Build a Granny Flat Faster and Cheaper in 2026

Bill Zhao
Nov 14
2 min read

In October, the New Zealand Government passed the legislation which allows for homeowners to construct backyard dwellings (also known as granny flats) without the need for resource consent nor building consent, both of which were previously mandated by the Building Act 2004. This new exemption will fully come into effect by early next year.

Find out what this means for you, and why it might be a good idea to wait if you’re planning something similar.

Officially titled the “Building and Construction (Small Stand-alone Dwellings) Amendment Bill”, this change removes the requirement for building consent when it comes to additional dwellings of up to 70 square metres. Their necessity for resource consent is already slated to be lifted later this year, while building consent is expected to be waived in early 2026.

The bill cites three key conditions in this change:

The granny flat must be simple in its design and meet the building code.
Building work must be carried out by authorised professionals.
Councils must be notified prior to and on completion of building work.

What do they mean by simple design?

As for the building itself, it must be single storey, standalone and self-contained, featuring a “simple design” that meets proposed design conditions, including the aforementioned attributes. A “lightweight” focus is a prominent part of these conditions, calling for lightweight materials for the roof, framing, and wall cladding.

Notably, the rules allow for it to have an internal garage, which may prove useful if you have ample navigation space. In spite of having the consent stages lifted, the project itself must still comply with the relevant building code requirements. As defined by the code, these new granny flats will fall under “Housing – detached dwelling”. The work itself must be carried out or supervised by Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) and you must notify the council before work commences, and after it is complete.

So How Does This Save Me Time and Money?

The process of composing, delivering, and approving a building consent is a time consuming and costly procedure. The new amendment itself cites a $4,431 NZD average cost in attaining a building consent for a 70 sqm granny flat. This can be more depending on the complexity, scale, and materials of a project. Architects often charge more if they have to provide the extra documentation. Perhaps even more important is the time it takes; between drafting a BC and receiving approval, it could take weeks for a response – and that doesn’t even include rejections. Combine this with a resource consent and you’re looking at months of potential time saving under the new system.

If you’ve been holding off building a granny flat, 2026 may very well be the year to do it. By eliminating the need for building & resource consent, you’ll be fast-

tracking your way to a new granny flat.