6.2. Porches and verandas between 20 and 30sqm in floor area – Chartered Professional Engineer

Small house with modern style porch

This exemption covers porches and verandas between 20 and 30 square metres where the design and construction is carried out by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) and the work is carried out in accordance with that design.

Please note: The below exemption comes into force from 31 August 2020. You will still need a building consent if your project starts before this date.

This exemption allows you to build or extend a deck or veranda up to 30 square metres, provided the design is carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer. The work must also be carried out in accordance with that design.

Before you begin, please read the notes for porches and verandas.

If a homeowner intends to build a veranda or porch less than 20 square metres on the ground floor, exemption 17 (section 6.1.) may be applicable.

What is exempt

  1. A building owner wishes to increase the size of an existing porch from the entry to a dwelling at ground level. The size of the porch (including the existing one) is 25 square metres. Provided that plans and specifications designed or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer and the work is carried out in accordance with that design, the work does not need a consent.
  2. A ground floor apartment owner wishes to increase the area of an existing veranda from 20 square metres to 30 square metres. The design is carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer and subsequently the work is carried out in accordance with that design.
  3. A building owner wishes to increase the area of an existing veranda from 15 square metres to 30 square metres by buying pre-engineered kitset products. The design of this proprietary product has been signed off by a Chartered Professional Engineer and the construction of the veranda will be according to that design.

What needs consent

  1. The owners of a commercial building wish to build a veranda on the first floor level to cover an area of 25 square metres. A building consent is required as the proposed location is above the ground floor of the building.
  2. A shop owner wants to build a 35 square metres veranda in a space without public access. This requires a building consent as the area exceeds 30 square metres.

What the law says

46. Porches and verandas exceeding 20, but not exceeding 30, square metres in floor area

1. Building work in connection with a porch or a veranda that—

(a). is on or attached to an existing building; and

(b). is on the ground level of the building; and

(c). exceeds 20 square metres in floor area, but does not exceed 30 square metres; and

(d). does not overhang any area accessible by the public, including private areas with limited public access, for example, restaurants and bars.

This exemption also requires that the design of the building work has been carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer and the building work has been carried out in accordance with that design.

This information is published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Chief Executive. It is a general guide only and, if used, does not relieve any person of the obligation to consider any matter to which the information relates according to the circumstances of the particular case. Expert advice may be required in specific circumstances. Where this information relates to assisting people: