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Natural Environment Bill

Natural resource permits - Nature of permits, commencement, duration and review - Transfer and surrender

200: Certificate of compliance where activity does not require permit

You could also call this:

"Get a certificate to prove your activity follows the rules, even if you don't need a permit."

Illustration for Natural Environment Bill

You can ask for a certificate of compliance for an activity that does not need a natural resource permit. This is in relation to section 178 of the Planning Act 2025, which applies with necessary changes. You get this certificate from the permit authority. If you get a certificate, it is treated like a natural resource permit in some ways. It is subject to section 25(2) and some parts of this Act. These parts are sections 172 to 174, 181(b), and 193 to 196. When this section talks about an activity, it also means a particular proposal. You can apply for a certificate for something you plan to do. The permit authority will consider 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=LMS1537103.

This page was last updated on 14 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Environment and resources > Town planningBusiness > Industry rules

199: Permit authority may treat certain activities as permitted activities, or

"Authorities can allow some activities that don't fully follow the rules if they won't harm the environment."

201: Existing use certificates, or

"A certificate that proves you were already doing something on your land when the new rules started"

Part 4Natural resource permits
Nature of permits, commencement, duration and review: Transfer and surrender

200Certificate of compliance where activity does not require permit

A person may apply to the permit authority for a certificate of compliance in relation to an activity that can be done lawfully in a particular location without a natural resource permit in accordance with section 178 of the Planning Act 2025, and that section applies with all necessary modifications.
A certificate treated as a natural resource permit is subject to section 25(2).
A certificate treated as a natural resource permit is subject to this Act as if it were a natural resource permit, except that the only sections in this Part that apply to it are sections 172 to 174, 181(b), and 193 to 196.
In this section, activity includes a particular proposal.