Sign off - Apply for a Code Compliance Certificate

Once building work is complete, it is the building owner's responsibility to apply for a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC).

A CCC is a formal statement issued under section 94 of the Building Act 2004, that the Building Control Authority is satisfied on reasonable grounds that building work complies with the building consent, or against the Building Code that was relevant at the time (if the consent was granted under the Building Act 1991). It is the owner’s responsibility to apply for the CCC as soon as practicable after the building work is completed.

A CCC gives you and future owners an assurance that the building work was done to the appropriate standards, making it safe, healthy and durable. Lack of a CCC might prevent a bank from releasing a final builder payment or increase the cost of insurance cover.

If your building is open to the public the building cannot be used until a CCC or Certificate for Public Use is issued. It is an offence to use or permit the use of public premises affected by building work that has no CCC, Certificate for Public Use or Certificate of Acceptance.

Your CCC application must be a complete, precise and accurate record of what was actually built on the site.

Information required

The information required with your CCC application includes:

• name and contact details of everyone involved in your project (designer, architect, builder, plumber, etc)
• energy work certificates for any completed electrical or gas work
• any producer statements (for example, from a Chartered Professional Engineer for a specific design or construction element)
• licensed building practitioner certificates for restricted building work
• evidence that any specified systems are capable of performing to the performance standard set out in the building consent
• an as-built services plan (for example, for plumbing or drainage)
• roof truss installation certificate and plan
• other installation certificates (for example, for cladding, waterproofing or tanking)
• any information that was requested during the building inspections and has not yet been supplied
• confirmation that all council fees have been paid.

If the building has specified systems such as fire alarms, sprinklers and elevators that have been added, altered, or removed, a compliance schedule will be issued with the CCC.

Council has 20 working days from the receipt of your application to decide whether to issue a CCC. If we need more information, we will issue a request for information and stop counting the working days from the day after the RFI is made. We will restart counting working days when:

• all of the information requested in an RFI has been received
• The information is sufficient to support a decision being made.

Issuing the Certificate

The receipt of a CCC means the building work complies with the consent and the code.

The Council will issue the Code Compliance Certificate if it is satisfied:

• The building work complies with the granted Building Consent . We must be satisfied on reasonable grounds, under section 94 of the Building Act 2004, that the building work will comply with the approved building consent.
• Buildings that require a compliance schedule will also have this issued with the CCC.

Where a Compliance Schedule and Compliance Schedule Statement is required, the Specified System(s) in the building are capable of performing to the performance standards set out in the Building Consent

If we aren’t satisfied that the building work complies with the consented documents, we will refuse to issue the CCC. This will be done in writing, after we have given applicants the opportunity to resolve any non-compliance issues first.

If your application is refused, you can reapply once you have addressed any areas of non-compliance. Please note, fees may be applicable.

If you have queries concerns or complaints about the compliance decision (to issue or otherwise) please see the information on Compliments, Complaints and Determinations.

If you haven't applied for a CCC within two years of being granted building consent, we will contact you to find out how you are progressing.

Code Compliance Certificate Fees and Charges

The fee for the CCC is usually included in the invoice that is sent out once the consent is issued. A review of the fees paid for inspections will be made when the CCC has been approved for issue. The CCC will be released once any unpaid fees, and/or any other outstanding charges are paid. Please see Make a payment for information on the method of fee and levy payment for consents, required inspections and CCCs.

What happens if the work is not approved?

Areas of non-compliance will be detailed as above. Where issues are of a more serious nature, Council may issue a Notice to fix, requiring any building work not done in accordance with the New Zealand Building Code to be corrected.

Council may also direct that the building work cease in the area affected by the non-compliance until Council is satisfied work may proceed. Failure to act within the guidelines of the Notice to Fix may result in prosecution.

You need to have an understanding of what and when inspections are needed. Missed inspections may prevent Council from being able to establish full compliance with the approved building consent, therefore possibly preventing the issuing of a CCC.

An agreement for conditional continuation of work may be agreed for building work not related or impacted by the failed result.