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Planning Bill

Planning consents - Applying for planning consent - General requirements

115: Consent authority may return incomplete application

You could also call this:

"What happens if your planning application is incomplete?"

If you send in an application, the consent authority can look at it and decide if it has all the necessary information. They can do this within 10 working days of getting your application, and they must check it against the requirements outlined in section 109(2)(b). If they think it is incomplete, they will send it back to you with a written explanation. If the consent authority sends your application back, you can ask the Planning Tribunal to review their decision under clause 14 of Schedule 10. You can do this if you disagree with the consent authority's decision that your application is incomplete. The Planning Tribunal will then look at the decision and make a ruling. If you fix your application and send it in again, the consent authority will treat it as a brand new application. This means they will start the process all over again, and it will not be connected to your original application. You will need to make sure it includes all the necessary information required by section 109(2)(b) so it is not sent back again.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1434089.

This page was last updated on 12 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Environment and resources > Town planningHousing and property > Land use

114: Application relating to area where group seeks customary marine title, or

"Applying for planning consent in areas with customary marine title claims"

116: Deferral pending application for additional consents, or

"Waiting for more planning approvals before deciding on your application"

Part 4Planning consents
Applying for planning consent: General requirements

115Consent authority may return incomplete application

A consent authority may, within 10 working days after an application was first lodged, determine that an application is incomplete if the application does not include the information required by section 109(2)(b).
If the consent authority decides that the application is incomplete, it must immediately return the application to the applicant with written reasons for the decision.
A person may apply to the Planning Tribunal under clause 14 of Schedule 10 to review a decision that an application is incomplete.
If an application that has been returned under this section is lodged again with the consent authority, that application must be treated as a new application.