What is a resource consent?
There are different types of resource consents and activities that require a consent.
The most familiar and commonly recognised aspect of the Resource Management Act (RMA) are Resource Consents. Resource Consents give you permission to use or develop a natural or physical resource and/or carry out an activity that affects the environment.
There are five types of Resource Consents:
- Water permits - take, use, dam, and divert.
- Discharge permits - to land, air, and water.
- Coastal permits - construction, deposit, disturb, and alter.
- Land use consent - build, excavation, and damage to habitat.
- Subdivision consent
Types of activities
Some activities may not require a Resource Consent. Regional and District Plans outline activities that require a Resource Consent by grouping them into six types:
- Permitted activities - these activities do not require a Resource Consent, but may need to comply with conditions outlined in a plan.
- Controlled activities - these activities do require a Resource Consent; however, if the activity complies with the requirements set out in the plans an application cannot be turned down.
- Restricted discretionary activities - these activities do require a Resource Consent. For these activities the Council are able to exercise a degree of discretion over granting Resource Consent and an application may be turned down. However, the council's discretion is limited only to certain areas that are specified in the plan.
- Discretionary activities - these activities do require a Resource Consent. These activities are allowed once a Resource Consent has been granted; so, if the effects are less than minor, the Council has discretion to accept or refuse consent.
- Non-complying activities - these activities do require a Resource Consent. These are activities that are not specifically provided for in the plans but that contravene a rule in the plan.
- Prohibited activities - these activities are not allowed. You cannot apply for Resource Consent; however, you can apply for a change in the plans or a law change.