Rural - Rural Conservation Zone

District plan rules for the Rural - Rural Conservation 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.

Rural - Rural Conservation Zone — Auckland

Zone Purpose

Conservative approach to new subdivision, use and development to maintain and protect natural values while enabling established rural activities and dwellings to continue.

Building Standards

RuleValueNotes
Dwelling and accessory building height9m maximum
Other buildings height15m maximum
Front yard setback10m minimum
Front yard setback (arterial roads)20m minimum
Side or rear yard setback (dwellings and accessory buildings)12m minimum
Side or rear yard setback (other buildings)12m minimum
Side or rear yard setback (Quarry Buffer Area)20m minimum
Riparian yard setback20m from stream edgePermanent and intermittent streams
Lake yard setback30m
Coastal protection yard setback50m
Buildings housing animals minimum separation12m from site boundary
Building bulk - intensive farming operations200m² maximumExcludes associated structures
Building bulk - on-site primary produce manufacturing500m² maximum

Permitted Activities (P)

ActivityStatusNotes
FarmingP
Rural airstripsP
Free-range poultry farming (compliant with Standard H19.10.6(1))P
Disposal of non-residential waste or composting (compliant with Standards H19.10.1(1) and (2))P
ForestryP
Conservation plantingP
Produce salesP
Quarries – farm or forestryP
Care centres for up to 10 peopleP
Customary useP
Demolition of buildingsP
Additions and alterations to existing buildingsP
Rainwater tankP
Mineral prospectingP
Mineral explorationP
Navigational aidsP
Information facilitiesP
ArtworksP
Informal recreationP
Home occupationsP

Non-Compliant Permitted Activities (Discretionary/Non-Compliant)

ActivityStatusNotes
GreenhousesRDRestricted discretionary
Intensive farmingNCNot compliant — non-complying
Intensive poultry farming (non-compliant)NCDoes not comply with Standard H19.10.1(3)
Free-range poultry farming (non-compliant)DDiscretionary if non-compliant with Standard H19.10.6(1)
Post-harvest facilitiesNCNon-complying
Disposal of non-residential waste/composting (non-compliant)DNon-compliant with Standards H19.10.1(1) and (2)
Forestry (non-compliant)DNon-compliant with Standard H19.10.7
Quarries – farm or forestry (non-compliant)DNon-compliant with Standard H19.10.15
Rural commercial servicesDDiscretionary
Animal breeding or boarding (compliant)DCompliant with Standard H19.10.8
Animal breeding or boarding (non-compliant)DNon-compliant with Standard H19.10.8
Produce sales (non-compliant)DNon-compliant with Standard H19.10.9
On-site primary produce manufacturingDDiscretionary
Equestrian centresNCNon-complying
Rural industriesNCNon-complying

Accommodation & Residential Activities

ActivityStatusNotes
One dwelling per sitePPermitted
Minor dwellingsRDRestricted discretionary
Minor dwellings (non-compliant)NCNon-compliant with Standard H19.10.11
Workers' accommodationNCNon-complying
Workers' accommodation (non-compliant)NCNon-compliant with Standard H19.10.12
Home occupations (non-compliant)NCNon-compliant with Standard H19.10.13
Camping groundsRDRestricted discretionary
Visitor accommodationNCNon-complying

Commerce & Community Activities

ActivityStatusNotes
Restaurants and cafes (not otherwise provided for)NCNon-complying
Garden centresNCNon-complying
MarketsNCNon-complying
Markets (non-compliant)NCNon-compliant with Standard H19.10.14
Storage and lock-up facilitiesNCNon-complying
Show homesDDiscretionary
Veterinary clinicsNCNon-complying
Rural tourist and visitor activitiesDDiscretionary
Care centres for more than 10 peopleNCNon-complying
Community facilitiesNCNon-complying
Healthcare facilitiesNCNon-complying
Education facilitiesNCNon-complying
Organised sport and recreationNCNon-complying
Emergency servicesRDRestricted discretionary
ClubroomsRDRestricted discretionary

Mana Whenua Activities

ActivityStatusNotes
UrupāDDiscretionary
MaraeDDiscretionary
Customary usePPermitted

Mineral & Waste Activities

ActivityStatusNotes
Mineral extraction activitiesNCNon-complying
Mineral prospectingPPermitted
Mineral prospecting (non-compliant)DNon-compliant with Standard H19.10.16
Mineral explorationPPermitted
Mineral exploration (non-compliant)DNon-compliant with Standard H19.10.16
CleanfillNCNon-complying
Managed fillNCNon-complying
LandfillNCNon-complying

Subdivision Standards

RuleValueNotes
Minor dwelling per site maximum1
Minor dwelling floor areaLess than 65m²Excludes decks and garaging
Minor dwelling minimum site sizeGreater than 1ha
Minor dwelling drivewayMust share with principal dwelling
Workers' accommodation per site maximum1 building
Workers' accommodation floor areaEqual to or less than 120m²Excludes decks and garaging; may include dormitory
Workers' accommodation minimum site sizeEqual to or greater than 5ha
Workers' accommodation maximum site sizeLess than 40ha
Workers' accommodation kitchen facilitiesSingle kitchen facility
Subdivision of minor dwellingProhibited (Pr)
Subdivision of workers' accommodationProhibited (Pr)

Specific Activity Standards

Intensive Farming & Animal Operations

RuleValueNotes
Intensive farming separation distance (dwellings)250m minimumFrom dwellings on other sites
Intensive farming separation distance (site boundary)100m minimumFrom adjoining site boundaries
Poultry farming separation distance (coops)20m minimumFrom nearest site boundary
Animal breeding/boarding minimum site size2,000m²
Animal breeding/boarding - cats maximum20 at any one time
Animal breeding/boarding - dogs maximum0 (prohibited)
Animal breeding/boarding - other domestic pets maximum25 at any one time

Other zones in Auckland