Subdivision

District plan rules for the Subdivision 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.

Subdivision — Auckland

Urban Subdivision — Residential Zones

Minimum Net Site Areas (Parent sites < 1 hectare)

ZoneMinimum Net Site Area
Residential - Terrace Housing and Apartment Buildings Zone1,200m²
Residential - Mixed Housing Urban Zone300m²
Residential - Mixed Housing Suburban Zone400m²
Residential - Single House Zone600m²
Residential - Large Lot Zone4,000m²
Residential - Rural and Coastal Settlement Zone2,500m²

Minimum Net Site Areas (Parent sites ≥ 1 hectare)

ZoneMinimum Net Site AreaMinimum Average Net Site AreaMaximum Average Net Site Area
Residential - Single House Zone480m²600m²720m²
Residential - Mixed Housing Suburban Zone320m²400m²480m²
Residential - Mixed Housing Urban Zone240m²300m²360m²

Site Shape Factor (Residential Zones)

RuleValueNotes
Minimum rectangle to contain8m × 15mExcept Terrace Housing/Apartment Buildings
Minimum rectangle to contain15m × 20mTerrace Housing and Apartment Buildings Zone only

Access to Rear Sites (Residential Zones)

Total Rear Sites ServedMinimum Legal WidthMinimum Formed WidthMinimum Service StripMaximum LengthMaximum GradientMinimum Vertical Clearance
13.0m2.5m0.5m50m1 in 43.8m
2–53.5m3.0m0.5m50m1 in 53.8m
6–106.5m5.5m1.0m100m1 in 53.8m
RuleValueNotes
Minimum inside turning radius for bends6.5m
Minimum pedestrian access width1mFor 6+ rear sites
Single access servingMax 10 rear sitesJoint ownership or right-of-way

Rear Sites Limitation (Residential Zones)

RuleValueNotes
Rear sites maximum20% of total proposed sitesVacant site subdivision
Rear sites maximum5% of total proposed sitesParent sites ≥ 1ha with 30+ vacant sites

Subdivision Variation Control — Special Areas

AreaMinimum Net Site Area
Beachlands700m²
Bombay (private wastewater network)800m²
Bombay (on-site wastewater systems)2,500m²
Buckland800m²
Clarks Beach800m²
Eastern Whangaparaoa Peninsula700m²
Glenbrook Beach800m²
Herald Island800m²
Maraetai/Omana Beach700m²
Patumahoe800m²
Point Wells1,000m²
Waiau Beach800m²
Waimauku (private wastewater network)800m²
Waimauku (on-site wastewater systems)2,500m²
Parau4,000m²
Huia4,000m²
Little Huia4,000m²
Karekare4,000m²
Piha4,000m²
Bethells/Te Henga4,000m²
Cornwallis4,000m²
Snells Beach1,000m²
Beachlands South Precinct (Large Lot Zone, Sub-precinct D, Coastal)1,000m²

Special Character Areas Overlay — Residential and Business

Sub-areaMinimum Net Site Area
Isthmus A400m² or 500m² (if shape factor non-compliant)
Isthmus B1 and B31,000m²
Isthmus B2600m²
Isthmus C1400m² or 500m² (if shape factor non-compliant)
Isthmus C2600m²
Isthmus C2a1,000m²
North Shore Area A450m²
North Shore Area B500m²
North Shore Area C600m²

Urban Subdivision — Business Zones

Minimum Net Site Areas (Business Zones)

ZoneMinimum Net Site AreaMinimum Frontage
Business - City Centre Zone200m²10m (for sites >2,000m²)
Business - Metropolitan Centre Zone200m²10m (for sites >2,000m²)
Business - Town Centre Zone200m²10m (for sites >2,000m²)
Business - Local Centre Zone200m²N/A
Business - Neighbourhood Centre Zone200m²N/A
Business - Mixed Use Zone200m²N/A
Business - General Business Zone200m²N/A
Business - Business Park Zone1,000m²10m
Business - Light Industry Zone1,000m²20m
Business - Heavy Industry Zone2,000m²20m

Site Shape Factor (Business Zones)

RuleValueNotes
Minimum rectangle to contain50% of site areaLonger sides ≤ 2× shorter sides

Rural Subdivision

Minimum Site Sizes (Discretionary Activities — Production/Coastal/Conservation Zones)

ZoneMinimum Average Site SizeMinimum Site Size
Rural – Rural Production Zone100ha80ha
Rural – Mixed Rural Zone50ha40ha
Rural – Rural Coastal Zone50ha40ha
Rural – Rural Conservation Zone20ha10ha

Rural – Countryside Living Zone (without Transferable Rural Site Subdivision)

LocationMinimum Net Site AreaMinimum Average Net Site Area
Countryside Living Zone (general)2ha
Wellsford, Kaukapakapa, Helensville2ha
Warkworth2ha
Matakana, Kumeu - Huapai, Paremoremo - Albany Heights2ha
Algies Bay2ha
Puhoi, Parakai2ha
Waimauku2ha
South Rodney2ha
Whitford (excluding precinct and Caldwells Road)2ha
Whitford – Caldwells Road1ha2ha
Papakura1ha
Point Wells5,000m²7,500m²
Runciman2ha
Swanson (outside precinct)4ha
Okura East4ha

Rural – Countryside Living Zone

Other zones in Auckland