Kiwis Given Green Light for 70sqm Granny Flats: Building Consents Scrapped in Major Housing Shake-up
By Lions Roar News Housing Desk
RIVERHEAD, AUCKLAND (Thursday, January 15, 2026) — In a landmark move to tackle New Zealand’s housing crisis, the Government has officially removed the requirement for building and resource consents for “granny flats” up to 70 square metres.
Housing Minister Chris Bishop made the announcement today at a 65sqm development in Riverhead, Auckland. The policy change aims to provide immediate relief for families and increase the country’s housing density without the traditional “red tape” and associated costs.
🏠 What are the New Rules?
Starting today, homeowners can add a minor residential unit to their property with significantly less bureaucratic interference.
- Size Limit: Units up to 70 square metres are now exempt from standard building and resource consents.
- Flexibility: The move is designed to make it easier for families to house elderly relatives or provide affordable rental options for young adults.
- The Goal: To bypass the lengthy and expensive council approval processes that often stall small-scale developments.
⚠️ “Not a Free-for-All”: The Conditions
Minister Bishop was quick to warn that while the red tape has been cut, homeowners cannot simply build whatever they like. The exemption comes with strict conditions to ensure safety and environmental standards:
- Building Code Compliance: All structures must still meet the New Zealand Building Code standards. This means plumbing, electrical, and structural integrity must be verified by licensed professionals.
- Utility Connections: Units must be properly connected to existing services (water, sewage, and power) according to local council standards.
- Boundary Rules: Existing district plan rules regarding setbacks from boundaries and site coverage ratios still apply.
- Qualified Trades: Work must still be carried out or supervised by licensed building practitioners.
💬 Ministerial Insight
“This is about giving Kiwis more flexibility and more choices,” Minister Bishop told media. “While this forms part of the solution to the housing crisis, it is not a complete free-for-all. We are removing the hurdles, but we aren’t removing the standards.”
The change is expected to spark a surge in the construction of prefabricated and modular “tiny homes” across the country, as the cost of getting these units on-site has now dropped significantly.
