.png@webp)
Granny Flat Exemption Guidelines
Footprint Homes Disclaimer
The information on this page is provided as general guidance only and has been collated from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and other publicly available sources. It is based on information available at the time of publishing and may change. It does not replace the Building Act, Building Code, local council requirements, or professional legal advice. While we do our best to keep this information accurate and up to date, Footprint Homes accepts no responsibility (to the fullest extent permitted by law) decisions made in reliance on this information.
Introduction
Footprint Homes specialises in homes 70m² and under, making it easy to explore the new granny flat exemption pathway (where eligible). This exemption is designed to make it simpler to add a small standalone dwelling without needing a building consent, as long as the build meets specific requirements. In simple terms, the home needs to:
- Be a straightforward design that complies with the Building Code
- Have the council notified before building starts, and again once it’s completed
- Be built or supervised by Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs)
- Meet all exemption conditions required for compliance
We can help you map out the best approach. If you haven’t already, start by requesting a FREE site-specific estimate to kick things off. From there, you’ll be able to see what’s achievable within your budget and get a clear understanding of what to expect when building under the exemption guidelines.
Can you tick ALL these boxes?
- Is there an existing dwelling on the property?
- Is the new building 70m² or less (internal floor area)?
- Is the new building at least 2.0m away from any other building/dwelling?
- Is the roof height no greater than 4.0m above the finished floor level? if this is not possible talk to us about excavation
- Is the finished floor level no more than 1.0m above ground level? If this isn’t possible, we can discuss excavation options with you.
- Is the building at least 2.0m from every boundary? Note: Rural and lifestyle zones often require larger setbacks under the District Plan — we’ll confirm this for your exact site.
✅ If YES to all, the granny flat exemption may apply (no building consent required, if all other conditions are met).❌ If NO to any, the exemption may not apply and you may need building consent and/or resource consent depending on your site and council rules
.png@webp)
.png@webp)
Step by Step Guides
When you purchase a Footprint Home, our team is right there with you to make the journey easy and stress-free.We can manage the entire project for you, from early research and council documentation through to site works, foundations, water tanks, septic systems, solar, and everything in between. It’s a true one-stop shop, with access to our trusted network so your whole build runs smoothly.
While there’s still a process to work through, you can feel confident you’re in safe hands. We’ve already helped clients get underway using the new no-consent exemption pathway, saving them thousands along the way.
Most importantly, our focus is delivering a warm, healthy, high-quality home that’s fully compliant and backed by a 10-year building guarantee. We don’t take shortcuts, we build it properly, so you’re protected for insurance, finance, and resale in the future.
.webp@webp)
Granny Flat Exemption Guidance
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
Hīkina Whakatutuki – Lifting to make successful
This document is issued as guidance under section 175 of the Building Act 2004. While MBIE has taken care in preparing the document it should not be relied upon as establishing compliance with all relevant clauses of the Building Act or Building Code in all cases that may arise.
This document may be updated from time to time, and the latest version is available from MBIE’s website at: www.building.govt.nz.