When you need an LBP

If you’re thinking of getting building or renovation work done on your home, you need to check if it is restricted building work (RBW).

Why hire an LBP

 
Some parts of a residential build may legally require Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) to complete the work. If your building work is essential to the integrity of your home’s structure or weathertightness, it may be restricted building work (RBW) and require an LBP. LBPs aren’t just carpenters, they can be roofers, block layers, designers, plasterers or foundation specialists.

When completing restricted building work your LBP will provide you with documentation required by your local council or building consent authority.

All current LBPs are issued a licence ID. You can check their credentials by scanning the QR code on their licence, or searching them on the public register. Your council will want to know the license details of the LBPs involved in your restricted building work before issuing a code of compliance.(external link)

Tool

Search the register

Search the register for someone in your area, or check if a building practitioner is licensed.

Search the register

View transcript

Split screen of a woman dressed in dungarees speaking directly to the camera while a man is looking confident as he visualises creating a new window in his house. He then pushes the window image further along the wall.

"When it comes to moving from imagination to renovation, if your ideas impact the structure or the weather tightness of your home, you may need to use an LBP."

Close up of the man with a confused look on his face.

"LBP?"

Full screen of the woman looking confident then shifts to split screen as the woman continues speaking. The man is now happily visualising changing the window into a door. The woman clicks her fingers, and the image of the door disappears. 

"A licensed building practitioner. They make sure the job is safe and done well, the first time around. Helping you to avoid some potentially, costly mistakes."

The doorbell to the house rings and the man goes to answer it.

"Sweet!"

The woman moves across the screen into the room with the man. The LBP logo and website address displayed to the left of the screen. 

"You can find an LBP on their website."

The builder walks into the house looking confident as the man and woman are smiling.

"Leave it be, for an LBP."

Restricted Building Work (RBW)

RBW is work that is essential to make a home structurally sound and weathertight. RBW applies to work that needs both a building consent and affects home’s:

  • primary structure
  • weathertightness, or
  • certain fire safety design.

If you’re unsure if the building work you are planning is restricted building work, a licensed designer should be able to help, or you can talk to your council. You can find more examples and details of restricted building work on the Building Performance website.

Restricted building work(external link) — Building Performance

Homeowner obligations

As a homeowner, you have obligations when building. All building work in New Zealand must meet the performance standards of the Building Code — whether or not it is RBW, or requires a building consent. If you do not meet your obligations, your insurance or finances could be affected, and it could pose problems when it’s time to sell your property.

You may want to contact your local council yourself, or you might nominate someone (such as your designer, house building company or project manager) to do it on your behalf.

If you or your LBP don’t follow them, you could receive an instant fine or face a court fine of up to $50,000, and the council:

  • may not approve your consent application
  • may delay your code compliance certificate for the work
  • could issue a “notice to fix” for breaching the Building Act 2004.