Building inspections

You or your builder will need to arrange inspections, at various stages during construction, to check the building work complies with the requirements and conditions of the Building Consent.

Book an inspection

To make a booking, download or open the GoBuild app on your device or phone our customer services team on 07 376 0899 and request an inspection using your building consent number.

Inspection times are split into morning and afternoon slots between 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

You'll need to provide the following information when booking an inspection:

• building consent number
• site address
• date and time slot the inspection is required (morning or afternoon)
• type of inspection - as per the list on your required items attached to your approved plans
• LBP registration number (where applicable)
• name, phone number and email of the contact person on site - completed site notices will be sent to the supplied email address.

It is your (or your builder's) responsibility to notify us at least 24 hours before you require an inspection.

On-site requirements for inspection

You, or an agent on your behalf, are required to be on-site for the inspection along with copies of your approved plans and associated documentation.

If we arrive on site and the documentation is not available, we will not undertake the inspection and a fee will be charged at the current rate.

Types of inspections

The building management officer will determine what inspections are necessary while processing your application. These will be listed on the required items document attached to your approved plans.

Typical inspections can include:

• siting and foundation (before concrete is poured, for example, for piles, footings, slabs, in situ walls or blockwork infill)
• pre-clad (before wrapping the building in building paper or building wrap and installing the cladding)
• post-clad (before applying coatings to fibre cement or polystyrene systems, possibly including inspections during plastering)
• pre-line (with insulation installed but before installing internal linings. This inspection may include checking the plumbing installation under pressure test)
• drainage (before filling in trenches and covering the in-ground pipework). Pipework should be under test for this inspection. Drainage testing can include smoke, air or water testing.
• final inspection for plumbing, building and drainage work (once the work described in the building consent is complete).

Make sure you understand what inspections are needed and when. Give us a call on 07 376 0899 if you need any clarification.

More information
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment - Typical council inspections of a building project

During the inspection

One of our building officers will inspect your building work checking that the construction complies with the approved plans and specifications for the building consent. During the inspection, our inspector will complete a checklist to identify compliance.

Inspectors are there to perform the task of checking the building work. This will mean that they need access to the whole building site. This also means that there is an obligation for Health and Safety requirements to be addressed and adhered to. The council will provide officers with protective clothing and equipment, but the site will also have to be safe and accessible for our staff - as well as the trades people on site. If unsafe conditions exist, our staff are required to report these and not conduct the inspection.

At the completion of the inspection, the outcome will be given verbally on site and a site notice detailing the inspection items will be emailed to specified contacts.

Required documentation

Documents such as electrical and gas certificates, producer statements, records of work for restricted building work, and any other documentation noted as required should be collected throughout the building process.

Upload the documents to your online application or email them to buildingconsents@taupo.govt.nz prior to your final inspection being booked.

Your application for code compliance certificate is also required to be completed and submitted before booking your final inspection.

What happens if my inspection fails?

If the inspection has failed, the work to be fixed will be recorded on the site notice. Another inspection will be required to inspect the remedial work. You may be asked to stop work or continue with conditions (conditional continuation) if the inspector fails the inspection or work is deemed non-compliant or unsafe.

Re-inspections will be charged an additional fee.

If the work is not fixed to the satisfaction of the building officer, it is possible that a notice to fix will be issued.

Notice to fix

A notice to fix is a formal notice issued by us advising that certain works have not been carried out in accordance with the building code. Please note there will be a fee charged for this notice.

The notice will set out what you need to do to fix the non-compliant work.

If you are issued a notice to fix, you must address the issues identified within the specified timeframe to prevent further enforcement action being taken.

More information
Building Act infringement offences