Do I need consent for a retaining wall?
The 1.5m rule, in plain English
Retaining Walls
The 1.5m rule, in plain English
It's the first thing people ask, and the honest answer is "often, yes." Here's the plain-English version of when a retaining wall needs building consent in New Zealand - but always check with your local council, because the detail is theirs to confirm.
The 1.5 metre rule of thumb
As a general guide, a retaining wall up to 1.5 metres high that isn't carrying any extra load above it can often be built without building consent. Go over 1.5 metres, or add load on top - a driveway, a building, a surcharge from the ground above - and you're generally into consent territory.
That's a rule of thumb, not the law for your section. Councils apply it differently, and there are always exceptions, so confirm it with yours before you commit.
Load changes everything
A wall's height isn't the whole story. A low wall holding back a slope with a driveway or building above it is carrying far more than its height suggests, and that added load usually pushes it into consent - and into engineered design - regardless of the 1.5m figure.
Get the advice at the design stage
This is exactly why we advise at the design stage. Sorting the height, the load and the consent question before anything moves saves the expensive surprises later. We build to your specifications with drainage engineered in, and point you the right way on consent from the start. When you're ready, here's how a retaining wall gets built.
Common questions
Do I need consent for a retaining wall?
As a rule of thumb, up to 1.5 metres with no added load above it can often be built without building consent - but this varies by council and situation, so always confirm with yours.
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Let's get itunderway
Tell us about the site and what you want out of it. We'll advise at the design stage and give you a straight answer on cost and timing.
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- 027 319 9414
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- Owner
- Brett Holmes