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Planning Bill

Planning consents - Applying for planning consent - Time frames and excluded time periods

117: Consent processing time frames

You could also call this:

"How Long It Takes to Process Your Planning Application"

If you apply for a planning consent, there are time frames for how long it takes to process your application. The maximum time frames are set out in a table and are also subject to other rules in this Act and any regulations made under section 282. You can find the time frames in the table. When you lodge your application under section 109(5), the processing of your application begins. It ends when the consent authority notifies you of their decision on your application. The time frames for planning consents are: 45 working days for non-notified consent, 70 working days for targeted notified consent without a hearing, and so on. A consent authority must stop processing your application if the regulations say they have to, and they have to do it in the way the regulations say. The regulations will say when and how they have to stop processing your application.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS1462771.

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

Topics:

Environment and resources > Town planningHousing and property > Land use

116: Deferral pending application for additional consents, or

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

118: Certain consents must be processed and decided no later than 1 year after lodgement, or

"Consents must be decided within one year of applying"

Part 4Planning consents
Applying for planning consent: Time frames and excluded time periods

117Consent processing time frames

The maximum processing time frames for applications for planning consents—
are set out in the table in subsection (3); and
are subject to—
1. other provisions of this Act; and
2. any time frames and excluded time periods prescribed by regulations made under section 282.

For the purposes of this section, the processing of an application—
begins on the date that the application is lodged under section 109(5); and
ends on the date that the consent authority notifies the applicant of the decision on the application.

The processing time frames for planning consents are as follows:

The following table is small in size and has 2 columns. Column 1 is headed Type of notification. Column 2 is headed Maximum processing time frame.
Type of notification		Maximum processing time frame
Non-notified consent with or without hearing		45 working days
Targeted notified consent without hearing		70 working days
Targeted notified consent with hearing		100 working days
Publicly notified consent without hearing		90 working days
Publicly notified consent with hearing		130 working days

A consent authority must suspend the processing of an application for a planning consent on the grounds and in the manner prescribed in the regulations.