Granny Flat Rules Update: Time to Start Planning
At Cosy Cabins, we’ve been watching with interest the recent developments around granny flat rules.
The Building and Construction (Small Standalone Dwellings) Bill has been passed by Parliament, enabling granny flats of up to 70 m² in size to be built without the usual building consent, provided the design is simple, meets the Building Code, is built or supervised by suitably qualified professionals, and the local council is notified both before and after construction. Alongside this, proposed changes to the Resource Management Act 1991 and the new National Environmental Standard for Minor Residential Units would remove many resource-consent requirements for these dwellings.
Update: the building consent exemption came into force on 15 January 2026. For the latest answers, see our granny flat rules Q&A.
At a Glance
- Granny flats up to 70 m² can be built without a building consent
- The design must be simple and meet the Building Code
- Work must be built or supervised by suitably qualified professionals
- The council must be notified before and after construction
- Works already underway still need full consents under the old rules
1. Start Planning for 2026
These changes are expected to come into effect in early 2026, noting that any works already underway will still need full consents under the current rules. Because the new regime kicks in early 2026, now is the time to start planning, so when the new rules are live you’re ready to move straight into building.
At Cosy Cabins, we’ve built numerous compact, high-quality homes and granny flats, and this new regime gives you the opportunity to get ahead. If you’re thinking about adding a granny flat for family use, rental income, or as a future-proofing asset, now is the time to lock in a time to chat with us. We’ll walk you through:
- How the new rules will work in your area,
- Design options within the 70 m² cap (and beyond if you decide to consent anyway), and
- Build cost estimates and timeline planning for early 2026.
2. Find Out More About the Building Consent Exemption
Let’s shift from waiting for the rules to change to planning to build, and when the exemption is live, you’ll be ready to step straight into construction.
- Check out our range of eligible cabins and homes: Cabins under 70m²
- Find out more about the building consent exemption and its conditions: Building consent exemption conditions for granny flats
- Read the Minister’s press release: Granny flats get the consent-free go ahead
- Check out our previous post with detailed proposed rules: 2026 Granny Flat Rules: Update #4
Thinking About a Granny Flat?
Talk to our team about the rules in your area, your design options and what it could cost.