Guides

Auckland building rules, in plain English

Short guides to what the Auckland Unitary Plan lets you build — then check your own address in seconds.

Auckland residential zones explained

What the Single House (H3), Mixed Housing Suburban (H4), Mixed Housing Urban (H5) and Terrace Housing & Apartment (H6) zones allow: height, site coverage and how many homes.

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How many houses can I build?

How many homes the Auckland Unitary Plan allows on your section, by zone, and the practical limits like site coverage, driveways and recession planes that decide the real number.

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Height in relation to boundary explained

What height in relation to boundary (HIRB) means in the Auckland Unitary Plan, how the recession plane is measured, and how it limits building near your boundaries.

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Cross leases explained

What a cross lease title is in New Zealand, why it matters for renovating, building or subdividing, and how to check if your Auckland property is a cross lease.

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Granny flat rules in Auckland

How the national rules for detached minor residential units (granny flats up to 70m²) work in Auckland since 15 January 2026, and what still needs checking.

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