Giving My Approval

Giving My Approval

Giving approval to projects that could affect you directly

You might be approached by someone who's asking for your written approval for something they want to do. This means that either the resource consent applicant or the council thinks that you could be affected by the proposal and that its only fair you get a say. If you don't give your approval then the application will probably be notified and you can make a submission to the council instead.

Example

Jeff wants to build a big shed in his garden so that he can have his mates round for regular snooker games. He checks the district plan and finds out he'll need to get a resource consent because the shed would be closer to the boundary than the plan allows. The district council planner tells him to get the written consent of his immediate neighbours along that boundary as the planner thinks those people could be affected by the shed and deserve a say.

Jeff goes over to see his next door neighbour, Noelene. He shows her drawings of the shed and points out where he wants it to go. Noelene's a little worried that Jeff and his mates will be able to look into her property from the big window Jeff wants to include. Jeff thinks about it again and decides he can move the window to the other side of the shed so it overlooks his own garden instead of Noelene's backyard.

Jeff takes the revised drawings to Noelene and she says they are fine. She signs and dates the latest version of the plans that she is happy with. She signs the form that Jeff got from the Council.

This says she has seen the revised drawings and gives her approval for Jeff's shed. Jeff takes Noelene's signed form to the council along with his application for resource consent.

Having a chat with your neighbours early on in the process helps. Jeff was able to get his shed and Noelene is also happy.

The Resource Consent applicant can download an Affected Persons Form from the related documents at the top of the page.