Please note our Whitianga office will be closed to the public on Tuesday, 16 September and Wednesday, 17 September 2025. You can still contact our staff on freephone 0800 800 401 or via an online form.

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  1. Services »
  2. Consents and compliance »
  3. Dams

What you need to know

Find out more about the Dangerous Dams Policy, whether you need a building consent to build a dam, what qualifies as a "large dam", guidelines for owning a dam, and more.

What is a building consent?

Find out more about building consents for dams, preparation, planning, Project Information Memorandums (PIMs), and more.

Forms and checklists

Read and download our forms and checklists for the general public and technical use.

Processing building consent applications

Find out what happens during processing and granting of a building consent.

Commencing construction, inspections and certification

Find out when building work can begin, how consents are inspected, and more.

Dam Safety Scheme

Find out more about the dam safety scheme, the responsibilities intended for dams under the Building Act, and forms you will require.

Fees and levies

Find out more about the cost breakdown of a building consent application.

How did we do?

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