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 (ie building consent applications, amendments, and code compliance certificates).

Data for the first quarter of 2025 shows the overall median time to process an application was 8 working days. All BCAs had a median processing time of less than 20 days (see figure 1 below).

In total, 94.6% of applications were processed within the statutory period. Of the 69 BCAs, 11 processed 100% of their applications within the statutory timeframe.

Figure 1. Median number of days for processing all applications

Figure 1. Median number of days for processing all applications

Timeframes – application types

During the first quarter of 2025, a total of 16,271 applications for Building Consents (including amendments), and 15,574 applications for Code Compliance Certificates (CCCs), were processed.

Out of all the Building Consent applications, 92.7% were processed within the statutory timeframe. The median processing time for these applications was 12.6 working days.

On the other hand, the median processing time for Code Compliance Certificates was much shorter at 4 working days, and 96.8% of the applications were processed within the statutory timeframe.

All 67 BCAs (excluding the regional authorities due to the low number of applications) has a median processing time for Building Consents and a median processing time for Code Compliance Certificates at or below the statutory timeframe.

Figure 2. Median days for processing Building Consent applications, excluding regional authorities and Consentium

Figure 2. Median days for processing Building Consent applications, excluding regional authorities and Consentium

Timeframes – building categories

The median time to process all applications (building consent applications, amendments, and code compliance certificates) was 7.5 days for residential buildings, and 12 days for commercial buildings.

95.6% of residential applications and 89.4% of commercial applications were processed within the statutory timeframe.

Note that most of the applications processed (81.0%) were for residential buildings. 

Figure 3. Median days for processing applications for residential buildings, excluding regional authorities and Consentium

Figure 3. Median days for processing applications for residential buildings, excluding regional authorities and Consentium

Monitoring report downloads

Download the pdf A3 version: