Solar panel consent exemption takes effect

A building consent exemption for rooftop solar panels comes into force, as the Government steps up efforts to accelerate sustainable construction across New Zealand.

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says the change will remove regulatory barriers and save homeowners around $1200 per consent while reducing unnecessary delays.

“Until now, decision-making on solar panel consents has varied between councils, creating uncertainty for homeowners who want to make smart decisions in reducing their carbon footprint and energy bills,” Penk says.

“Making the process simpler by removing burdensome red tape is expected to save Kiwis around $1200 per consent and help avoid unnecessary delays.”

The exemption applies to all buildings – both residential and commercial – and represents a significant shift from previous requirements where consent decisions varied between local councils.

Engineer involvement still required in some cases

While most installations will proceed without consent requirements, certain technical thresholds remain. For rooftop installations over 40 square metres in total area per roof, or in very high wind speed areas, a chartered professional engineer must provide or review the design of structural fixings.

Very high wind speed areas are classified as those with speeds greater than 44 metres per second (over 158 km/h).

“Most residential rooftop solar arrays are between 25 and 30 square metres, so the majority of households will be able to install their solar panels without involving an engineer,” Penk says.

The minister notes that solar panel installers often have pre-engineered kitsets with unified sign-off from chartered professional engineers available, which generally won’t require additional engineering involvement during installation and inspection.

Fast-track consents expanded to sustainable buildings

Penk also announced plans to expand fast-track building consent processes beyond solar installations to include all sustainable buildings meeting specific performance criteria.

Earlier this year, the Government committed to fast-track building consents for new residential buildings with solar electricity generation, halving processing time from 20 working days to 10.

“Today, I am announcing that the Government is expanding that fast-track consent pathway to sustainable buildings, which will be defined in the Building Act,” Penk says.

To qualify, buildings will need to demonstrate at least one of the following features: high energy efficiency, water efficiency, low embodied carbon, or climate resiliency.

Legislation to create the fast-track building consent process for sustainable buildings will be included in a Bill Penk intends to introduce to Parliament early next year. The Chief Executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will set performance criteria for each sustainable building attribute through secondary legislation.

“By supporting sustainable building practices, we can create warmer, healthier homes, reduce power bills and build stronger, more resilient communities across New Zealand,” Penk says.

“Giving Kiwis more choice and making it easier and more affordable to build the homes and infrastructure our communities need are top priorities for this Government.”

The fast-track process for buildings with rooftop solar panels will be rolled out first, with uptake and impacts on the consenting system monitored before implementing the broader sustainable buildings fast-track process.