Do I Need Slip Repair Consent in Auckland?
If a slip has occurred on your property, it can be tempting to begin moving soil or rebuilding the affected area immediately. However, you may need slip repair consent before completing a permanent repair, including building consent, resource consent or both.
There is no single consent answer that applies to every property. The requirements depend on the cause and extent of the slip, the proposed repair methodology, retaining-wall height and loading, earthwork quantities, drainage, proximity to boundaries, waterways and buildings, and whether the site is affected by natural-hazard or other planning controls.
Establishing the likely requirements early can prevent redesign, delays and unconsented work. CIVILCO can assist with the practical pathway from initial repair options through engineering, consent applications, construction and project close-out.
What does slip repair consent involve?
Although they can apply to the same project, building consent and resource consent address different matters.
A building consent confirms that the proposed building work has been designed to comply with the New Zealand Building Code. For a slip repair, this may relate to structural retaining walls, piling, foundations, drainage associated with the structure or work affecting an existing building.
A resource consent considers how the activity affects the site, surrounding properties and the environment under the Auckland Unitary Plan. It may be required because of the scale or location of earthworks, work within a natural-hazard area, vegetation or waterway controls, sediment risks, planning overlays or other site-specific rules.
Requiring one approval does not remove the need to consider the other. A project may need building consent only, resource consent only, both approvals or, in some circumstances, neither.
When might a slip repair require building consent?
Building consent is commonly required when a slip repair includes significant structural work. Examples may include:
A retaining wall retaining more than 1.5 metres depth of ground
A retaining wall supporting an additional load or surcharge
Palisade walls, piled walls or other specifically engineered retaining structures
Repairs or alterations affecting the structure or foundations of a building
Underpinning, re-piling or foundation stabilisation
Structural work required to protect a building or accessway
A retaining wall under 1.5 metres is not always exempt
A common misconception is that every retaining wall under 1.5 metres can be built without consent.
The general building-consent exemption applies where the wall retains no more than 1.5 metres depth of ground and does not support an additional load or surcharge. A driveway, parking area, building, swimming pool, another retaining wall or sloping ground above the wall can impose additional loading.
This means a wall lower than 1.5 metres may still require building consent. Slip sites frequently involve sloping ground, compromised accessways and complex loading, so the proposed wall should be assessed in the context of the whole site rather than by height alone.
There is also a separate exemption that can apply to certain retaining walls of up to 3 metres in rural zones where the design is carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer. The criteria must be checked carefully before relying on this exemption.
Even when building consent is not required, the work must still comply with the Building Act and Building Code.
When might a slip repair require resource consent?
Resource-consent requirements are highly site-specific. A slip repair may need assessment under the Auckland Unitary Plan where it involves:
Earthworks exceeding the permitted standards for the site
Work in an area affected by natural-hazard controls
Work near a stream, wetland, coastal area or other sensitive environment
Changes to overland flow paths or stormwater discharge
Vegetation removal or work within a protected area
Sediment-generating works that cannot meet the permitted standards
Work within a planning overlay or special-purpose area
Effects on neighbouring land, infrastructure or public assets
Auckland Council introduced stronger planning provisions relating to natural hazards in late 2025. Landslide-susceptibility information is now used when considering relevant resource-consent applications, and a risk assessment may be required for consent applications involving land subject to natural hazards.
The presence of a mapped hazard does not necessarily mean that every repair requires resource consent. It does mean that the proposed activity and the site constraints need to be checked before work begins.
What about emergency work after a slip?
Immediate work may sometimes be necessary to protect life, health or property.
This could include isolating an unsafe area, preventing access, temporary drainage, weather protection or urgent stabilisation.
The Building Act provides for limited situations where building work cannot practicably obtain consent in advance because it must be undertaken urgently to save or protect life or health or prevent serious property damage. This should not be treated as a general exemption for completing the permanent repair without approval.
Where it is safe to do so, contact your insurer and Auckland Council before undertaking urgent building work. Keep clear photographs, site records, instructions, invoices and details of the work completed. An application for a Certificate of Acceptance may be required following urgent work undertaken without prior building consent.
Long-term reinstatement should normally follow the usual design and consenting process.
Why engineering input is usually needed
The visible slip is not always the full extent of the problem. Before selecting a repair methodology, it may be necessary to understand:
The depth and extent of the ground movement
Soil and groundwater conditions
Whether stormwater or subsoil drainage contributed to the failure
The stability of the remaining slope
Loading from buildings, driveways or neighbouring land
Whether existing retaining structures or services have been damaged
The potential effect of the repair on surrounding property
A geotechnical engineer will commonly investigate the ground conditions and recommend stabilisation parameters. A structural engineer may then design retaining walls, piles or other structural components. Depending on the property, the team may also include a civil engineer, surveyor, planner or other specialist.
CIVILCO can work with the client’s existing consultants or recommend an appropriate professional team.
Using Early Contractor Involvement before consent
Under an Early Contractor Involvement agreement, CIVILCO works with the client and design team while the repair solution is being developed.
Our ECI services can include:
Reviewing potential repair methodologies
Preparing preliminary construction estimates
Comparing the cost and buildability of different options
Identifying access, temporary works and construction constraints
Assisting with the design programme and consultant coordination
Providing updated pricing as the design develops
Helping optimise the solution to suit the client’s budget or insurance position
Identifying the information likely to be required for pricing, consenting and construction
Early construction input helps reduce the risk of progressing an expensive design that is difficult to build or does not align with the available budget.
Where CIVILCO is subsequently engaged to undertake the construction works, the ECI fees paid directly to CIVILCO are credited in full against the construction contract. Fees charged by engineers, surveyors, planners, councils and other consultants or authorities remain separate.
Can CIVILCO manage the consent process?
Yes. Depending on the scope of the project and the agreed engagement, CIVILCO can assist with:
Coordinating the required engineers and consultants
Arranging construction estimates and methodology input
Preparing or coordinating supporting construction information
Applying for building and resource consent on the client’s behalf
Responding to requests for further information with the design team
Coordinating required inspections during construction
Compiling construction records and contractor documentation
Assisting with the Code Compliance Certificate process
Once construction is complete, CIVILCO can provide the applicable contractor producer statement for the work we have undertaken. Engineering producer statements and specialist certifications are provided by the relevant project consultants.
What should you do before starting a slip repair?
Before committing to permanent work:
Keep people away from the affected area if there is any safety concern.
Notify your insurer promptly if the damage may be covered.
Avoid disturbing the slip unnecessarily before it has been assessed.
Record the damage with clear photographs and dates.
Obtain geotechnical or other specialist advice where required.
Develop practical repair options and indicative construction costs.
Confirm whether building consent, resource consent or other approvals are required.
Complete the design, approvals and agreed construction documentation before permanent work begins.
Talk to CIVILCO about your Auckland slip repair
The correct consent pathway depends on the individual site and proposed repair. Addressing it early allows the engineering, budget, insurer requirements and approvals to be considered together.
CIVILCO can assist from the initial construction assessment through ECI, engineering coordination, consent applications, construction and project close-out.
Contact CIVILCO on 0800 CIVILCO or send us an enquiry through our website to discuss your property slip.
This article provides general information only and is not legal, planning, engineering or insurance advice. Consent and approval requirements must be confirmed for the individual property and proposed work with the relevant qualified professionals and authorities.
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