Step 1: You
What you need to know
We have a Duty Planner service where you can discuss District Plan zoning and rules relevant to your specific property with a member of our team. You can do this by filling out your details in the form below.
The discussion can be in person, on the phone, or over email. Please note the Duty Planner in-office hours are 8.30am - 1pm, Monday to Thursday.
Before you request our Duty Planner service, look through Hamilton’s District Plan which can give you the same information.
A Duty Planner can:
- confirm zoning and District Plan rules
- guide whether resource consent is required
- explain the resource consent process
- simply explain the District Plan or Resource Management Act
A Duty Planner can't:
- provide legal advice
- predict likelihood of resource content approval
- give LIM advice including property files, property building file records or engineering advice
- prepare or review resource consent applications
- provide detailed assessments, design feedback, or feasibility analysis
- advise on private covenants, civil disputes, or building consents matters
- answer general enquiries not related to your specific property
- give pre-application advice
- give advice to prospective purchasers or real estate agents regarding the types of development that may be undertaken on a property.
Please note:
If you want someone to check if a proposed activity, building, site, or scheme plans complies with the relevant District Plan rules, you will need to engage a private planning consultant to undertake this assessment for you.
Information provided by our Duty Planners is for the purpose of providing general information and for the convenience of the public only. Council accepts no liability for use or misuse of that information.
The information provided by our Duty Planners is based on the details provided at the time only. Users are advised to undertake their own detailed due diligence and seek independent professional advice before applying any information for their own particular circumstances. Council shall not be held liable for any claim of loss or damage because of reliance on the limited information provided by our Duty Planners.
Once a proposal is developed and you're ready for advice from Council Planners, Urban Designers, or Development Engineers prior to applying for resource consent, you or your planning consultant can apply for a pre-application meeting.
Step 2: You
Duty planning enquiry
Other useful information
Find property, rates and valuation information on our property search database.
Request information about property like building property files, floor plans, drainage plans, or code of compliance certificates.
Request detailed information on any property with a Land Information Memorandum (LIM).
Recent government changes make it easier for homeowners to build self-contained detached minor residential units (DMRU) on their existing properties.
Resource management regulations for detached minor units (granny flats)
Apply for a Project Information Memorandum for non-consented small standalone dwellings (granny flats).
PIM process for small standalone dwellings (granny flats)
Find out what fees and charges you might encounter when dealing with our Planning Guidance team.
Planning Guidance fees and charges
Understand and estimate your development contributions, challenge a development contribution charge, or request a refund or remission.
Find out if you need a building consent, what exempt work is, and the difference between a building consent and a resource consent.
Building consent enquiries and information
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Wastewater constraints capacity viewer
Explore geographic data and information about council water, stormwater and wastewater infrastructure in Hamilton
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Last updated 4 May 2026