The Christchurch City Council is responsible for processing resource consent applications (land use and subdivision consents) within Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.
PC14 and Medium Density Residential Standards update
The Housing and Business Choice Plan Change (PC14) contains the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) and other government-directed intensification provisions. Updates on this are available on our PC14 page.
Applications for resource consent and building consent can’t be processed under the proposed rules until they have legal effect. This will occur after decisions on PC14 have been made and notified.
The operative District Plan provisions continue to apply in the meantime.
Processing delays
Over the last 18 months, we have received a record number of consent applications which has caused a delay in our processing timeframes. While application numbers remain high, a number of initiatives have been successfully implemented to steadily reduce the time taken to process applications.
Unfortunately, many applications are still not being processed within the statutory timeframe. We sincerely apologise for the delays and are continuing to work hard to get on top of this. We will monitor workloads closely as new planning changes take effect over the coming months.
Current allocation timeframe
The current timeframe for most applications to be allocated to a planner for processing is:
| Allocation timeframe | Date last updated |
| Four working days | 29 May 2023 |
The planner will contact you once your application is allocated.
What you can do to help
- Please allow more time than normal to obtain resource consent.
- Ensure that your application is complete and includes all the necessary plans and supporting information. This will minimise the need for us to request further information.
- If you’re unsure about what you need to provide, check with our Duty Planner.
- Consider engaging a planning consultant or resource management lawyer to prepare your application for you. Well-prepared information is usually quicker to process.
We are doing our best to keep up with what is a very busy time for everyone in the building and development industry. Thank you for your patience while we work through this, and please be assured that we will get to your application as soon as possible.
Invoicing
Our final administration of processing costs is currently delayed by up to 2-3 months due to high application numbers, and we apologise for this. If you require confirmation of costs and/or any invoice within a shorter timeframe please let us know by emailing CCCResourceconsentapplications@ccc.govt.nz
If you have any questions or concerns about your application please get in touch with us at CCCResourceconsentapplications@ccc.govt.nz
A resource consent is a formal approval under the Resource Management Act 1991 that is required when a proposed building or activity does not comply with all of the relevant rules in the Christchurch District Plan(external link).
A resource consent is separate to a building consent, which confirms that building work complies with the Building Act 2004 and the building code. You may need one or both types of consent for your proposal.
Resource consent applications can be complex. We recommend that you engage an experienced professional to help prepare your application to ensure that it meets all the requirements of the District Plan and Resource Management Act.
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