The resource consent process; a five-step guide

Get in touch early! 

Whether you’re seeking help from a planning professional to submit your resource consent application, or you’re making your own, QLDC planners are here to help.  

If you are not too sure about resource consents and what this means for your project, you are welcome to contact the Duty Planner to help you better understand the resource consenting process. For larger or more complex developments we recommend you use our Pre-Application meeting service.  

Many people decide to employ an independent planning professional to handle their resource consent application. This can be a good option for those unfamiliar with the District Plan and the resource consent process. 

You can also refer to MfE's guidance on the Resource Consent application process. 

To avoid delays, it's essential you provide all the relevant information we need to process your application.  

You also need to think about if any person might be affected (e.g. your neighbours). It is important you include an assessment on your neighbours with an application and provide their written approval where they are affected. 

Your application will need to be accompanied by a resource consent application form (Form 9) and appropriate fee, and supporting information that should include: 

• plans (at a convenient scale) 

• a recent Certificate of Title (within the last 3-months) and any Consent Notices and Land Covenants registered on your title 

• an assessment of the effects of your proposed activity on the surrounding environment and people, and an assessment of how your application fits with the QLDC District Plan (Assessment of Effects on the Environment (AEE)) 

• if required, relevant expert reports (e.g. Landscape, Geotechnical or Transport  assessments) 

• if required, a signed Affected Persons form or a signed Affected person permitted boundary form. 

Please upload your documents online via the community portal on the Apply for a resource consent page. 

Once all the required information has been provided, a planner will prepare a report on your application. They will classify your application as one of the following: 

• Non-Notified: where Council determines the general public or any specific person is not involved, or you may have supplied a written approval from your neighbour to assist your application. 

• Limited Notified: where Council determines a specific person or persons are affected and your application must be notified to them (and you have not provided a written approval from that person or persons). 

• Publicly Notified; this is where the general public are invited to make a submission on your application. 

If required, a hearing will be held before council appointed Commissioners for limited and publicly notified resource consent applications, and the council planner will prepare an additional report for any hearing. 

Your resource consent will have conditions that you need to adhere to, and our processing planner will discuss these with you before your decision is issued. 

You as the resource consent holder are responsible for complying with the conditions of the resource consent and for ensuring the project or activity is undertaken as you say it will be in your resource consent application. 

For more information about monitoring see our monitoring page.

For all monitoring enquiries please contact our resource consent monitoring and enforcement team by email at: 

RCMonitoring@qldc.govt.nz