In recent years we have received more frequent questions around the need to consent yurts. We will try to give some basics here with our current understanding and experience, though we are not experts and cannot guarantee accuracy.

We recommend consulting your local authority as many factors affect the need to permit. Size, purpose, zoning, positioning, permanence etc. Our experience is that local councils have varied widely in their approach.

 

When do I need to consent? 

 

Yurts are considered structures. Any permanent structure over 30m2 (7m yurts) should be consented. 

‘Permanent’ typically means over 30 days.

Full time dwellings of any size need consent.

 

When might I not need consent? 

 

Structures under 30m2 (6m yurts or smaller) and ‘unserviced’ i.e. not plumbed or wired, generally do not need consent. Sleep outs, studio, workshop space etc. This may be restricted by zoning / title / proximity to boundaries etc.

 

What is the process?

 

It is up to you or your agent to do the consent application. There are 2 aspects to this: 

• Resource Consent deals with what you want to do and where you want to do it, your title, zoning, boundaries etc.

• Building Consent deals with the structure you want to build. Usually the BC will go through the Acceptable Solutions (AS) process, whereby any structure built outside of the conventional NZ3604 system needs to show that it meets the performance criteria of the building code. We provide the paperwork to prove this. 

During and after construction it will be inspected and signed off by either a council building inspector or an engineer.

 

Limitations

 

Our yurts are approved for use in “High” wind zones (44m/s or 158 km/h), and snow loads up to 1.5 Kpa (520mm of average density snow) or up to 400m above sea level. Above these limits can be mitigated by local situation / topography or by reducing the ‘design life’ in the application, but will need to be signed off by an engineer.

 

Our fee

 

We will provide initial documentation (concept, plans, structural investigation, engineers report) with no charge. This explains the concept of a yurt, specific design details, and how it complies with structure and durability requirements, and enables you to make initial enquiries with agents or council. Once you go ahead with your order and submit your application a standard fee of $1300.00 incl GST is applied and we provide all the further paperwork needed. Council will usually request further information (RFI’s) that we will work with you / your agent and provide.

 

For commercial applications (Air BnB, backpackers, Yoga classes etc) there are usually additional requirements for public spaces, able access, fire safety reports etc. For these there is a further $575.00 incl GST charge.

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Note - the above fees are only charged once for multi yurt orders.

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Floor

 

Most people build a raised timber framed platform. We provide (free) engineered plans for this construction. Other solutions exist (concrete pad, earth floor etc) and we have various experiences and sketches that can help.

 

Retrospective consents

 

If your purpose changes, or council requires you to consent an existing yurt, there is a process called a Certificate of Acceptance (COA). An engineer may need to be engaged to certify that the yurt and platform have been constructed correctly. Because all the framing is exposed, not hidden behind gib or cladding, it can easily be inspected. Likewise a raised timber platform can be inspected from underneath. Our advice is to thoroughly document any below ground foundations during construction.

 

Insulation and heating

 

Woodburners are the most common solution to heating yurts. We install a flue seal gasket in the roof, and can provide plans for interior fixings and exterior flue support.

Recent changes to the Thermal Efficiency section (H1) have increased the ceiling insulation requirements for permanent dwellings from R2.9 to R 6.6, meaning we can no longer manufacture compliant yurts. However, this only applies to yurts heated with non-renewable energy (coal, gas, electricity), but does not apply to renewables (wood, pellets). The current government is proposing to roll back these increases.

We recommend going small for woodburners as the yurts are super well insulated. We have a list of recommended fires we can provide.

For yurts that do not need to comply with H1, i.e. non-residential, people use panels, oil, gas, heat pump etc

 

Services

 

Most customers using the yurt as accommodation will build an adjacent service building for bathroom, toilet, laundry etc. Composting toilet solutions can eliminate the need for expensive septic systems. Kitchens may be constructed inside the yurt and subject to usual regulations. Simple kitchenette style, without a full oven, is much easier to permit.

 

Grey areas

 

The code is reasonably black and white, but the interpretation of it can vary across councils, as can the perception of what a yurt is: a ‘tent’, temporary, removable, full time or part time use etc. Situation / location is a big factor - urban residential or remote bush block. Anecdotally, council will only get involved if there are complaints made, or there is an obvious transgression. Many customers choose not to consent, but we recommend you check with local authorities as to their requirements.

 

Further questions

 

This by no means covers all the variables or experience we have but provides some guidelines.

You can contact us to consult about your particular situation. Often finding the right person either in council or your agent is key - someone with a curiosity and willingness to think outside the square.

 

Feedback

 

We value feedback from customers who have applied for / gained consent. Experiences with authorities are hugely valuable for us to be able to support others through the process. We have some previously successful Building Consent applications to give as examples, as BC’s become publicly accessible when approved.