Business - Local Centre Zone

District plan rules for the Business - Local Centre 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 - Local Centre Zone — Auckland

Zone Description

This zone applies to small centres throughout Auckland, generally in areas of good public transport. It provides for local convenience needs including local retail, commercial services, offices, food and beverage, and appropriately scaled supermarkets. Buildings typically enable up to four storeys with residential use at upper floors. Large-scale commercial activity requires assessment for mix and function.

Building Standards

RuleValueNotes
Maximum height18m total (16m occupiable + 2m roof form)Default; subject to Height Variation Control
Height in relation to boundary - Residential Single House Zone45° recession plane from 2.5m above groundNorth, south, east or west boundary
Height in relation to boundary - Residential Mixed Housing Suburban Zone45° recession plane from 2.5m above groundNorth, south, east or west boundary
Height in relation to boundary - Residential Mixed Housing Urban Zone45° recession plane from 3m above groundNorth, south, east or west boundary
Height in relation to boundary - Residential Terrace Housing and Apartment Building Zone60° recession plane from 8m above groundNorth, south, east or west boundary
Height in relation to boundary - Special Purpose Māori Purpose Zone45° recession plane from 6m above groundNorth, south, east or west boundary
Height in relation to boundary - Special Purpose School Zone45° recession plane from 6m above groundNorth, south, east or west boundary
Height in relation to boundary - Open Space Conservation Zone45° recession plane from 4.5m above groundNorth, south, east or west boundary
Height in relation to boundary - Open Space Informal Recreation Zone45° recession plane from 4.5m above groundNorth, south, east or west boundary
Height in relation to boundary - Open Space Sport and Active Recreation Zone45° recession plane from 4.5m above groundNorth, south, east or west boundary
Height in relation to boundary - Open Space Civic Zone45° recession plane from 4.5m above groundNorth, south, east or west boundary
Height in relation to boundary - Open Space Community Zone45° recession plane from 4.5m above groundNorth, south, east or west boundary
Height in relation to boundary - Open Space Conservation Zone (southern boundary)45° recession plane from 8.5m above groundBuildings located on southern boundary of adjacent site
Height in relation to boundary - Open Space Informal Recreation Zone (southern boundary)45° recession plane from 8.5m above groundBuildings located on southern boundary of adjacent site
Height in relation to boundary - Open Space Sport and Active Recreation Zone (southern boundary)45° recession plane from 8.5m above groundBuildings located on southern boundary of adjacent site
Height in relation to boundary - Open Space Civic Zone (southern boundary)45° recession plane from 8.5m above groundBuildings located on southern boundary of adjacent site
Height in relation to boundary - Open Space Community Zone (southern boundary)45° recession plane from 8.5m above groundBuildings located on southern boundary of adjacent site
Rear yard3mWhere rear boundary adjoins residential zone or Special Purpose Māori Purpose Zone
Rear yard plantingTrees, shrubs or ground cover (including grass) for full 3m depthWithin and along full extent of yard
Side yard3mWhere side boundary adjoins residential zone or Special Purpose Māori Purpose Zone
Side yard plantingTrees, shrubs or ground cover (including grass) for full 3m depthWithin and along full extent of yard
Riparian yard10m from edge of all permanent and intermittent streamsSetback requirement
Lakeside yard30mSetback requirement
Coastal protection yard25mOr as otherwise specified in Appendix 6
Maximum impervious area in riparian yard10% of riparian yard areaRiparian yards only
Landscape buffer along street frontage2m depthBetween street and car parking, loading, or service areas visible from street; excludes access points
Landscape buffer plantingTrees, shrubs or ground cover (including grass)Required landscaping mix
Wind - building height trigger25mBuildings exceeding 25m or additions increasing height above 25m must meet wind standards
Wind - mean wind speed Category AAs specified in Table H11.6.7.1Areas of pedestrian use or adjacent dwellings with significant formal elements for long-term recreational use
Wind - mean wind speed Category BAs specified in Table H11.6.7.1Areas of pedestrian use or adjacent dwellings with minor elements for short-term recreational use
Wind - mean wind speed Category CAs specified in Table H11.6.7.1Areas of formed footpath or open space pedestrian linkages for transit
Wind - mean wind speed Category DAs specified in Table H11.6.7.1Areas of road, carriage way, or vehicular routes for transit
Wind - dangerous gust speed limit25m per second average annual maximum peak 3-second gustMust not be exceeded
Outlook space - principal living room6m depth × 4m widthDwellings, integrated residential development units, visitor accommodation, boarding houses
Outlook space - other habitable rooms3m depth × 3m widthDwellings, integrated residential development units, visitor accommodation, boarding houses
Outlook space - measurementRight angles to and horizontal from window; width from centre point of largest window; height = floor to ceilingOutlook space dimensions
Outlook space - locationMay be within site, over public street, or other public open spaceOverlaps permitted between rooms in same building and on same wall plane
Minimum dwelling size - studio30m² net internal floor areaDwellings only
Minimum dwelling size - one or more bedroom45m² net internal floor areaDwellings only
Residential at ground floorMust not locate on ground floor if dwelling/unit has frontage to public open spaces including streetsDwellings and integrated residential development units

Permitted Activities

ActivityStatus
DwellingsP
Supported residential careP
Visitor accommodation and boarding housesP
Commercial servicesP
Food and beverageP
Offices up to 500m² gross floor area per siteP
Offices within the Centre Fringe Office ControlP
Retail up to 450m² gross floor area per tenancyP
Supermarkets up to 2000m² gross floor area per tenancyP
ArtworksP
Care centresP
Community facilitiesP
Education facilitiesP
Healthcare facilitiesP
Industrial laboratoriesP
Light manufacturing and servicingP
Repair and maintenance servicesP
Warehousing and storageP
Marae complexP
Demolition of buildingsP
Alterations to building facades less than 25m²P
Additions to buildings less than 25% of existing gross floor area or 250m² (whichever is lesser)P
Internal alterations to buildingsP

Restricted Discretionary Activities

ActivityStatusMatters of Discretion
Conversion of building or part of a building to dwellings, integrated residential development, visitor accommodation or boarding housesRDMatters not meeting H11.6.8 or H11.6.9 standards
Department storesRDIntensity/scale effects; parking/access/servicing design; size/composition/characteristics effects on other centre zones; functional requirements
Drive-through restaurantsRDCompatibility of intensity/scale; parking/access/servicing effects; storage/servicing/management effects; functional requirements; location and design effects on amenity (within 30m of residential zone)
Offices greater than 500m² gross floor area per siteRDIntensity/scale effects; parking/access/servicing design; functional requirements
Retail greater than 450m² gross floor area per tenancyRDIntensity/scale effects; parking/access/servicing design; size/composition/characteristics effects on other centre zones; functional requirements

Other zones in Auckland