NZ Building Consent Fee Estimator

Estimate NZ building consent fees including the MBIE building levy, BRANZ levy, and council processing fees — so you can include them in your quote.

Building consent fees are a significant cost that many tradies forget to include in their quotes. On a $350,000 new build in Auckland, consent fees can easily reach $8,000–$12,000.

The Two Legislated Levies

These are fixed by law and apply across all councils:

MBIE Building Levy — $1.75 per $1,000 of project value, for projects over $65,001. Set under the Building Act 2004.

BRANZ Levy — $1.00 per $1,000 of project value, for projects over $20,000. Funds building research at BRANZ.

Council Processing Fees

On top of the legislated levies, each council charges processing fees that vary significantly:

  • Auckland — typically the highest in NZ. A standard new build can cost $5,000–$12,000 in processing fees alone.
  • Wellington — $3,000–$7,000 for a new build
  • Christchurch — $2,500–$6,000
  • Regional councils — generally $1,500–$4,000

Always confirm the exact fee with the council before quoting. Most councils publish fee schedules on their website.

Code Compliance Certificate

Once the build is complete and inspections pass, a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) is issued. This is a separate fee from the original consent — typically $300–$2,500 depending on the project.

Under the Construction Contracts Act 2002, variations after contract signing can be disputed. If consent fees aren't included in your original quote, recovering them later can be difficult. Always include them as a line item.

Frequently Asked Questions