If you’ve searched online for whether your new shower needs building consent, you’ve probably found conflicting answers, and that’s not you doing anything wrong. This is genuinely one of the murkier corners of New Zealand’s building rules right now.
What’s actually going on?
Broadly, replacing a shower like-for-like in the same spot is usually exempt from consent under Schedule 1 of the Building Act. But once you’re creating a new fully-tiled wet area, which needs a waterproof membrane underneath the tiles, MBIE’s own guidance and a series of determinations have gone back and forth on whether that membrane work counts as exempt or consentable. There was a notable MBIE determination in 2024 on this exact point, and further guidance changes since. The short version: the rules have moved, and they may move again.
Why does this matter to you?
Getting it wrong isn’t just paperwork. Unconsented work that should have been consented can cause real problems if you ever sell, buyers’ lawyers and building inspectors do check. On the flip side, some homeowners are told they need consent when, under current guidance, they may not.
What should you actually do?
Don’t rely on a Google search (including this one) to make the final call. The safest approach is to have whoever’s doing your renovation confirm your specific scenario against current guidance before work starts, and make sure whatever’s exempt is still built to full Building Code standard regardless, because “no consent required” never means “no rules apply.”
How we handle it
This is exactly the kind of detail we take off your plate. Justin checks the consent position for every renovation against the current rules before a single tile is laid, so you’re never guessing, and never exposed later. If you’re planning a shower renovation and want a straight answer for your specific bathroom, get in touch and we’ll talk it through.
