A Project Information Memorandum (PIM) is a report prepared by Council to assist an applicant with their building consent application.
Do I have to get a PIM?
A PIM is legally required for all building work.
Council cannot grant a building consent unless a PIM for that building work has been issued (either before, or concurrently with, a building consent).
A resource consent may also be required before the commencement of any building work.
When should I obtain a PIM?
Except for minor alterations and work, customers are encouraged to apply for a PIM prior to the building consent application.
The reason for this is that the PIM can highlight potential problems which might effect the application for building consent.
A PIM will outline areas of concern for developers eg unstable land, inadequate parcel size etc before proceeding to the building consent application stage where expensive drawings and plans are required.
This gives the developers valuable information and an opportunity to amend proposals before having such drawings and plans prepared to apply for building consent.
The end result is a potential cost and time saving for the applicant.
For smaller/minor works a PIM may be applied for with the building consent application to save time.
How do I obtain a PIM?
It is recommended a PIM is applied for before a building consent.
If a PIM is applied for at the same time as a building consent, customers are not required to fill out a separate PIM application form - only the building consent application form.
Processing time
Providing all the required information is supplied with an application, a PIM will be available within 20 working days.
- The cost of a PIM without building consent is $360:00.:00
- The cost of a PIM with a building consent with a value of $5000:00 - $19999:00 is $180:00
- The cost of a PIM with a building consent with a value $20000 :00 - $49000:00 is $270:00
- The cost of a PIM with a building consent with a value $50000:00 and above is $360:00
- The cost of a PIM with a value $5,000 and above and a Site Report less than 5 months old is the PIM fee less $180:00
There is no charge for a PIM for work under $4,999:00 when part of a combined application.
What information do I need to include with my PIM application?
In order for Council to process the PIM, applicants need to supply certain information, which includes a fully completed application form.
Details including a description of the work, intended use and estimated value are required on this form.
Information that needs to be included (also outlined on checklist):
- Location, in relation to legal boundaries, and external dimensions of new, relocated, or altered buildings (a site plan)
- Provisions to be made for vehicular access, including parking (to be shown on site plan)
- Provisions to be made in building over or adjacent to any road or public place (ie. any temporary structures over a road or public place in the course of the building work)
- Details of the existing private drainage system of the property, building coverage (square metres), and area of impermeable surface.
- Precautions to be taken where building work is to take place close to existing drains or sewers or in close proximity to wells or water mains.
- New connections to public utilities (ie. gas, water supply, stormwater system, wastewater/sewerage system)
- New provisions to be made for disposing of stormwater and wastewater/sewage
- Provisions to be made in any demolition work for the protection of the public, suppression of dust, suppression of noise, disposal of debris and disconnection from public utilities.
- Details of any cultural heritage significance of the building or building site, including whether it is on a marae
Information may also be included relating to:
- Copies of any consents including Resource Consents or Planning Approvals granted for this project.
- Details of any known or potential erosion, avulsion, falling debris, subsidence, slippage, alluvion, inundation, hazardous contaminants on or near the site.
What do I do with my received PIM?
The PIM assists in establishing the feasibility and design of a building project.
If an architect or builder is helping with a building project, the PIM should be passed onto him/her for his/her reference.