Building Consent System Performance Monitoring - Quarterly update

Background

This report establishes consistent monitoring on the performance of the building consent system, with a particular focus on building consent and code compliance certificate timeframes. The data shown here is as reported by Building Consent Authorities (BCAs).

Timeframes for building consent and/or code compliance certificate approval are some of the key indicators for building consent system performance. Delays in the system can have flow-on effects for builders and homeowners and can limit the capacity of the industry to work as efficiently and quickly as possible.

By establishing regular performance monitoring, we aim to identify and address these delays promptly, thereby enhancing our operational and system efficiency.

Overall timeframes – all applications

The overall timeframe results include all application data (i.e. building consent applications, amendments, and code compliance certificates).

Data for the fourth quarter of 2025 shows the overall median time to process an application was 10 working days. All BCAs had a median processing time less than 20 days (see Figure 1 below).

In total, 95.4% of applications were processed within the statutory period. Of the 70 BCAs, 14 processed 100% of their applications within the statutory timeframe.

Figure 1. Median number of days for processing all applications

A bar chart showing the median number of days for the processing of all applications for North and South Island cities.

Timeframes – application types

During the fourth quarter of 2025, a total of 17,453 applications for Building Consents (including amendments), and 11,055² applications for Code Compliance Certificates (CCCs), were processed.

Out of all the Building Consent applications, 94.5% were processed within the statutory timeframe. The median processing time for these applications was 14.0 working days.

On the other hand, the median processing time for Code Compliance Certificates were much shorter at 4 working days, and 97.1% of the applications were processed within the statutory timeframe.

All 68 BCAs (excluding the regional authorities) has a median processing time for Building Consents and a median processing time for Code Compliance Certificates below the statutory timeframe.

² This figure excludes CCC applications across BCAs, in which BCAs indicated an CCC application decision is made under Section 93(2)(b)(i) of the Building Act 2004.

Figure 2. Median days to process Building Consent applications, excluding regional authorities, Consentium and BCAL

A map of New Zealand showing median days for processing Building Consent application by region for the fourth quarter of 2025.

Timeframes – building categories

The median time to process all applications (building consent applications, amendments, and code compliance certificates) was 10 days for residential buildings, and 13 days for commercial buildings.

96.0% of residential applications and 92.2% of commercial applications were processed within the statutory timeframe.

Note that most of the applications processed (82.1%) were for residential buildings.

Figure 3. Median days to process applications for residential buildings, excluding regional authorities, Consentium and BCAL

A map of New Zealand showing median days for processing for residential buildings by region for the fourth quarter of 2025.

Total elapsed timeframe

Total elapsed time refers to the full duration, from the date an application is received by a BCA to the date a decision is made, including both the time taken by the BCA to process applications (statutory timeframe) and the time applicants take to respond if a Request for Information (RFI) is made by the BCA.

Data for the fourth quarter of 2025 shows the overall median total elapsed time was 17 working days, while the overall median statutory timeframe for BCAs to process an application was 10 working days.

Of the 68 BCAs (excluding the regional authorities), 62 had a median elapsed time at or below 20 working days (see Figure 4 below).

Figure 4. Median total elapsed time (in working days)

A bar chart showing the median total elapsed time for the processing of all applications for North and South Island cities.

Monitoring report downloads

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