Yes. Thanks to recent building law updates, standalone standalone dwellings up to 70 square metres (such as granny flats, sleepouts, or small minor dwellings) are completely exempt from needing a formal council building consent.

However, “consent-free” does not mean “rule-free.” To legally build without a consent, you must strictly meet these conditions:

• The build must be a single-story, standalone structure under 70sqm total net floor area.

• It must be designed and built (or strictly supervised) by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP). At Venture Build, we are LBP Certified.

• All plumbing, electrical, and drainage work must still be carried out by fully registered tradespeople.

• The structure must still fully comply with the New Zealand Building Code and council boundary setbacks. You are required to notify the council once it is finished so they can update your property file.