Residential - Rural and Coastal Settlement Zone

District plan rules for the Residential - Rural and Coastal Settlement 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.

Residential - Rural and Coastal Settlement Zone — Auckland

Zone Description

The Residential – Rural and Coastal Settlement Zone applies to rural and coastal settlements in varied environments including high-quality landscape areas and coastal areas. Some settlements rely on on-site wastewater disposal and treatment and water supply, while others are serviced with reticulated community wastewater facilities and water supply. Growth is managed to avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects on water and land and to maintain rural and coastal character.

Objectives

  1. Development maintains and is in keeping with the area's rural and coastal character, landscape qualities and natural features.
  2. Development provides quality on-site residential amenity for residents and adjoining sites and the street.
  3. Development in rural and coastal settlements is appropriate for the physical and environmental attributes of the site and any infrastructure constraints.
  4. Non-residential activities provide for the community's social, economic and cultural well-being, while being in keeping with the scale and intensity of development anticipated by the zone so as to contribute to the amenity of the neighbourhood.

Policies

  1. Require minimum site sizes and limit the scale and intensity of development for un-serviced sites to ensure sites can accommodate on-site wastewater treatment and disposal, development is in keeping with landscape qualities or natural features, and development will not exacerbate physical limitations such as land instability.

  2. For serviced sites, the scale and intensity of development, including minimum site sizes, ensure development is in keeping with landscape qualities or natural features and will not exacerbate physical limitations.

  3. Require the height, bulk and location of development to maintain a reasonable level of sunlight access and privacy and to minimise visual dominance effects to immediate neighbours.

  4. Require development to be of a height and bulk and have sufficient setbacks and open space to maintain and complement the rural and coastal built character of the area.

  5. Encourage accommodation to have useable and accessible outdoor living space.

  6. Restrict the maximum impervious area on a site to manage stormwater runoff and ensure adverse effects on water quality, quantity and amenity values are avoided or mitigated.

  7. Enable non-residential activities that support the social and economic well-being of the community, are in keeping with the scale and intensity of development anticipated within the zone, avoid or mitigate adverse effects on residential amenity, and will not detract from the vitality of Business Centre Zones and Town Centre Zones.

Building Standards

RuleValueNotes
Maximum height8m50% of building roof may exceed by 1m where roof slopes 15° or more
Height in relation to boundary45-degree recession planeMeasured from 2.5m vertically above ground level along side and rear boundaries
Building coverage20% of net site area or 400m²Whichever is the lesser
Front yard5mMinimum setback
Side yard1mMinimum setback
Rear yard1mMinimum setback
Riparian yard10mFrom edge of all permanent and intermittent streams
Lakeside yard30mMinimum setback
Coastal protection yard20mOr as otherwise specified in Appendix 6
Maximum impervious area35% of site area or 1400m²Whichever is the lesser
Maximum impervious area in riparian/lakeside/coastal protection yards10% of yard areaFor each respective yard type

Fences and Walls

RuleValueNotes
Side or rear fence/wall height2mMaximum above ground level
Front fence/wall height (option 1)1.4mFor entire frontage
Front fence/wall height (option 2)1.8m for 50% of frontage, 1.4m for remainderCombined approach
Front fence/wall height (option 3)1.8mIf fence is at least 50% visually open

Rainwater Tanks

RuleValueNotes
Location in riparian/lakeside/coastal protection yardLess than 1m height or wholly below groundHeight restriction
Location in front yardAt least 1.5m from front boundary, maximum 1m heightDistance and height limits
Maximum height in rear or side yard3mExcluding pipework
DischargeMust discharge to existing authorised stormwater systemOverflow requirement

Outdoor Living Space Requirements

RuleValueNotes
Studio or 1-bedroom dwelling5m²Minimum area
Studio or 1-bedroom minor dwelling5m²Minimum area
2+ bedroom dwelling8m²Minimum area
2+ bedroom minor dwelling8m²Minimum area
Depth requirement1.8mMinimum depth for all dwelling types
AccessibilityDirectly accessible from dwellingRequired for all types

Minor Dwellings

RuleValueNotes
Maximum floor area65m²Excluding decks and garaging
Number per siteMaximum 1Only one minor dwelling permitted

Dwelling Conversion Standards

RuleValueNotes
Conversion of principal dwellingMaximum 2 dwellingsFor dwellings existing as at 30 September 2013
Outdoor living space per dwelling (studio/1-bed)5m²Minimum area
Outdoor living space per dwelling (2+ bed)8m²Minimum area
Outdoor living space depth1.8mMinimum depth
Outdoor living space accessibilityDirectly accessible from dwellingRequired

Permitted Activities

ActivityStatusStandards to comply with
One dwelling per sitePH2.6.5 Building height; H2.6.6 Height in relation to boundary; H2.6.7 Yards; H2.6.8 Maximum impervious area; H2.6.9 Building coverage; H2.6.10 Side and rear fences and walls
Home occupationsPH2.6.2 Home occupations
Grazing of livestock on sites greater than 2,000m² net site areaPNo additional standards
Demolition of buildingsPNo additional standards
Internal and external alterations to buildingsPH2.6.5 Building height; H2.6.6 Height in relation to boundary; H2.6.7 Yards; H2.6.8 Maximum impervious area; H2.6.9 Building coverage; H2.6.10 Side and rear fences and walls
Accessory buildingsPH2.6.5 Building height; H2.6.6 Height in relation to boundary; H2.6.7 Yards; H2.6.8 Maximum impervious area; H2.6.9 Building coverage
Additions to existing dwellingPH2.6.5 Building height; H2.6.6 Height in relation to boundary; H2.6.7 Yards; H2.6.8 Maximum impervious area; H2.6.9 Building coverage; H2.6.10 Side and rear fences and walls
Rainwater tanksPH2.6.11 Rainwater tanks
Care centres accommodating up to 10 people per site (excluding staff)PH2.6.5 Building height; H2.6.6 Height in relation to boundary; H2.6.7 Yards; H2.6.8 Maximum impervious area; H2.6.9 Building coverage; H2.6.10 Side and rear fences and walls
Camping groundsDNo specific standards listed

Restricted Discretionary Activities

ActivityStatusStandards to comply with
Conversion of principal dwelling existing as at 30 September 2013 into maximum 2 dwellingsRDH2.6.3 The conversion of principal dwelling into maximum 2 dwellings
Minor dwellingsRDH2.6.4 Minor dwellings; H2.6.5 Building height; H2.6.6

Other zones in Auckland