PHOTO: ODT FILESCutting red tape around granny flat builds is a welcome move for Otago’s construction industry but not without its pitfalls, local operators say. Small standalone dwellings up to 70sqm, dubbed granny flats, no longer require a building or resource consent under government changes in place from yesterday. BuildSmart co-director Glen Williamson, of Dunedin, said reducing "red tape" and cost to build was welcome. The consent exemption applied only to simple designs meeting the Building Code, where work was carried out by authorised professionals. "Inside that cost is maybe $5000 of building consent, and that's the only cost you're going to save."

Source: Otago Daily Times January 15, 2026 15:33 UTC