Prepare a clear, complete building-consent application.
Use this national starting point to organise the applicant-side pack before lodgement. It follows MBIE's published application structure, then leaves the final project-specific and local requirements to the relevant building consent authority.
MBIE groups consent documentation into application information, plans, specifications and supporting documents. Keep those groups distinct so a processor can navigate the pack without hunting through unrelated files.
Completed and signed Form 2 details, including the site, owner, agent, work description, value and relevant prior consents.
A coordinated drawing set: site, floor, foundation, framing, elevations, sections, details, drainage and other project-specific plans.
A project specification that matches the materials, systems, products and compliance paths shown on the drawings.
Supporting material such as engineering, geotechnical information, H1 evidence, product information, certificates of design work and applicable producer statements.
02
Check coordination, not just presence.
A file can be present and still create a question. Review the pack as one record and make sure every relied-on document is current and traceable.
Use one document register with title, author, date and revision for every submitted file.
Match drawing and detail references across architecture, structure, services, calculations and producer statements.
Confirm specifications and schedules describe the same products and assemblies as the plans.
Remove superseded files from the submission set and clearly identify any approved alternative product information.
03
Prepare the electronic hand-off.
MBIE recommends searchable PDFs, bookmarks for navigation, securely attached digital signatures and no links to external files. Your council or BCA may add its own naming, order, size and portal rules.
Check the selected council or BCA website for its current application checklist and submission channel.
Make PDFs searchable, readable at the submitted scale and easy to navigate.
Use clear filenames and keep the file order consistent with the document register.
Run a final applicant-side review after export so no pages, signatures, schedules or attachments have dropped out.
OFFICIAL SOURCE BOUNDARY
Confirm the live BCA requirements before you submit.
This independent preparation guide summarises a national starting point. It is not council guidance, a complete project specification, professional advice or a prediction of approval. Property, work type and authority requirements vary.