Commercial building consents

A building warrant of fitness (BWoF) is an annual certificate that confirms the specified systems in the building have been inspected and maintained and are performing in accordance with the building consent.

Once the building owner receives the initial compliance schedule document or any amended compliance schedule, they are required to submit to Council an annual BWoF (Form 12), and a certificate of compliance (Form 12A) for each of the specified systems in the building (on the anniversary of the date the compliance schedule was issued). The annual BWoF can be submitted by email to bwof@npdc.govt.nz.

The BWoF must be displayed somewhere publicly accessible so that people using the building know that all the systems in the building are functional and operating effectively without any risk to their health and safety. If you don't display a BWoF, or display a false one, you can get a fine of up to $20,000. Enforcement action may be taken by Council if the BWoF is not submitted by the anniversary date.

Further information about building owner responsibilities can be found on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website: Owners Responsibilities about BWOFs and Compliance Schedules .

IQP Register

Find out more about building warrants of fitness

NPDC became part of the Central IQP (Independent Qualified Person) register on 1 December 2023. “Independent” means they have no financial interest in the building.

If you currently hold an IQP registration with NPDC, it remains valid until its expiry date. Before your NPDC IQP registration expires, you'll need to apply to the Central IQP panel for re-registration.

Joining the Central IQP register enables you to work across these six regions:

1. New Plymouth
2. Palmerston North
3. Manawatu
4. Tararua
5. Whanganui
6. Stratford
7. South Taranaki
8. Rangitīkei District Council

NPDC is committed to enhancing efficiency and collaboration within the IQP community.

Register with the Central IQP Register

What is a Certificate for Public Use (CPU)?

A certificate for public use (CPU) is a statement by us declaring that it is safe to use an area of a public premise affected by building work before the Code Compliance Certificate is issued. We will take into account any safety measures that have been put in place. CPUs can be used as an alternative to staged or separate building consents for large building projects.

Matters to Consider Before Applying for a CPU

Before applying, consider:

• Is the building intended for public use (e.g. schools, hospitals, restaurants, retail spaces)?
• Is building work underway that affects public access?
• Has a building consent been granted, but the CCC not yet issued?
• Can the public safely access the premises without exposure to construction hazards?

If the building is not open to the public, a CPU is not required and may be refused.

Who Can Apply for a CPU?

The following parties may apply:

• Owner of the premises
• Occupier (e.g. tenant or lessee)
• Controller of the premises (e.g. contractor)
• Agent acting on behalf of any of the above 

Information Required to Support a CPU Application

Applicants must provide:

• Completed Form 15 (Application for CPU)
• Plans showing the affected and accessible areas
• Site-management plans detailing public safety measures
• Engineering certificates or producer statements
• Details of specified systems and their operational status
• Fire safety and evacuation plans
• Barrier and signage details to restrict access to unsafe areas

Owners’ Obligations for IMR of Specified Systems

If specified systems (e.g. fire alarms, sprinklers, lifts) are operating under a CPU:

• The owner must maintain them to the performance standards set in the compliance schedule
• Inspection, Maintenance, and Reporting (IMR) must be carried out by qualified persons
• An annual Building Warrant of Fitness (BWoF) must be issued and displayed

How a CPU Application is Processed

1. Submission: Application is lodged with the Territorial Authority (TA).
2. Statutory Clock: TA must process the application within 20 working days. This clock may pause if further information is requested.
3. Inspection: TA inspects the premises to verify public safety.
4. Issuing: If satisfied, the TA issues the CPU, possibly with conditions.

When a CPU Application Can Be Refused

A CPU may be refused if:

• The building is not accessible to the public
• The building work does not meet safety requirements
• Specified systems are not operational or compliant
• The application lacks sufficient documentation

Applicants will be notified in writing with reasons for refusal and may appeal to MBIE for a determination.

Offences Under the Building Act

It is an offence to:

• Allow public access to a building affected by building work without a CPU or CCC
• Breach conditions of an issued CPU

Penalties:

• Fine up to $200,000
• Additional $20,000 per day for continuing offences (refer section 363 of the Building Act, click here.

To apply for a certificate for public use, or a Code Compliance Certificate and to find out more:

Application for certificate for public use form

Application for Code Compliance Certificate

Find out more about certificates for public use

Need Help?

Contact us on 06 759 6060, email to enquiries@npdc.govt.nz or visit https://www.building.govt.nz for forms, guidance, and support.

A compliance schedule is a document (issued by Council) that lists the specified systems (for example, automatic fire sprinklers, fire alarms, lifts, air conditioning systems) within a building, and the performance standards for those systems. The compliance schedule also states how the systems will be monitored and maintained to ensure they are performing in accordance with the performance standard to make sure the building is safe and healthy for people to enter, occupy or work.

A compliance schedule is required for a building that:

• is not wholly a single household unit (for example, includes commercial and industrial buildings but not stand-alone houses) and contains one or more specified systems (including cable cars)
• is wholly a single household unit and has a cable car attached to it or servicing it.

Building consent applications are assessed to determine whether specified systems are being added, altered, or removed as part of the project.

If so, the application documentation should include, but is not limited to:

• Details of how the proposed systems are to comply with the New Zealand Building Code, and
• Performance standards of the specified systems, and
• Inspection & Maintenance standards/regimes for the specified systems 

When the consent is issued, a list of the specified systems being added or altered, and their performance standards is attached. Compliance schedules as a result of building work are issued with the code compliance certificate.

A compliance schedule must be kept on-site unless at another place by mutual agreement with Council. It must be made available to Council officers, independent qualified persons, and authorised agents at all times.

Compliance schedule statements

Where a compliance schedule has been issued for the first time, a compliance schedule statement (Form 10) is also issued by Council. This is a temporary public notification of compliance with the compliance schedule requirements and is replaced after 12 months by the building warrant of fitness.

Contact us if you want to amend an existing application.

Check out the Building Performance website for more information:

Find out about compliance schedules