Since January 2026, a granny flat up to 70 m² no longer needs building consent anywhere in New Zealand, as long as licensed professionals design and build it. That took months of process out of the job, and it is the reason a backyard home is suddenly worth doing. What it did not do is make the country one place: an Auckland cross-lease, a Wellington slope, a Christchurch TC3 section and a Wakatipu frost pour are four different builds. So the one-build licence covers the whole country, and every set is adapted to its exact address: wind zone, soils, services and the local district plan.
Below are the 21 regions we build in, each with its own rent figures, council rules and honest build window. Pick your patch, or book the free check and we will read your section for you.