Auckland Council Pre-Application Meetings: Quick Start Guide
Auckland Council's pre-application meetings are designed to facilitate communication between applicants and the Council, providing guidance on the resource consent process and early feedback on proposals.
Read on to learn about the basics of applying for a pre-application meeting, eligibility, costs, and where you can find more information.
Applying for a Pre-Application Meeting
To apply for a pre-application meeting, you’ll need to complete the following steps:
Complete the Pre-application Eligibility Checklist to determine the appropriate guidance channel for your proposal.
Fill out the Resource Consent Application Declaration Form (unless you are an Approved Credit Account customer).
Attach the completed checklist and declaration form, along with all necessary documents related to your request, when applying for your pre-application meeting via myAuckland.
Select “Online applications, bookings and payments” (scroll down to the bottom of the page), and then you will see the tile “Resource consent Pre-application” (see below).
Note: Do not apply until 17 April 2023, which is the launch date of the Council’s new pre-application meeting service structure. Applications submitted before this date will not be processed, and fees will be refunded.
If you need help with this process, please let us know. Even if you might not need a planning consultant right now, we’re more than happy to provide initial advice and also prepare these forms and information for you at no cost.
Pre-Application Guidance Channels
There are various guidance channels available, depending on your proposal type:
Online resources for general information. These will be pages already available for access on the Auckland Council website including practice and guidance on the Auckland Design Manual website. The Council have prepared a super guide of resources.
Planning information advisors for general planning queries.
Council Planner-led pre-application guidance for eligible, complex proposals.
Specialist-only pre-application guidance for discrete specialist advice, e.g., when you only need assistance on a specific technical matter, like tree removal, contamination, or heritage.
Engaging your own resource management consultant for further guidance - like us!
Eligible Proposals for Planner-led Pre-Application Meetings
Planner-led pre-application meetings are recommended for complex proposals involving multiple resource management issues.
See the full list of eligible proposal types here.
Fees and Payment
Fees for pre-application guidance are outlined in Auckland Council’s Schedule of Fees and Charges.
An initial deposit of $505 is required for a pre-application appraisal, which covers one or two planning and development engineering staff. Other specialists may be included as required.
The Council charges technical hourly rates based on staff competency levels, ranging from $174 to $210 per hour, and an administration rate of $111 per hour.
If actual costs exceed the deposit paid, additional costs (including charges by external specialists) will be invoiced later. External resources may be engaged to address expertise or capacity not available internally, and their fees will be charged based on the Auckland Council staff rate or at cost, depending on the external resource's fees.
Payment of the initial deposit is required upfront, and additional costs if any will be invoiced later.
Frequently Asked Questions
For additional information and answers to common questions about the Resource Consents pre-application process, read the official Auckland Council FAQ document here.
Summing Up
Auckland Council's pre-application meetings are designed to help you navigate the Resource Consent process and provide early feedback on proposals.
To apply, complete the necessary forms and submit them through the myAuckland platform on or after their relaunch date on 17 April 2023.
Various guidance channels are available based on your proposal type, with planner-led pre-application meetings reserved for more complex proposals.
Fees for pre-application guidance are outlined in the Council's Schedule of Fees and Charges, with an initial deposit of $505 and technical hourly rates based on staff competency levels. Additional costs may (and most likely will) be invoiced later if actual costs exceed the deposit paid.
For more information on eligibility, costs, and other details, consult the Auckland Council website and resources provided throughout this guide.
With this Quick Start Guide, you should have a basic understanding of the process, fees, and resources available to help you get started with the Council’s pre-application service.
