Rural

District plan rules for the Rural 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.

Rural — Auckland

Overview

Auckland's rural zones comprise five distinct zones:

  • Rural – Rural Production Zone
  • Rural – Mixed Rural Zone
  • Rural – Rural Coastal Zone
  • Rural – Rural Conservation Zone
  • Rural – Countryside Living Zone

Building Standards

RuleValueNotes
Maximum height – dwellings and accessory buildings9mStandard H19.10.2
Maximum height – other buildings15mStandard H19.10.2
Front yard setback10mAll zones
Front yard setback – arterial roads20mUnless otherwise specified
Side/rear yard setback – non-dwelling buildings12mAll zones
Side/rear yard setback – dwellings and accessory buildings12mAll zones
Side/rear yard setback – dwellings in Quarry Buffer Area Overlay20mAll zones
Riparian yard setback20mFrom permanent/intermittent streams
Lake yard setback30mAll zones
Coastal protection yard setback40–50mVaries by zone; as specified in Appendix 6
Buildings housing animals – minimum separation distance12mFrom site boundary
Intensive farming buildings maximum floor area200m²Intensive farming, intensive poultry, animal breeding/boarding, produce sales
On-site primary produce manufacturing maximum floor area500m²Standard H19.10.5
Free-range poultry farming setback20mCoops and hard stand areas from nearest site boundary

Setbacks & Yard Requirements

RuleValueNotes
Forestry setback from adjoining boundary10mUnless landowner also owns adjoining site, or adjoining site is SEA or afforested
Forestry setback from stream/river/lake/wetland/coastal edge5mFrom bank
Forestry setback from Significant Ecological Areas5mStandard H19.10.7
Portable sawmill location limit6 months per 12-month periodStandard H19.10.7(4)
Animal breeding/boarding setback from adjoining site20mDifferent ownership
Quarries – farm or forestry setback from lake/river/stream50mFrom edge
Quarries – farm or forestry setback from wetland >1,000m²50mFrom edge
Quarries – farm or forestry setback from foredune100mEither side
Quarries – farm or forestry setback from coastal marine area100mLandward
Mineral prospecting/exploration operating hours7am–10pmNo blasting allowed
Waste/composting setback – Countryside Living Zone100mFrom adjoining site boundary
Waste/composting setback – other rural zones20mFrom adjoining site boundary
Intensive farming pen/effluent disposal setback from dwelling250mFrom dwelling on other sites
Intensive farming pen/effluent disposal setback from site boundary100mStandard H19.10.1(3)

Rainwater Tanks

RuleValueNotes
Location – riparian/lakeside/coastal protection yard<1m height or wholly below groundStandard H19.10.17
Location – front yard≥1.5m from front boundary, maximum 1m heightStandard H19.10.17
Colour – Rural Coastal ZoneRecessive colour (green, brown, grey)Unless wholly below ground or fully screened by vegetation
Overflow dischargeTo existing authorised stormwater systemStandard H19.10.17(3)

Permitted Activities by Zone

Activity Status Key

  • P = Permitted
  • RD = Restricted Discretionary
  • D = Discretionary
  • NC = Non-Complying
  • Pr = Prohibited
ActivityRural ConservationCountryside LivingRural CoastalMixed RuralRural Production
FarmingPPPPP
Post-harvest facilitiesNCNCRDRDRD
Rural airstripsPPPPP
GreenhousesRDRDPPP
Intensive farmingNCNCPPP
Intensive poultry farming (compliant with H19.10.1(3))NCNCPPP
Intensive poultry farming (non-compliant)DDDDD
Free-range poultry farming (compliant with H19.10.6(1))PRDPPP
Free-range poultry farming (non-compliant)DDDDD
Mustelid farmingPrPrPrPrPr
Disposal of non-residential waste/composting (compliant)PPPPP
Disposal of non-residential waste/composting (non-compliant)DDDDD
ForestryPDPPP
Forestry (non-compliant with H19.10.7)DDDDD
Conservation plantingPPPPP
Rural commercial servicesDDRDRDRD
Animal breeding/boarding (compliant with H19.10.8)DNCPPP
Animal breeding/boarding (non-compliant)DNCDDD
Produce salesPPPPP
Produce sales (non-compliant with H19.10.9)DDDDD
Rural industriesNCNCRDRDRD
On-site primary produce manufacturingDDPPP
Equestrian centresNCDRDRDRD
Quarries – farm or forestryPPPPP
Quarries – farm or forestry (non-compliant with H19.10.15)DDDDD
Minor dwellingsRDRDRDRDRD
Minor dwellings (non-compliant with H19.10.11)NCNCNCNCNC
Workers' accommodationNCNCRDRDRD
Workers' accommodation (non-compliant with H19.10.12)NCNCNCNCNC
Home occupationsPPPPP
Home occupations (non-compliant with H19.10.13)NCNCNCNCNC
Camping groundsRDNCRDRDRD
Visitor accommodationNCDDRDD
Restaurants and cafes (accessory to farming on same site)NCNCRDRDRD
Restaurants and cafes (other)NCNCNCDD
Garden centresNCDDRDD
MarketsNCDDPP
Markets (non-compliant with H19.10.14)NCDDDD
Storage and lock-up facilitiesNCNCNCDD
Show homesDDDDD
Veterinary clinicsNCRDRDRDRD
Rural tourist and visitor activitiesDDDDD
Care centres (up to 10 people)PPPPP
Care centres (>10 people)NCRDRDRD

Other zones in Auckland