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New Zealand law explained for everyone

Building Act 2004

Building - Special provisions for earthquake-prone buildings - Application and interpretation

133AA: Buildings to which this subpart applies

You could also call this:

“This part of the law tells you which buildings have special rules for earthquakes, and which ones don't.”

This part of the law applies to most buildings, but there are some exceptions. You don’t need to worry about this law if you live in a normal house. It also doesn’t apply to farm buildings, fences, or walls that hold back earth. Statues and monuments are exempt unless you can go inside them. The law also doesn’t cover wharves, bridges, tunnels, storage tanks, or dams.

However, even if a building is used mainly for people to live in, this law might still apply in some cases. For example, if the building has two or more floors and is a hostel or boarding house, or if it has three or more separate living units, then this law does apply.

Remember, this law is about making sure buildings are safe, especially from earthquakes. It’s important for buildings where lots of people live or work together.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM7340903.

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133: Application of this subpart to dams, or

“This part of the law doesn't cover buildings that are dams or parts of buildings that are dams.”

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133AB: Meaning of earthquake-prone building, or

“A building that could collapse and hurt people or damage property during a moderate earthquake”

Part 2 Building
Special provisions for earthquake-prone buildings: Application and interpretation

133AABuildings to which this subpart applies

  1. This subpart applies to all buildings except the following:

  2. a building that is used wholly or mainly for residential purposes (but see subsection (2)):
    1. a farm building (being a shed or other building that is located on a farm and used primarily for farming activities or an ancillary purpose):
      1. a stand-alone retaining wall (being a retaining wall that is not integral to the structure of a building):
        1. a fence:
          1. a monument (including a statue), unless the monument is capable of being entered by a person:
            1. a wharf:
              1. a bridge:
                1. a tunnel:
                  1. a storage tank:
                    1. a building that is a dam:
                      1. a part of a building that is a dam.

                        1. Despite subsection (1)(a), this subpart applies to a building described in that subsection if the building—

                        2. comprises 2 or more storeys; and
                          1. either—
                            1. is a hostel, boardinghouse, or other specialised accommodation; or
                              1. contains 3 or more household units.

                              Notes
                              • Section 133AA: inserted, on , by section 24 of the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 22).