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Planning
Resource Consents
Any development, subdivision or other proposed use of land must be assessed against the Council's District Plan. The District Plan contains rules and standards relating to different types of activities in different parts of the City.
The Council has a statutory responsibility under the Resource Management Act 1991 to prepare and administer its District Plan. The Strategy and Planning division is responsible for promoting the sustainable management of Upper Hutts natural and physical resources in a manner that is consistent with the Resource Management Act 1991. This is in keeping with Councils City Vision 'Upper Hutt City - A great Place to Live' and the community outcomes identified in the LTCCP (Long Term Community Plan: Upperhuttcity@2016).
Anything not permitted by the District Plan requires a resource consent, which will be for either a land use consent or a subdivision consent.
Resource Consents and Building Consents are different and have different processes and different requirements for consulting your neighbours. A resource consent allows Council to give special consideration to activities and developments that it considers may adversely affect the environment. Building consents are concerned primarily with safety and to ensure buildings meet the requirements stipulated by the Building Act 2004. You may also need other consents which are not part of the resource consent process.
The Ministry for the Environment has prepared a series of easy to understand guides on the requirements and processes for resource consents. Take this link to view 'An Everyday Guide to the Resource Management Act Series'.
