Key points at a glance
- Schedule 1 lists categories of low-risk work exempt from needing a building consent.
- Exempt does NOT mean unregulated — the work must still comply with the Building Code.
- Common exemptions include general repairs, small detached buildings, decks and some retaining walls, within size limits.
- A separate Schedule 1A “granny flat” exemption allows some standalone dwellings up to 70m² under strict conditions.
What Schedule 1 covers
Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004 sets out building work that does not need a building consent because it is considered low-risk. MBIE publishes detailed guidance grouping the exemptions by project type.
Common examples include general repair and maintenance using comparable materials, single-storey detached buildings up to certain floor areas, installing or replacing windows and doors in existing homes, certain decks, platforms, porches and carports, fences, and retaining walls below set height and load limits.
Exempt still means compliant
An exemption from the consent process is not an exemption from the Building Code. The owner remains responsible for making sure the work is safe, durable and compliant, and that it meets other laws such as the Resource Management Act and Health and Safety at Work Act.
Restricted Building Work rules can still apply even when a consent is not required, and plumbing, gasfitting, drainlaying and electrical work must still be done by licensed people.
Discretionary exemptions and granny flats
Councils can also grant discretionary exemptions for work that does not strictly fall under Schedule 1 but is low-risk. A separate Schedule 1A pathway allows some small standalone dwellings (up to 70m²) to be built without a consent under specific design and supervision conditions.
Because the list is amended from time to time (for example, updated provisions for solar panel arrays), always check the current MBIE guidance for the exact limits before relying on an exemption.
For homeowners
- Read the current MBIE exemption guidance — size and height limits are specific.
- Even for exempt work, keep records and photos in case a buyer’s lawyer asks later.
- If plumbing or electrical work is involved, a licensed tradesperson is still required.
For tradespeople
- Confirm the specific Schedule 1 clause and its limits before relying on an exemption.
- Document that exempt work still meets the Building Code.
- Advise clients in writing when work is exempt but Code compliance still applies.
Official sources
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