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For an overview of the Building, Planning and Development process, use this link.

The Far North District Council advises that when consiering any building project to arrange a meeting with a building officical who can advise of the various requirements that might affect your project - the first 1/2 hour is free!

Book a meeting using the Contact Us details or call 0800 920 029 or 09 405 2750 to arrange.

To PIM or NOT to PIM?

A Project Information Memorandum (PIM) is a report that a Teritorial Authority (Town, City, District council) issues to an applicant who is considering building work that requires a buidling consent. The report provides information on any regulatory requirements likely for the proposed project, and on any special features that may require some design or other consideration because of location, land type etc.

PIMs are voluntary.

Under changes to the Building Act 2004, from 1st February 2010, the requirement for a PIM is voluntary. This means that the applicant can decide whether or not to apply for a PIM.

If a PIM is NOT applied for, the Building Consent Authority (BCA) has to ensure that the project will not only comply with the building codes and standards, but also has no other compliance issues, natural hazards or heritage status type issues that may require consideration. If any are found, the BCA will advise the applicant.

A potential frustration with a building consent application could be that your project is delayed due to some other, not initially considered requirement - like the need for resource consent, or similar.

Why apply for PIM?

A PIM provides the applicant with information about land and legislative or regulatory requirements that have been notified to the T.A. that are likely to be relevant to the proposed project.

Information on land will be typically focused on "special features" such as natural hazards e.g. land slips, flooding, erosion etc, and the presence of possible contaminants, that are not apparent from the District Plan or Resource Management Act 1991 - like former landfill sites.

Legislative or regulatory requirements include other authorisations, like the need for a Resource Consent, or notifying the New Zealand Historic Places trust, New Zealand Fire Service etc and if Development Contributions are required.

By applying for a PIM in advance of the Building Consent, these requirements can be identifed prior to finalising of designs, and alerting of any other applications that may need to be made prior to the Building Application and consent - thus avoiding wasted time, possible cost and frustration.

It also gives greater certainty to the applicant that the building work is a permitted activity.

What will a PIM tell me?

A PIM will provide information that is known to Council about land on which you are intending to carry out your project and it includes such features as:

• Potential inundation / flood risk
• Potential erosion
• Falling debris
• Subsidence
• Slippage
• The Heritage status of any building on the land if relevant
• Identification of cut and filled land
• Wind zone
• Vehicle crossing requirements
• The possible presence of hazardous contaminants
• Details of stormwater, and wastewater utilities systems.
• Resource Consents and other authorisations that may be required.
• The need for an evacuation scheme where applicable
• Vehicular access restrictions to and on site during construction work
• Notification of any Development contribution that may be payable
• Any notification that building work cannot be undertaken because some necessary authorisation has been refused even though a Building Consent may have been issued.
• Confirmation that building work may be undertaken subject to the requirements of any Building Consent, Resource Consent or all other necessary authorisations being obtained.

For PIM purposes the term ‘land’ means the land on which building project is to be undertaken as well as any other land likely to be affected by the project.

How do I obtain a PIM?

A PIM is an important part of your Building Consent Application, as issues identified in the PIM may well affect the structural plans for your project.

You can apply for a PIM and BC seperately or as a combined PIM/BC application. In either case, the PIM will have to be issued before the Buidling Consent can be issued.

The PIM/Building Consent application form may be downloaded from this website or collected from any Council Service Centre, alternatively we can post or email one to you. The guidance notes that are provided with the application form should be thoroughly read and followed when completing the form. Applications with a shortfall of information may be rejected or suspended depending on the level information that is required.

Indicate on the application form using the boxes provided, whether the application is for a PIM ONLY, BC ONLY, or Combined PIM/BC.

PIM / BC Application Form 

Development Information Booklet

Processing time of a PIM

Providing all the required information is supplied with an application, a PIM only application will be available within 20 working days.

Cost of a PIM

The type of building work to be undertaken determines the PIM fees.

You should also remember that there are other fees payable for a Building Consent, which will increase the total sum payable.

If applicable, Resource Consent and Development Contribution fees will also increase the overall costs.

• Fees and Charges

What information do I need to include with my PIM or PIM/BC Application?

In order for Council to process the PIM, you need to complete an application form which will ask you for certain information including a description of the work, intended use and its estimated value.

Information that must be included:

• Location, in relation to legal boundaries, and external dimensions of new, relocated, or altered buildings (a site plan).
• Provisions to be made for vehicular access, including parking (to be shown on site plan).
• Provisions to be made in building over or adjacent to any road or public place (i.e. any temporary structures over a road or public place in the course of the building work).
• Precautions to be taken where building work is to take place over existing drains or sewers or in close proximity to wells or water mains.
• New connections to public utilities (i.e. gas, water supply, stormwater system, wastewater system).
• New provisions to be made for disposing of stormwater and wastewater.
• Provisions to be made in any demolition work for the protection of the public, suppression of dust, suppression of noise, disposal of debris and disconnection from public utilities.
• Details of any cultural heritage significance of the building or building site, including whether it is on a marae.

If applicable information should also be included relating to:

• Copies of any consents including Resource Consents or Planning Approvals granted for this project.
• Details of any known or potential erosion, avulsion, falling debris, subsidence, slippage, alluvion, inundation, hazardous contaminants on or near the site.

What do I do once I have received my PIM?

The PIM assists in establishing the feasibility and design of a building project. If an architect or builder is helping with a building project, the PIM should be passed onto him/her for their reference.

If you are doing the building work personally, the PIM should be carefully studied to ensure the information stated is understood.

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