Landowner approvals

​What is a landowner approval?

The council is a landowner and sometimes needs to give approval to people or groups who want to use council-owned land.

Landowner approval generally involves parks or reserves but can include all council facilities.

Your application for landowner approval includes an assessment fee and is processed by the Land Advisory Services Team (LAS).

For one-off events see our page on event permits.

When you need landowner approval

Some activities which require approval include:

• commercial activity on a reserve like a night market
• laying stormwater and wastewater pipes in a reserve
• power, water or communications companies seeking to install infrastructure on council land
• conducting research on a park
• mobile vendors trading on a reserve or park
• creating or installing something, e.g. fencing, plants, playgrounds, small buildings, sports facilities
• accessing a construction site through a park
• easements, rights of way and other legal permissions.

The length of an approval request can vary, including:

• very short-term access
• medium-term occupation or use to long-term use involving a licence or lease
• right of entry or short-term permission to access council land for no more than one to two days.

How we assess your request

Not all applications for approval are granted, as we must weigh up approval requests against our responsibilities as protectors of the land.

Your application will first be assessed by a land use advisor, who will consult with our other specialists about any potential impacts of the activity. 

The land use advisor then advises the local board. The local board can either endorse the activity or make  a decision at a local board meeting. In such cases, the local board will typically ask for more information from you, through the land use advisor.

They may need to hold a workshop to understand the nature of the proposal and potential impacts. As a result, there may be negotiations or mitigating conditions to meet.

How to apply for a landowner approval

Download the checklist and application form.

Email your application form and supporting documents to landadvisors@aklc.govt.nz.

​Processing timeframe

Approvals vary in complexity from simple to highly complex. The approval timeframe will differ based on complexity, and may be between two weeks and several months.

​Landowner approval fees

Fees are charged upfront, and the amount depends on the complexity of your application.

There is a 50 per cent reduction in all fees for:

• registered community groups
• incorporated societies
• charitable trusts.

What we can’t approve

We don't process applications for:

• resource or building consents
• offsite mitigation that has been proposed as part of a resource consent
• requests for land not owned by the council, such as private land.

​What happens next

We will acknowledge your application when we receive it.

We will invoice you the assessment fee that applies to your application.

When payment is received, your application will be assessed in full by a land use specialist.

If you have any questions about the approval process, email

landadvisors@aklc.govt.nz or call us on

Call Auckland Council helpline on 09 301 0101 and ask to speak to Community Facilities Land Advisory Services.