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HomeKaunihera | CouncilPlanningResource consentsWhen you need a resource consent
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When you need a resource consent

Activities that may need a resource consent are, for example:

  • earthworks
  • building on land with ponding or drainage issues
  • subdividing a property

District plan

The District Plan contains rules about different types of activities in different parts of the Kāpiti. If the District Plan doesn’t permit the activity, you'll need to apply for a resource consent. Find out more about the District Plan.

Medium density residential standards

New medium density residential standards were introduced by Government in 2021, to boost housing supply and promote higher density residential development in the country.

Some of these changes will apply in Kāpiti from 18 August 2022, when Proposed Plan Change 2 is publicly notified. The standards will enable housing of up to three storeys to be built on many residential sites on the Kāpiti Coast, without the need for a land use resource consent. You can find out more at Proposed Plan Change 2.

Schedule 3A of the Resource Management Act 1991 requires us to incorporate the medium density residential standards into our District Plan. This sets the following density standards for residential development on a ‘General Residential Zone’ site:

Density standard

To a…

of…

Number of residential units per site

maximum 

3

Building height 

maximum 

11m, plus an additional 1m for pitched roof 

Height in relation to boundary  

maximum 

4m, plus 60° recession plane  

Setbacks

minimum 

  • Front yard: 1.5m 
  • Side yard: 1m 
  • Rear yard: 1m (excluded on corner sites) 

Building coverage 

maximum 

50 percent of the net site area 

Outdoor living space (one per unit)

minimum 

  • Ground floor: 20m2, 3m dimension
  • Above ground floor: 8m2, 1.8m dimension

Outlook space (per unit) 

minimum 

  • Principal living room: 4m depth, 4m width
  • All other habitable rooms: 1m depth, 1m width

Glazing  

minimum 

20 percent glazing of the street-facing façade

Landscaping 

minimum 

20 percent of the developed site with grass or plants

In Kāpiti, these standards apply to all sites within the ‘General Residential Zone’ in the District Plan. This includes General Residential Zone land in:

  • Raumati
  • Paraparaumu
  • Waikanae
  • Paekākāriki
  • Peka Peka
  • Te Horo Beach
  • Ōtaki (including Waitohu and Ōtaki Beach).

If your project complies with these standards, it may be a “permitted activity”, and you may not require a land use resource consent.

You can email the Resource Consents team if you’d like to discuss your particular situation.

You may still need resource consent

There may be other rules in the District Plan relevant to your project, and you must comply with these rules as well as the new medium density residential standards. Examples might be rules associated with earthworks, noise, transport, subdivision and rules associated with qualifying matter areas. You can find out more at Proposed Plan Change 2.

A handy way to determine if you may need a consent is to follow this decision tree:

  1. Is the proposal in a qualifying matter area or new residential zone? 
    If yes – resource consent is required under operative district plan for any rule not met.
    Usual objectives and policies weighting under s104 of the RMA.
    If no – go to step 2.
  2. Does the proposal meet the MDRS permitted activity rule that has immediate legal effect as notified in the intensification planning instrument?
    If yes – go to step 3.
    If no – resource consent is required under operative district plan for any rule not met.
    MDRS objectives and policies with full weighting under s77M of the RMA.
  3. Does the proposal meet all of the following criteria?
    – All rules in a proposed plan (including the intensification planning instrument) that have immediate legal effect are met.
    – All rules in the operative district plan that have existing legal effect are met.
    If yes – no resource consent required; this is a permitted activity.
    If no – resource consent required under a proposed plan (including the intensification planning instrument) or operative district plan for any rule not met.
    MDRS objectives and policies with full weighting under s77M of the RMA.

You can apply for a certificate of compliance to be sure your project complies with the medium density residential standards or if it needs a resource consent under another rule.

Regional council resource consents

Sometimes you may also need a resource consent from the Greater Wellington Regional Council, such as if your property is serviced by an on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system (a septic tank). See Greater Wellington Regional Council — Resource consents for more information on regional council consents.

Related links
  • Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) Amendment Act – New Zealand Legislation
  • Resource Management (Territorial Authorities Required to Prepare and Notify Intensification Planning Instruments) Regulations 2022 – New Zealand Legislation
  • Medium density residential standards factsheet – Ministry for the Environment
  • National medium density design guide – Ministry for the Environment
  • Understanding the RMA (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021: General overview – Ministry for the Environment

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Kāpiti Coast District Council
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Paraparaumu 5254

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