Flood hazard assessments
Understand your property’s flood risk. Learn how to request a flood hazard assessment and get accurate flood information for your area.
A significant portion of the Waitaha region is at risk of flooding — from rivers, local runoff, or coastal overtopping. Understanding your property’s flood risk is essential for making informed decisions about property transactions, subdivisions, valuations, insurance, and resource consent applications.
Where to get flood hazard assessments and local flood information
- Site-specific flooding assessments: We provide site-specific flooding assessments for most areas across Canterbury. These reports help identify flood hazards and assess potential impacts on land use and development plans.
- Flood information: If you need flood information or flood hazard advice in the following areas, please contact your local District or City Council first:
- Waimakariri District
- Urban areas of Christchurch
- Darfield, Lincoln, Springston, Rolleston, Leeston, Doyleston, Southbridge
- Tai Tapu, Prebbleton, Kirwee, West Melton
- Timaru and Geraldine
These councils maintain internal systems for setting floor levels and providing localised flood information.
- Flood assessments for the rest of Canterbury: For all other parts of Canterbury — including Redruth and Washdyke — we can provide flood assessments and detailed flood information.
What is included in a flood hazard assessment
The information included in a flood hazard assessment will vary depending on the data available for your property location. A typical assessment may include:
- Historic flood information, including maps and photographs
- Potential sources and extent of flooding
- Expected flood frequency (return period)
- Results of floodplain modelling, showing the depth, level, and velocity of floodwaters
- Advice on suitable locations for new buildings and recommended floor levels
- Information on coastal flooding and coastal erosion
These assessments help identify flood risks and support safe, informed decisions for property development or land use.
Flood hazard assessments for building consents
In some areas, your District or City Council may require a flood hazard assessment as part of your building consent application.
If you are requesting an assessment for a building consent, please include:
- A map, grid reference, or accurate description of the proposed building location (available on Canterbury Maps
Maps and other relevant information can also be sent by post, delivered in person to any of our offices, or emailed to ecinfo@ecan.govt.nz.
Processing time and fees
Flood hazard assessments take up to 10 working days to process and a $172.50 fee applies (GST inclusive).
Please note: we cannot invoice third parties. If this is for a customer of yours and you would like them to be invoiced, please have them fill in this form themselves, or they can call us to fill in the form over the phone.
Apply for a flood hazard assesment
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Get flood advice: Contact our advisory services team to confirm whether a flood assessment will be helpful for your property or project.