70m2 Is Now Classed As A Minor Dwelling in New Zealand
Minor dwellings — often called granny flats or secondary dwellings — have become one of the fastest-growing housing solutions in New Zealand. They offer flexibility for extended family, rental income, guest accommodation, or affordable living options on existing properties.
Until recently, the rules around minor dwellings varied significantly between Councils, with many limiting these homes to around 60m² and requiring both building and resource consent.
However, changes issued by the central Government has made relocating or building a minor dwelling much easier.
The New 70m2 Minor Dwelling Rules
The Government has announced new legislation allowing small standalone dwellings of up to 70m² to be relocated or built without building consent — and in many cases without resource consent — provided certain criteria are met.
The new rules are designed to:
- Increase affordable housing supply
- Reduce red tape and consenting costs
- Support intergenerational living
- Allow faster delivery of small homes across New Zealand
The changes apply across most councils in New Zealand through new national standards known as the National Environmental Standards for Detached Minor Residential Units (NES-DMRU).
So, What Size Can a Minor Dwelling Be?
Under the updated Government framework:
- Minor dwellings can now be up to 70 square metres
- The dwelling must generally be:
- Detached
- Single-storey
- Self-contained
- Built to comply with the NZ Building Code
- The build must be completed or supervised by Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs)
This is a significant increase from the previously discussed 60m² threshold and creates far more flexibility for practical layouts, including:
- Two-bedroom minor dwellings
- Larger open-plan living areas
- Better accessibility for older family members
- Improved long-term rental potential
Does This Mean You Need No Consents at All?
Not exactly.
While the new rules remove much of the traditional consenting process, homeowners still need to comply with important requirements.
Depending on your property and council rules, you may still need:
- A Project Information Memorandum (PIM)
- Council notifications before and after construction
- Compliance with setbacks, site coverage, and infrastructure requirements
- Licensed trades for restricted building work
There are effectively two separate tests:
- Building consent exemption
- Resource consent exemption
To avoid consents entirely, your project must satisfy both.
Do All Councils Follow the Same Rules?
The new national standards apply across most New Zealand councils, creating much more consistency than before.
However, local council overlays and site-specific restrictions can still affect what is possible on your property. These may include:
- Flood zones
- Coastal overlays
- Heritage areas
- Infrastructure limitations
- Site coverage rules
- Boundary setbacks
That means it is still important to complete due diligence before purchasing or placing a minor dwelling on a site.
Why This Is a Major Opportunity for Property Owners
The new 70m² rules create opportunities for:
- Multi-generational living
- Rental income streams
- Affordable housing solutions
- Flexible work-from-home spaces
- Future-proofing family properties
For many homeowners, the ability to add a compliant secondary dwelling without a lengthy consenting process could significantly reduce both build time and upfront costs.
What This Means for Relocatable Homes
These rule changes are particularly significant for the relocatable home industry.
Transportable and relocatable homes are well positioned to take advantage of the simplified pathway because they are often:
- Built using repeatable compliant designs
- Constructed by licensed professionals
- Faster to deliver than traditional builds
- More cost-effective than building onsite
At The Relocatable Home Co., we are already seeing increased demand from property owners wanting to utilise these new rules to add high-quality minor dwellings to their sites.
Important Things to Remember
Even under the new rules:
- The dwelling must still comply with the NZ Building Code
- “Consent-free” does not mean “rule-free”
- Site constraints still matter
- Infrastructure and servicing still need to be considered
- Professional advice is still recommended before proceeding
Every site is different, and early planning can save significant time and cost later in the process.
Final Thoughts
The Government’s new 70m² minor dwelling rules represent one of the biggest housing regulation changes in recent years.
For homeowners, investors, and families, the changes create far more flexibility to add quality small homes to existing properties across New Zealand.
While there are still important compliance requirements to navigate, the process is becoming considerably simpler — particularly for straightforward, well-designed standalone dwellings.
If you are considering adding a minor dwelling to your property, now is an excellent time to explore your options and understand how the new rules may apply to your site.