ArchSolutioNZ Building Consent Specialists
    Updated May 22, 20264 min readSchedule 1 deck exemptions

    Decks under 1.5m in New Zealand: when you still need building consent.

    Low-level decks can look simple, but consent depends on height, attachment, services, site overlays and council planning rules.

    Start With the Bottom LineBrowse Insights

    Bottom line

    A deck under 1.5m is not automatically consent-free. The exemption is strongest when the deck is low, detached, not over services and outside special planning or hazard constraints. Check the whole site before you build.

    The basic rule

    One of the most common questions homeowners ask is whether a deck under 1.5 metres needs building consent. Under Schedule 1 of the Building Act, low-level decks may be exempt when they stay below the height limit and do not create additional risk.

    • The deck is not more than 1.5 metres above the supporting ground at any point.
    • The deck is not attached to a building.
    • The deck is not built over water, drainage or other services.

    When a low deck can still need consent

    The 1.5 metre height is only one trigger. You may still need consent if the deck attaches to your house, is built over pipes, drains or cables, sits in a heritage area or flood zone, or exceeds 1.5 metres at one corner because of sloping ground.

    The rule applies to the highest point. If one corner is 1.6 metres above ground, the whole deck can fall outside the exemption.

    Resource consent is a separate question

    Building consent and resource consent are different. Even if a deck is exempt from building consent, council planning rules may still control boundary distances, privacy effects, special zones, overlays and outdoor living space rules.

    Best practice before you build

    Check the height from existing ground, confirm whether the deck attaches to the house, locate any services, review boundary and privacy rules, and document the design. This protects you from sale problems, enforcement issues and costly rework.

    Deck consent FAQs

    Do I need building consent for a deck under 1.5m?

    Generally, a low-level deck may be exempt if it is not more than 1.5 metres above the supporting ground, is not attached to a building, and is not over services. The exact site conditions still matter.

    When do I still need consent for a low-level deck?

    Consent may be needed if the deck is attached to the house, sits over drains or other services, is in a special hazard or heritage area, or is more than 1.5 metres above ground at any point.

    Is resource consent different from building consent for a deck?

    Yes. Even if a deck is exempt from building consent, resource consent may still be needed because of boundary setbacks, privacy effects, overlays, height rules or special zones.

    Author

    Alejandro Hidalgo Uzqueda

    Founder, Director and NZ Registered Architect. NZRAB Registration No. 6195.

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    What to read next

    Setback exemption changesBuilding on flood-prone landBuilding consent documentation support

    Next step

    Planning a deck or outdoor structure?

    We can review the height, attachment, drainage, boundary and planning triggers before you build.

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