Waitakere + outdoor space + retaining wall question

[-df-]

Does anyone know what the legal situation is in Waitakere with the 6m circle outdoor living space and putting a retaining wall inside it? Or where I can find that info?

I've looked on the council site and can see info about building sheds and the like, but nothing about retaining walls.

I've moved about 20 tonnes of earth by spade and wheel barrow and REALLY don't want to have to put it all back as it took me almost a year to get this far! (As the saying goes, double check your original measurements...)

[FJRider]

Most places allow you to build it one metre high without a building permit. Some places do vary though.
Make sure you have drains/pea gravel behind the wall to allow water to escape.

Otherwise ... it will come down ...

[Zedder]

Does anyone know what the legal situation is in Waitakere with the 6m circle outdoor living space and putting a retaining wall inside it? Or where I can find that info?

I've looked on the council site and can see info about building sheds and the like, but nothing about retaining walls.

I've moved about 20 tonnes of earth by spade and wheel barrow and REALLY don't want to have to put it all back as it took me almost a year to get this far! (As the saying goes, double check your original measurements...)

Check this out:http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/S...iningwalls.pdf

[unstuck]

When is a building consent needed?
Under Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004, the
construction of a retaining wall does not require
a building consent when it is less than 1.5 m
high and ‘does not support any surcharge or
any load additional to the load of that ground
(for example, the load of the vehicles on a road)’.
Retaining walls that are over 1.5 m high and
those supporting a surcharge require a building
consent (see Figure 1).
Regardless of whether a building consent
is required, retaining walls must comply with
the requirements of the New Zealand Building
Code clause B1 Structure: B1.2, which states
‘Buildings, building elements and siteworks
shall withstand the combination of loads that
they are likely to experience during construction
or alteration and throughout their lives.’

[unstuck]

thats from here. http://www.branz.co.nz/cms_show_down...5ef0e7268a688c

[Nova.]

Yeah from memory you cant excavate more than , i think it was either 1.5m or 2m without a consent

[-df-]

The retaining wall isn't the issue (going down 1.4m, all to code) its the fact the retaining wall will now go through the required 6m outdoor living circle that has me concerned as I can't find any info on that

[unstuck]

Never heard of the 6m outdoor living thing, is that a local bylaw?

[-df-]

Never heard of the 6m outdoor living thing, is that a local bylaw?

Not sure tbh

http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/coun.../bldlivenv.pdf (the part on outdoor space)

The house is on a small section, and there is only one place that has the 6m circle, which happens to be where I was leveling and building a patio.

[Zedder]

My next door neighbour did a similar thing as you're writing about. From memory, he didn't have problem because it wasn't a closed structure and as such came under the retaining wall regs only. Hence my reason for posting the link.

[-df-]

My next door neighbour did a similar thing as you're writing about. From memory, he didn't have problem because it wasn't a closed structure and as such came under the retaining wall regs only. Hence my reason for posting the link.

Legend!

That's probably why I can't find any information on it

[flyingcrocodile46]

My next door neighbour did a similar thing as you're writing about. From memory, he didn't have problem because it wasn't a closed structure and as such came under the retaining wall regs only. Hence my reason for posting the link.

That sounds right. I am unaware of any rules for outdoor courtyards that require that they be dead level or devoid of splits in the level.

[BMWST?]

Outdoor Space
An area of outdoor space must be provided for every
dwelling. The area of outdoor space should be 25m2
per bedroom. It should be capable of containing a
circle of at least 6.0m in diameter, and have a 3.0m
minimum dimension. The outdoor space must have
a maximum slope of no more than 20° over 75
percent of the required outdoor area. It should be able
to accommodate a 6.0m line drawn at right angles to
the building. This line should be wholly contained in
the outdoor space and have a bearing north of
between 135 and 225 degrees.

i guess it depends on how you interpret the bold bit

[Zamiam]

There is a lot of should in the above. Last time I checked Should does not mena the same as Must or Shall

[-df-]

Outdoor Space
An area of outdoor space must be provided for every
dwelling. The area of outdoor space should be 25m2
per bedroom. It should be capable of containing a
circle of at least 6.0m in diameter, and have a 3.0m
minimum dimension. The outdoor space must have
a maximum slope of no more than 20° over 75
percent of the required outdoor area. It should be able
to accommodate a 6.0m line drawn at right angles to
the building. This line should be wholly contained in
the outdoor space and have a bearing north of
between 135 and 225 degrees.

i guess it depends on how you interpret the bold bit

To me that says as long as 75% of the area is less than 20 deg the other 25% can be any angle...and with the retaining wall being 90 deg, but only taking up say 1% (seeing as the retaining wall takes up almost zero horizontal area).

But then it wouldnt be the first time ive missread that sort of thing