Resource Management Act and Building Charges Policy
Regional Council uses fees and charges to recover the costs of undertaking certain activities, such as functions associated with the Flood Protection and Drainage Bylaws, Navigational Safety and resource consents.
We do this to ensure we are adequately resourced to support these activities, and that at least a portion of the cost is met by those individuals and organisations responsible for benefitting from those activities (rather than the broader ratepayer).
This is directly provided for through the associated legislation (the Resource Management Act).
What is the Fees and Charges Policy?
Regional Council’s core function is to work with the community to ensure the sustainable management of natural physical resources.
The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) sets out how we should manage our environment. It promotes the sustainable management of natural physical resources and forms the foundation for most of our work.
To carry out this work, we process resource consents, monitor and manage consented and other authorised activities, and monitor the state of the region’s resources.
The costs associated with this work are set under section 36 of the RMA in the Council Charges Policy and we pass these costs along to applicants and consent holders.
The Fees and Charges Policy covers:
- Receiving and processing resource consent applications
- Monitoring and enforcing compliance with resource consents, National Environment Standards and Regional Plan Rules, under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA)
- Functions associated with the Flood Protection and Drainage Bylaws
- Functions associated with the Navigational Safety bylaw including Port charges (harbour dues)
- Any cost recoverable work that is performed under any other power or function of the Regional Council.
The Fees and Charges Policy outlines this in further detail, and also sets out what activities will incur costs and what these costs will be.
Review of Fees and Charges Policy
The policy is reviewed regularly to ensure the charges reflect the cost of carrying out this work. Any changes need to be adopted by Regional Council before they are implemented.
In early 2025, we consulted on these changes. The changes were then adopted by Regional Council on 24 June 2025, with the changes coming into effect from 1 July 2025.
A full schedule of fees and charges are listed in the policy.
Read the Fees and Charges Policy.
If you receive annual consent fees, check out this fact sheet with common FAQs.
Got questions?
If you are applying for a resource consent, or currently have a resource consent, and have questions about how the fees and charges impact this, you can call 0800 884 883 or email info@boprc.govt.nz.