Height in relation to boundary (recession planes) explained for Auckland

How it's measured

In the Single House and Mixed Housing Suburban zones, the plane starts 2.5m above ground at side and rear boundaries and rises at 45°. In Mixed Housing Urban it starts 3m up, and in Terrace Housing & Apartments 3m, both at 45°.

With a 45° plane, every metre you move away from the boundary lets the building be one metre taller, up to the zone's height limit.

Alternative rules near the street

The Mixed Housing zones have an alternative recession plane for the front part of a site (near the street), which can allow taller walls there. Terrace Housing & Apartments has its own alternative planes. Which one applies depends on the design.

Next to a lower-density zone

Where a Mixed Housing Urban or Terrace Housing site borders a Single House or Mixed Housing Suburban site, a stricter plane (starting 2.5m up at 45°) applies on that boundary.