What is a resource consent?

A resource consent allows a person or organisation to do something which has an effect on the environment.

What is Council's role in this?

If a resource consent application is lodged with Council, our role is to assess the proposal's environmental effects under the Resource Management Act.

Council does not decide whether a project is a good idea overall, Council officers can only assess the environmental effects of a proposal. Elected Members have no role in making resource consent decisions.

Stratford District Council processes two types of resource consents:

• Land use (including relocated buildings, signs and yard dispensations)
• Subdivision

Taranaki Regional Council processes applications for discharges to land, air and water. An activity may require consents from both the Stratford District Council and the Taranaki Regional Council. When consents are notified then a joint hearing is held concerning all submissions although typically each Council will release its decision separately.

Building Consents are separate from resource consents. If you are carrying out building work in conjunction with a subdivision or other activity, you will need to check if you require a building consent as well as a resource consent. Both can be lodged with Council at the same time. Check fees and charges here.