Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Building Act 2004

Regulatory responsibilities and accreditation - Responsibilities of chief executive - Enforcement powers of chief executive

205: Limits on power to enter land or building

You could also call this:

“Rules about when and how officials can go into someone's property to check things”

You can enter land or buildings under [section 204(2)], but there are rules you need to follow. If you want to go in, you must follow these two conditions:

First, if the owner or person living there asks you, you have to show them a special paper. This paper is called a written warrant, and it’s mentioned in [section 206]. You need to show this paper when you first go in, or any time after that if they ask for it.

Second, you can only go in at times that are reasonable. This means you can’t go in very late at night or very early in the morning, for example.

These rules are there to make sure that when someone needs to enter land or a building, they do it in a fair and respectful way.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM307843.

Topics:
Housing and property > Home safety and repairs
Government and voting > Government departments
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204: Special powers of chief executive for monitoring performance of functions under this Act, or

“The chief executive can check on building authorities and experts, ask for information, and inspect places to make sure everyone is following the building rules.”

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206: Chief executive must supply warrant, or

“The boss must give a special card to workers who can go into buildings for their job.”

Part 3 Regulatory responsibilities and accreditation
Responsibilities of chief executive: Enforcement powers of chief executive

205Limits on power to enter land or building

  1. The power to enter land or buildings under section 204(2) is subject to the following conditions:

  2. the person entering must, if requested on entry or at any subsequent time, produce to the owner or occupier of that land or building the written warrant referred to in section 206:
    1. entry may be made only at reasonable times.

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