What is a code compliance certificate?
A code compliance certificate (CCC) is the document a council issues once it is satisfied that the building work complies with the building consent. It is not the same as practical completion, which is a contract milestone between you and the builder. A house can be practically complete and still have no CCC.
For a new build the CCC matters three ways: your bank usually releases the last progress payment against it, a house-and-land package often doesn't settle until it is issued, and any future buyer's lawyer will ask for it.
Who applies for the CCC, and when?
The owner applies, once all the work in the building consent is finished, though on a new build the builder usually prepares and lodges the application for you. Check your contract says who is responsible. Most councils want the final inspection passed before they will process it.
How long does a CCC take in NZ?
The council has 20 working days from receiving the application to decide whether to issue it. The clock stops whenever the council asks for more information and restarts only when it arrives, so missing paperwork is what turns three weeks into three months.
What paperwork does the council need?
It depends on the consent, but expect energy work certificates for the electrical and gas work, producer statements from the engineer and specialist installers, records of work from each Licensed Building Practitioner, and any test results the consent calls for, such as drainage tests. The consent documents list what is required.
Ask the builder at lock-up for a list of every certificate they will need, and who is chasing each one. The CCC usually stalls on one sub-trade's paperwork, not on the house.
What if the council refuses the CCC?
It must tell you why in writing. Usually it is a failed item or a missing document, and once that is fixed you resubmit. On a new build under a contract, putting the work right is the builder's job, which is one more reason not to pay the final instalment before the CCC is issued.
What is the two-year rule?
If no one applies, the council must still decide whether to issue a CCC two years after the building consent was granted. If the work isn't finished by then, it can refuse. Owners can ask for an extension before that date, and councils often grant one where the build is genuinely under way.
Can I move in before the CCC is issued?
Check with your lender and insurer first. Many build loans don't release the final payment until the CCC is issued, insurance cover on an uncertified house can differ, and on a house-and-land package you may not own the house until it settles. Moving in early is a decision to make on paper, not on a whim.
Does a granny flat built without consent get a CCC?
No. Under the granny flat exemption that started on 15 January 2026, there is no building consent, so there is no CCC. The council issues a PIM before work starts and stores the completion documents you send it afterwards, but it does not inspect or certify the building.
Our guide to granny flats without building consent explains the conditions.