Homeowners keen to knock out a non load-bearing wall or knock up a pergola this weekend can do so without a building consent, following changes to the Building Act.
But the Dunedin City Council is warning responsibility for complying with the New Zealand building code is up to the homeowner, and a maximum fine for a serious breach is $100,000.
The changes are expected to mean 10% of the Dunedin City Council's building consent workload will disappear, with a reduction in revenue. But there could be more work for the council if house sale property inspections turn up work wrongly identified as not needing consent, chief building control officer Neil McLeod said yesterday.
Changes to Schedule 1 of the Act took effect this month, increasing the number of small building alterations that can be done without consent.
Those include moving a toilet within a room, installing or replacing windows, or building a sleep-out in the backyard.
Mr McLeod said it was not yet known what the cost to the council would be. He expected there would be more work advising homeowners what was, and what was not exempt, not always a simple process.
"It is recommended property owners conduct a property search through the council, which allows existing building plans to be studied, before deciding whether or not to obtain a consent. That will show up such things as walls that are load-bearing."
