Applying for a certificate of acceptance

When you can apply for a certificate of acceptance

You can apply for a certificate of acceptance if building work has been done urgently without a building consent under section 42 of the Building Act 2004.

You may also be able to apply if:

• you discover building work was done (usually by a previous owner) without a building consent
• a private building consent authority or certifier issued a building consent but was unable or refused to issue a code compliance certificate.

To get a certificate of acceptance, the work must comply with the current Building Code.

How to apply

The application assessment process takes up to 20 working days.

1. Prepare your supporting documents

You'll need to provide all the documents that would be required for a building consent application.

You'll also need to include:

• proof of when the work was done – for example, signed or dated building contract payments
• a statement of urgency if the work was urgent
• architectural plans related to before and after work was completed
• photographs
• relevant certifications
• specifications and product information for products used
• PS4s from supervising engineers (if applicable)
• expert opinion reports.

Supporting documents for a building consent application

2. Submit your application

You may need an agent to help you complete the form or documentation.

Using an agent to prepare your application

Download the guide

Guide to completing the certificate of acceptance application form (3.54MB PDF)

Download the form

Application for certificate of acceptance (440KB PDF)

You'll need to complete the checksheet and submit it along with your supporting documentation.

Checksheet – certificate of acceptance (488KB PDF)

3. Pay the fee

These fees apply for work done under urgency. For all other work, a 50% surcharge applies to all fees except the MBIE levy.

Lodgement fee

Plan check and inspection fee

Additional fees

MBIE levy

4. Application assessment

Once we've reviewed your documentation, a building inspector will contact you to arrange an inspection.

If there are parts of the work that we're unable to inspect, they'll be listed on your certificate as exclusions.

If your application is refused

Your application can be refused if you can't prove the work complies with the Building Code.

If you can't get a certificate of acceptance, you might be required to either:

• remove or rectify the building work – we will issue you a Notice to Fix stating what needs to be done
• get a building consent to carry out further work to meet the performance standards of the Building Code

If your application is approved

Your certificate will come with a letter that will show:

• what we inspected
• what we couldn't inspect
• any building work that we couldn't verify as complying with the Building Code – this will be listed as an exclusion.