Find out if you need a resource consent
Knowing which activities need resource consent will help you accurately prepare your application and speed up the process.
Resource consents allow people or organisations to do something that may affect our environment.
Under the Resource Management Act 1991, you must apply for a resource consent if you wish to do something that is not permitted by district or regional plans.
This can include activities such as building a new structure, discharging contaminants into the water, air or soil, and using land for farming.
When determining if you need a consent or not, you need to consider regional and national rules, regulations and plans, and any regional bylaws. For more information on the plans, strategies and bylaws you may need to consider, visit our plans, strategies and bylaws page.
Activities that may need a resource consent
Examples of activities that may require a resource consent from us as a regional council are listed below. Sometimes an activity requires more than one resource consent.
Land use
- Using land for certain farming activities above set limits.
- Drilling, tunnelling, excavating or otherwise disturbing the bed of a river or lake.
- Undertaking agricultural intensification (for example certain land change, increasing irrigated land area for dairy and dairy support, and intensive winter grazing).
Discharge to land, water or air
- Discharging a contaminant to land, water or air (for example, dairy shed effluent to land or dust/smoke to the air)
- Discharging water to land and/or water (for example, stormwater or wastewater)
- Creating odours.
Taking water
- Taking, using, damming and/or diverting water (for example, irrigation or stockwater).
Activities in the coastal area
- Removing or depositing sand, shell, shingle or other natural materials.
- Disturbing the foreshore and/or seabed.
- Occupying the coastal marine area.
Permitted activities
Permitted activities are those where a resource consent is not required for the activity if it is undertaken on a certain scale and complies with all specific requirements, conditions, and permissions.
Examples include:
- Outdoor burning is a permitted activity if it takes place on a property larger than 2 hectares, and certain conditions are met.
- Land use for farming is a permitted activity if it can meet certain conditions, for example on land less than five hectares in area.
- Creating and storing silage, so long as it is sited in a low-risk site away from water sources, drinking water protection zones, below a certain volume and leachate is correctly managed.
Please note that this list is a guide only and does not represent the full detail of permitted activities and the associated rules in our plans and bylaws.
Contact us
If you need help with finding out whether you need a resource consent, or have questions about current consents and associated responsibilities, contact our advisory team on 0800 324 636, or via our online enquiry form.