8.3. Carports between 20 and 40 sqm in floor area – Licensed Building Practitioner
To use this exemption, a homeowner must have a Licensed Building Practitioner design or construct a carport over 20m² and up to 40m².
Legally required professional: Licensed Building Practitioner.
What the law says
Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004
Exemption 18A. Carports exceeding 20, but not exceeding 40, square metres in floor area
1. Building work in connection with a carport if:
(a) any design or construction work is carried out or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner; and
(b) the carport:
(i) is on the ground level; and
(ii) exceeds 20 square metres in floor area but does not exceed 40 square metres.
How it works
To be regarded as a carport, at least one side of the structure must remain open to the outdoors at all times. This exemption also includes all work relating to the disposal of stormwater as it relates to the carport.
Before you begin, please read the Notes for carports: 8.1. to 8.3. section (particularly District Plan requirements and measuring net floor area).
The carport must have a net floor area (which is taken to be the area within the posts and/or walls supporting the roof structure) not exceeding 40 square metres.
Any design or construction work done using this exemption must be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP). Homeowners are encouraged to seek LBPs with the right competence for this work, as this provides the best assurance.
An LBP holding a Design licence would be most suited to carry out the design work. The construction work is best carried out by an LBP in one of the following licensing classes, as may be relevant to the building work planned to be undertaken:
- Bricklaying and blocklaying
- Carpentry
- External plastering
- Foundations
- Roofing
Refer to the Who can undertake exempt work section on for more information about Licensed Building Practitioners.
You should check and confirm the LBPs current licensing status and licensing history before you engage them to carry out work under this exemption.
If supervision is being applied by a Licensed Building Practitioner under this exemption, that supervision must align with the Practice Note issued for Supervision by LBPs, which can be found at www.lbp.govt.nz
If the proposed carport is between 20 and 40 square metres, and designed by a Chartered Professional Engineer, exemption 44 in section 8.2 of this document may apply.
What is exempt
- A homeowner wants to build a new free-standing carport. The carport will have a concrete slab on grade, be open on all sides, and have a net floor area of 25 square metres. As the owner has contracted a Licensed Building Practitioner to undertake the design, construction and/or supervise the building work, a building consent is not required.
- A courier company intends to build a 35 square metre carport. The carport will be open on three sides and attached to the existing single storey depot building. As the owners have contracted a Licensed Building Practitioner to undertake the design, construction and/or supervise the building work, a building consent is not required.
What needs consent
- A homeowner wants to construct a new free-standing carport with a net floor area of 43 square metres which will be open on all sides. As it exceeds 40 square metres in floor area, a building consent is required.