Business - Heavy Industry Zone

District plan rules for the Business - Heavy Industry Zone in Auckland, New Zealand.

Summarised from the Auckland District Plan. This is a summary compiled from the council's published plan, not the plan itself — and not legal or planning advice. Always verify against the council's official document before relying on any figure, and check whether a more recent plan change applies.

Business - Heavy Industry Zone — Auckland

Zone Purpose

The Business – Heavy Industry Zone provides for industrial activities that may produce objectionable odour, dust and noise emissions. A low level of air quality amenity applies. The zone contains sites large enough to accommodate large-scale industrial activities and is typically located close to key freight routes. Activities sensitive to air discharges, activities sensitive to noise, and buildings are expected to have a mainly functional standard of amenity.

Building Standards

RuleValueNotes
Maximum building height20m
Height in relation to boundary (recession plane)35 degree plane from 6m above ground levelApplied along boundaries of residential zones, open space zones, Special Purpose – Māori Purpose Zone, or Special Purpose – School Zone
Maximum impervious area within riparian yard10% of riparian yard areaSupports riparian functioning and in-stream health

Yards & Setbacks

Yard TypeMinimum DepthConditions
Front2mNot required for internal roads or service lanes
Rear5mOnly where rear boundary adjoins residential zone, open space zone, Special Purpose – Māori Purpose Zone, or Special Purpose – School Zone
Side5mOnly where side boundary adjoins residential zone, open space zone, Special Purpose – Māori Purpose Zone, or Special Purpose – School Zone
Riparian yard10mFrom edge of permanent and intermittent streams
Lakeside yard30m
Coastal protection yard25mOr as otherwise specified in Appendix 6

Yard Landscaping Requirements

RequirementSpecification
Front yard plantingMixture of trees, shrubs or ground cover plants (including grass) within and along full extent
Side and rear yard plantingMixture of trees, shrubs or ground cover plants (including grass) within and along full extent; densely planted visual buffer of at least 3m depth; must be appropriately maintained

Storage and Screening

RuleRequirement
Outdoor storage/rubbish screeningMust be screened by landscaping, solid wall, or fence at least 1.8m high if directly facing and visible from residential zone, rural zone, open space zone, Special Purpose – Māori Purpose Zone, or Special Purpose – School Zone

Permitted Activities (P)

ActivityStatus
Workers accommodation – one per siteP
Dairies up to 100m² gross floor areaP
Food and beverage up to 120m² gross floor areaP
Offices accessory to primary activity: GFA ≤30% of all buildings OR GFA ≤100m²P
Retail accessory to industrial activity (goods manufactured on site, ≤10% of all buildings GFA)P
Service stationsP
Tertiary education facilities accessory to industrial activity on siteP
Industrial activitiesP
New buildingsP
Additions and alterations to buildingsP
Demolition of buildingsP

Restricted Discretionary Activities (RD)

ActivityStatusDiscretion Matters
Emergency servicesRDLocation, design, operational characteristics that could give rise to reverse sensitivity effects inhibiting heavy industry
Offices accessory to primary activity where GFA exceeds 30% of all buildingsRDLocation, design, operational characteristics causing reverse sensitivity effects; development/expansion reducing heavy industry opportunities
Buildings not complying with standardsRDPolicy relevance, standard purpose, effects of infringement, amenity effects on neighbouring sites, site characteristics, development characteristics

Prohibited & Not Complying Activities (NC/Pr)

ActivityStatus
Activities not provided forNC
Commercial servicesNC
Drive-through restaurantNC
Entertainment facilitiesNC
Garden centresNC
Motor vehicle salesNC
Marine retailNC
Offices not otherwise provided forNC
Retail up to 450m² per site, not otherwise provided forNC
Retail greater than 450m² per site, not otherwise provided forPr
Show homesNC
Trade suppliersNC
Care centresNC
Community facilities up to 450m² per siteNC
Community facilities exceeding 450m² per sitePr
HospitalsNC
Recreation facilitiesNC
Tertiary education facilities not otherwise provided forNC
Storage and lock-up facilitiesNC
WholesalerNC
Animal breeding or boardingNC
HorticultureNC
DwellingsPr
Integrated residential developmentPr

Subdivision Standards

RuleValue
Subdivision policyManaged to preserve zone integrity for industrial use while allowing creation of sites for established activities; avoids inappropriate fragmentation

Notification Requirements

ActivityNotification Status
Offices not otherwise provided for (A15)Must be publicly notified
All other activitiesSubject to normal RMA 1991 tests for notification

Assessment Criteria

Restricted discretionary activities are assessed against:

  • Policy H16.3(1) – Avoid activities which do not support primary function of zone
  • Policy H16.3(3) – Require development adjacent to open space/residential/special purpose zones to manage adverse amenity effects
  • Policy H16.3(4) – Restrict impervious area in riparian yard to avoid/mitigate effects on water quality, quantity, and amenity values

Note: No controlled activities exist in this zone. No special information requirements apply.

Other zones in Auckland