KDG Architecture Limited

15/01/2026

Granny Flats Building Consent Exemption Now in Effect – From today 15 January 2026
Homeowners can build a standalone granny flat up to 70m² without a building consent, provided strict conditions are met.

✅ Single-storey, standalone dwelling
✅ Maximum 70m²
✅ Simple design, fully Building Code compliant
✅ Built or supervised by Licensed Building Practitioners
✅ Project Information Memorandum (PIM) still required
✅ Final documentation must be provided to council

This exemption operates alongside planning rules. The National Environmental Standards for Detached Minor Residential Units (NES-DMRU) also apply, meaning some granny flats may not require a resource consent if permitted standards are met.
While the process is simpler, compliance remains critical — and professional advice is essential to avoid costly mistakes.
👉 If you think your property may be eligible, contact KDG Architecture for expert advice on design, compliance, and navigating the new exemption with confidence.

Source: Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) New Zealand

07/01/2026

Considering a granny flat on your property?
At KDG Architecture, we guide clients through the full consent-exempt process from feasibility and PIM coordination to compliant design, construction support, and completion documentation. Our focus is on clear advice, regulatory confidence, and well-designed, functional outcomes.

Building a granny flat under the consent-exempt pathway requires rigorous planning, clear roles, and strict compliance. The process spans RMA and council checks, PIM approval, LBP design and construction, construction monitoring, and formal completion records. Early due diligence and professional oversight are critical to achieving a compliant and future-proof outcome.

31/12/2025

28/05/2025

The natural environment is not a backdrop but a co-inhabitant. In this paradigm, architecture must listen before it speaks—responding to topography, climate, vegetation, light, and water as active agents in the design process. The dwelling is not a mark upon the land, but a mark with the land, emerging from a process of reading, not overwriting, the site.

08/04/2025

"Life ain't sunshine and rainbows", so we decided to test our townhouse renders for autumn as well. Lets set the mood. If it works on a grey day, it always works.

11/02/2025

KDG Architecture is proud to be crafting homes for our clients for the last four years in business. We look forward to working with you and designing your dream home as progress happens.

26/01/2025

We are thrilled to share architectural renders of this project.
Credits to our client: Luke Bailey of Bailey Development Partners.

Project is under construction.
Checkout it out: https://lnkd.in/g2viinUc

16/12/2024

25/07/2024

Research