District Plan - Introduction

The Wellington City District Plan is a legal document which helps the Council manage the development of the city by regulating the environmental effects created by new buildings and activities.

The plan contains rules that may affect you if you are making a development or land-use proposal.

District Plan Objectives

The key objectives of the district plan are to:

• generally contain development within the established edges of the city
• maintain and enhance the quality and vitality of the central city
• encourage more intensive development within existing residential areas
• maintain a pleasant living environment in residential areas
• encourage non-residential activities (such as schools and shops) which are easily accessible from residential areas
• protect and enhance special character and heritage areas
• improve the quality of multi-unit housing
• improve the quality of subdivision design and development.

The Plan's Three Volumes

• Volume 1: Objectives, Policies and Rules - covers each geographic area specified in the plan, including descriptions of each area's character.
• Volume 2: Design Guides - offers guidelines for developments of particular types (such as multi-unit housing) or on particular sites (such as within institutional precincts or specific character areas). This volume also contains suggested guidelines relating to design against crime and wind.
• Volume 3: Maps - specifies the areas within the city where particular policies or rules apply.

Using the District Plan

You can see printed copies of the District Plan at the Council Service Centre and at all Wellington city public libraries.

District Plan Review

The Council is required to review its District Plan every 10 years.

In March 2006, the Council completed a 2-year study into the effectiveness of the District Plan’s built environment rules:

Shaping Up 2006: District Plan Effectiveness Report (971Kb PDF)

Since the District Plan became operative in 2000, there have been some changes to improve its effectiveness.

The chapters of the plan covering Heritage, the Central Area, Rural Areas, Residential Areas, and Suburban Centres have all been subject to a full review.

The Council is currently considering how best to review the remaining parts of the plan.

For the latest report on the District Plan Review see:

Report to Strategy and Policy Committee - 16.02.12 (83Kb PDF)

More Information

District Plan team

Related Links

• Resource Consents
• Resource Management Act 1991 - Ministry for the Environment website

Department Details:
District Plan