Activities that you need a regional resource consent for
You will need a regional resource consent if you are undertaking an activity that will affect:
- water
- air
- land
- the coast
- natural character values, such as natural land form or environment.
Examples of activities that require a regional resource consent include:
- construction of jetties
- discharge of wastewater
- discharge of contaminants to land or air.
A detailed list of activities can be found in Part 3 of the RMA (Sections 9-15).
Regional resource consents are granted to a person or entity. When the site is sold, the consent does not automatically transfer to the new owner of a site.
Most type of regional consents incur an annual charge. See
annual resource consent charges for more information.
Types of regional consents
Structures, activities and occupation of the coastal marine area
You need a coastal permit for a wide range of use and development activities in the coastal marine area, including structures, activities and occupation of the coastal marine area.
Contaminated sites, landfills, discharge to air (other than odour)
For contaminated sites, this relates to managing ongoing or temporary discharge of contaminants to land and water.
For cleanfills, managed fills and landfills – this relates to contaminant discharges to land and water associated with the proposed establishment and operation of these facilities.
Discharge contaminants to air (mainly odour)
Consent for discharging contaminants into the air. For example, for discharging combustion products from a wood curing kiln into the air.
Discharge of stormwater, wastewater or other contaminants
A discharge consent provides for the discharge of stormwater, wastewater or other contaminants into water, or onto or into land.
An Industrial or Trade Activity (ITA) consent manages the discharge of contaminants (including environmentally hazardous substances) from an industrial or trade activity site.
Drill or alter a bore
A bore permit provides for the drilling and construction of a bore, e.g.to enable the taking of groundwater.
In some circumstances a bore permit is also required for:
- the disposal of stormwater
- monitoring purposes
- alteration of an existing bore
- decommissioning of a bore.
Sediment discharge permit
Permit for land-disturbing activities that have the potential to generate and discharge sediment into waters, such as roading, tracking, trenching, earthworks, quarries and vegetation removal. See Earthwork considerations for more information on what kinds of earthworks need consent.
Water take, use and diversion
A water permit may be required to take, use, dam or divert water, or to take or use heat or energy from water.
Works in, under or over the bed of a lake, river or stream
This relates to works within watercourses and includes the installation of structures such as weirs, culverts and fords, as well as alterations to streams such as stream modification, diversion and reclamation.
