Granny flat rules in New Plymouth.
A small home in New Plymouth may suit family members or tenants working in energy, engineering, health and port operations. Properties range from established town sections to lifestyle blocks around Bell Block, Ōakura and Egmont Village. A 70 m² dwelling needs sufficient space and suitable access and services. High wind and coastal exposure are important local design considerations, together with any mapped hazards and the conditions required for exemption eligibility.
Building consent and resource consent requirements
The building consent exemption and the national planning standard are separate. A project can proceed without either consent only when all the relevant requirements are met.
Schedule 1A, under the Building Act 2004
Building consent, if all Schedule 1A conditions are met
A new, detached, single-storey home up to 70 m² may be built without a building consent if every exemption condition is met. Licensed professionals, Building Code compliance, a Project Information Memorandum and council notifications are still required.
NES-DMRU, under the Resource Management Act 1991
Resource consent, if all relevant requirements are met
The national planning standard can permit one detached minor dwelling without resource consent when its standards and other relevant requirements are met. Some district and regional rules remain, including those for hazards, infrastructure and earthworks.
Both took effect on 15 January 2026. They do not retrospectively approve existing dwellings.
National planning standards
The NES-DMRU is the national planning standard for detached minor dwellings. These measurements apply when its requirements are met. A district plan can allow more generous measurements. Other relevant site restrictions still apply.
| Standard | Residential zone | Rural zone |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum internal floor areaMeasured to the internal face of the external walls. An attached or internally accessed garage counts inside it. | 70 m² | 70 m² |
| Maximum area of the site covered by buildingsThe 50% standard overrides any district plan coverage standard below 50% in a residential zone. | 50% | As required by the zone |
| Minimum distance from the main homeDistances are measured from the outside face of the wall cladding. | 2 m | 2 m |
| Minimum distance from the front boundary | 2 m | 10 m |
| Minimum distance from side and rear boundaries | 2 m | 5 m |
The permitted activity rule: One detached minor residential unit per site. It applies in residential, rural, mixed use and Māori purpose zones, as defined in the National Planning Standards, or the equivalent zones where a council has not implemented them yet.
- Special character, design guides and visual amenity
- Screening for rubbish and recycling storage
- Wall and roof colour, reflectivity and external finishes
- Minimum outdoor open space, privacy or sunlight access
- Minimum window area
- Parking
- Minimum site size
- A design that satisfies a local character guide
- A minimum private outdoor space around the unit
- A sunlight or privacy assessment for the neighbours
- An on-site car park
- A minimum site area under the district plan
- Neighbour notification for a permitted activity
Other requirements for your property
Check current coastal hazard and flood information for shoreline properties. Wind can reach Extra High on exposed coasts and ridgelines, so the design needs the actual conditions for the address. Rural and lifestyle properties also need adequate water, wastewater disposal and service connections.
Flooding, coastal hazards, fault lines and land stability can affect the building location, floor level and need for consent. Check the council information and obtain site advice where needed.
Check connection requirements and capacity. Relevant regional plan rules still apply, including requirements for an on-site wastewater system.
Buildings near electricity lines and other significant infrastructure must meet the relevant safe-distance and planning requirements.
Rules can apply near airports, ports, industry and farming operations, or on contaminated land. They may affect where a home can be built and what design measures are needed.
Earthworks may need resource consent even when the dwelling does not. Subdivision requirements are separate and remain in place.
Relevant protections for heritage, cultural sites and outstanding natural features still apply.
Check covenants and easements on your property title. The national planning standard does not override private covenants, and more stringent council bylaws can still apply.
Development and financial contributions may be payable. Ask your council to confirm which charges apply to your project.
A district plan may allow a larger home or a smaller boundary setback. That does not change the separate Schedule 1A requirements. For example, an 80 m² dwelling or a 1 m setback would not meet the 70 m² and 2 m conditions for this building consent exemption.
Check the main eligibility conditions
Check these conditions with your designer and council. They are a starting point; all relevant exemption requirements must be met.
The minor dwelling must be physically separate from the principal home. An attached extension is assessed under different requirements.
The NES-DMRU planning standard requires a minor dwelling to be secondary to a principal home on the same site and in the same ownership. If both are proposed together, confirm the construction order and requirements with the council.
The NES-DMRU allows one detached minor dwelling per site. For a cross-lease, the site includes all the land under the cross-lease. A district plan may allow more, subject to its requirements.
The building consent exemption applies to new dwellings. A building conversion may meet the planning standard, but it is not covered by this building consent exemption.
Ground, climate and construction
Volcanic soils, coastal dunes and other ground conditions require foundations based on the report. Salt and wind exposure affect materials and structural design. The indicative construction period is 10 to 13 weeks, with weather and access allowances confirmed by your chosen builder.
Steps to plan your project
Review the title, planning requirements and services with your designer, builder and council before construction.
Check covenants and easements that could restrict a second home, its size, location or access.
Review council maps and relevant district and regional rules for natural hazards, infrastructure and other restrictions.
Identify the water, wastewater and stormwater connections and confirm capacity. Check any requirements for an on-site wastewater system.
Apply for and receive a Project Information Memorandum before construction starts. It records the council information relevant to the property and proposed work.
Your designer confirms the design requirements for the property and prepares the required plans and documentation. The Schedule 1A exemption requires appropriately licensed professionals.
Notify the council before construction and provide the required completion documents afterwards. Your designer and builder must supply the records and certificates required for their work.
Frequently asked questions
How does the wind zone change a New Plymouth build?+
The wind conditions affect structural bracing, fixings and sometimes glazing. The plans need engineering appropriate to the address, including Extra High requirements where applicable. Exposed sites can also have more weather interruptions, which your chosen builder needs to allow for in the programme.
What does the council's coastal mapping mean for me?+
Coastal hazard and flood information may affect where a dwelling can sit or the floor level required. The relevance depends on the specific address. Use current mapping and any required investigations to establish the appropriate design and property requirements.
What rent could a two-bedroom home receive in New Plymouth?+
Around $580 a week is an indicative rent for a two-bedroom home. Potential tenants include energy-sector contractors, hospital staff and port workers. Actual rent and occupancy vary. Check current listings and include vacancy, furnishing costs where relevant, and other ongoing expenses.
What makes a New Plymouth property suitable for a small home?+
The property needs enough space, practical access and suitable services, along with compliance with its planning and title requirements. Town sections and lifestyle blocks have different constraints. Longer rural service connections and any coastal or wind requirements need to be included in the project budget.
Official guidance
Use the official guidance below and confirm current district requirements with your council before construction.
- NES-DMRU: Frequently Asked QuestionsMinistry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport, September 2026 (INFO 1387)
- National Environmental Standards for Detached Minor Residential UnitsMinistry for the Environment
- Granny flats exemption guidance and resourcesBuilding Performance, MBIE
- Changes to allow granny flats to be built without a building consentBuilding Performance, MBIE
Checked against these sources in September 2026. Confirm the current requirements for your property before construction.
More information for Taranaki
Regional guidance and nearby council guides.