occupied. 

This service is primarily focused on the central city to help development but significant projects outside this area can also be supported. Find out more about Partnership Approvals services. 

Pre-application meetings for Partnership Approvals case-managed projects are arranged and coordinated by the case manager.

Are you planning to stage the build of a building?

When you wish to make a series of applications for building consent for stages of the proposed building work to a building, there is a requirement that the proposed staging is approved by Council before an application for the first stage is lodged. This will ensure better quality applications that will allow more efficient processing of these applications.

This is best achieved by arranging a pre-application meeting so details can be discussed and confirmed from the start to determine how the building work can be effectively staged.

Eco design advice

A free two-hour consultation is available to learn how to make your building or renovation more eco-friendly. We can arrange an advisor to attend your pre-application meeting or visit your home, site or office. Find out more about Eco design advice.

Request a pre-application meeting

Please allow a minimum of five to ten working days lead time when requesting a pre-application meeting.

Please follow these three steps:

  1. Fill in the application form Word [DOCX, 208 KB] or PDF [PDF, 138 KB], or call (03) 941 8999 to have one posted to you.
  2. Attach relevant documents (if any): details of design issues that need to be discussed; clear identification of the site; photographs of the site, any buildings and surrounding area (as a montage is useful); a concept plan or detailed plans (detailed plans should include a site plan, floor plans and elevation for all proposed structures); details of any likely issues such as increase in traffic, noise, contaminated land, storm water, infrastructure and heritage value.
  3. For staged building consents, please also attach the Staged building consent approval request form Word [DOCX, 204 KB] or PDF [DOCX, 204 KB] to this application. 
  4. Send the form, draft concept plan and specifications:
    • email to: CCGRegulatoryAdvice@ccc.govt.nz or
    • deliver in person to: Council Office or
    • post to: ‘Pre-application Meeting Request’, CCG Business Services Team, Christchurch City Council, PO Box 73013, Christchurch 8154.
    • You will be contacted by a staff member within three working days to arrange suitable appointment time.

What will happen at the meeting?

The meeting (normally held at the Council’s Civic Offices) will usually be facilitated by the planner or building consent officer. Initial concepts, design aspects, specialist technical requirements and other requirements will be discussed by you and relevant Council staff. Please invite your professional advisors, such as architects or engineers, to the meeting if this is appropriate.

At the meeting you can discuss:

  • initial concepts
  • detailed design aspects
  • specialist technical requirements
  • any other requirements.

Council staff will give their professional opinion on the proposal and provide guidance where possible. However, the meeting is not intended to pre-empt the outcome of the building consent or resource consent process. Once lodged the application will need to be assessed against the requirements of the Resource Management Act and/or Building Act.

Afterwards we will send you a brief written record of the matters discussed at the meeting and the advice provided. Where relevant, we'll also refer you to websites and other information sources where you can access more information to assist you with your project.

General information and the process for gaining a resource or building consent is available on our website.

Pre-application meeting fees and charges

The cost of a pre-application meeting differs depending on the complexity of your project and charge out rate of the officers attending.

Time is charged for preparation prior to the meeting, administration costs and any further research or advice (if applicable) post meeting.

Refer to the Building and Resource Consent Fee Schedules for staff charge-out rates.

Charges incurred by the Council in relation to pre-application meetings are payable whether the project proceeds or not. The invoice for any pre-application meeting will be sent at the same time as the record of the meeting.

The customer shall be liable for all costs and incidental expenses incurred by Council in recovery of outstanding accounts.