It’s been a busy week here at Colab, and I thought I’d quickly cover off something that’s come up a few times recently. One of our clients got caught out by delays in getting their final Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) sorted, which ended up pushing back their settlement date and adding extra interest costs. It’s a good reminder of how important it is to be on top of the final steps after council signs off the final inspection.
So, what actually needs to happen once your build passes its final inspection?
✅ What Happens Next?
Passing final inspection is great, but it doesn’t mean the job’s done. The CCC still needs to be issued, and that’s what your solicitor, lender, and insurer may typically want to see before settlement can occur.
To get CCC issued, the council needs to be satisfied that the home has been built in accordance with the building consent and complies with the NZ Building Code. This involves gathering up a bunch of documentation and submitting the formal CCC application. In most cases, your builder will handle this, but it’s worth checking your contract to make sure that’s clearly included.
📝 What Documents Are Typically Required?
Here are the common documents you’ll need to provide with your CCC application. These can vary depending on your council and the complexity of the build, but here’s a solid starting list:
Producer Statements (PS3 & PS4):
PS3 is usually provided by the contractor for specific works (like waterproofing, cladding, etc) confirming that the work complies with the consented design.
PS4 is provided by the engineer to confirm that construction meets the structural design.
Electrical and Plumbing Certificates of Compliance:
These confirm that the electrical and plumbing work was done by licensed professionals and complies with the regulations.
As-built Drainage Plan:
A final drainage plan showing exactly how the drainage was installed (not just what was consented). This is sometimes missed or delayed, especially if there were variations during the build.
Gas Fitting Certificate (if applicable):
If your home has gas, you’ll need a signed certificate from a licensed gas fitter.
Final Inspection Checklist:
A council checklist that must be completed and signed off by the inspector to show all elements have been reviewed.
Records of Building Work (RBW):
These are forms completed by each Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) who carried out restricted building work (e.g. foundation, framing, roofing, etc).
Energy Works Certificate (if applicable):
Required when there are systems like heat pumps or other energy systems installed that affect compliance.
⚠️ Common Pitfalls That Can Trip You Up
Even if everything’s been built perfectly, delays often come from paperwork - especially:
Missing or unsigned PS3/PS4 documents:
If a contractor has gone AWOL, this can really delay things. We had one client where the contractor wouldn’t respond to emails to sign off the PS3, and it held up CCC for weeks.
Drainage plans not submitted by the drainlayer:
Sometimes the drainlayer forgets to supply this final version or the plans don't match what was installed on site.
LBP Records not filed:
Builders need to submit RBW forms for framing, cladding, etc. If this gets missed, CCC can’t be issued.
Incorrect or incomplete application:
Councils will usually reject incomplete applications outright, which resets the clock and wastes time.
💡 Other Things to Remember
Stamford Insurance, Master Build Guarantee or Halo Insurance Forms:
These usually need to be submitted around this time if they haven’t already. Your builder should provide these but check early.
Lender Requirements:
Some banks won’t allow settlement (and therefore won’t release funds) until CCC is issued. Make sure this is flagged with all parties so there are no surprises.
Timeline Expectations:
Even after you’ve submitted everything, councils can take up to 20 working days to issue CCC, though most aim to get it out sooner.
If you’ve got questions about this process or need help navigating funding around CCC delays, feel free to get in touch - we’ve seen it all and are happy to help.
Until next time!
Sam
