Building & Zoning

In this section you will find information on land zoning in the district, as well as information on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) technical categories and building advice.

Facilitation of new land for housing and business

The Land Use Recovery Plan identifies a number of areas of land suitable for new residential or business development. The Land Use Recovery Plan puts land use policies and rules in place to assist rebuilding and recovery of communities that have been disrupted by the earthquakes. Read more about the Land Use Recovery Plan on the CERA website.

Restricted building work

Restricted Building Work is now in effect. This applies to most residential building or renovation work and only a Licensed Building Practitioner can undertake or supervise the Restricted Building Work. More information is available on the MBIE website. 

Re-levelling floors and repairing cracks in foundations

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment have put out a brochure entitled 'Q&As about criteria for re-levelling floors and repairing cracks in foundations', based on their 'Revised Guidance on house repairs and reconstruction following the Canterbury earthquake sequence'.

MBIE advice for Canterbury building owners

MBIE has published advice for building owners to assist them in making informed decisions about the continued use of their buildings. The advice clarifies building owners responsibilities and provides information that will help building owners to effectively engage a suitably qualified Chartered Professional Engineer to carry out a Detailed Engineering Evaluation (DEE).

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment technical categories

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (which incorporates the previous Department of Building and Housing) has developed three technical categories for residential foundation design. These categories will set out the foundation design requirements required on flat land in the green zone in greater Christchurch. Information about all Technical Categories is available on the CERA website.

The conditions will apply where repairs to foundations are required, or when foundation works are carried out, such as in a building extension. For more information on implications for building consents, see our Liquefaction and lateral spread page.

Technical Category 1 (TC1)

TC1 properties are unlikely to experience land damage from liquefaction in future large earthquakes and ground settlement is expected to be within normal levels. Standard foundations for concrete slabs and timber floors are acceptable.

Technical Category 2 (TC2)

It is possible TC2 properties may suffer minor to moderate land damage from liquefaction in future large earthquakes. Lightweight construction will be required, for example tin not tiled roofs, or enhanced foundations such as stiffer floor slabs that better tie the structure together.

Technical Category 3 (TC3)

For TC3 properties, moderate to significant land damage from liquefaction is possible in future large earthquakes. Foundation solutions are required to be based on site-specific geotechnical investigation and specific engineering foundation design. This might involve deep pile solutions.