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281: Requirements for appointment
or “ Rules for choosing someone to help run a local council when it needs extra support ”
You could also call this:

“Authorities can decide how much to charge and how to collect payment for their building-related services.”

When a territorial authority, building consent authority, or regional authority (called “the authority”) performs a function or service under the Building Act 2004, they can charge you fees. This applies to services mentioned in sections 219, 240, or 243 of the Act.

The authority can decide how to set and collect these fees. They might:

  • Charge a set amount or a changing amount
  • Ask for some money upfront and more later
  • Ask for all the money at the start
  • Charge based on how long the service takes or use another way to work out the cost

The authority can charge you these fees whether you asked for the service or they decided to do it themselves.

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Next up: 281B: Authority may increase fee or charge to meet additional cost

or “The authority can make you pay more if their usual fee doesn't cover their costs, but they must tell you how much extra it will be if you ask.”
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Part 3 Regulatory responsibilities and accreditation
Fees, charges, and additional costs

281AWhat fees and charges may be imposed

  1. This section applies when a territorial authority, building consent authority, or a regional authority (in this section and in sections 281B to 281D called the authority) imposes a fee or charge (or both) under section 219, 240, or 243 for a function or service performed by the authority under this Act.

  2. Each authority has a discretion as to how the fee or charge is charged or set and how it may be paid or collected, and may (by way of example and without limiting an authority's discretion)—

  3. charge a fixed or variable fee:
    1. require a deposit and then further payment:
      1. require full payment at the outset:
        1. charge on the basis of an hourly rate or any other rate or method of charging.

          1. An authority may impose a fee or charge whether or not the function or service in question is performed on the application of another person or on the initiative of the authority itself.

          Notes
          • Section 281A: inserted, on , by section 65 of the Building Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 23).