Code Compliance Certificates: What New-Build Buyers Need to Check

What a CCC means

A CCC is a formal statement under section 95 of the Building Act 2004 that building work carried out under a building consent complies with that consent. Read MBIE's current CCC issuing guidance for the statutory test and documents considered by a building consent authority.

It does not mean that every commercial promise, finish, chattel or future maintenance issue has been checked. Compare the consent number, address, plans, specifications and the sale and purchase agreement. Raise any difference with the seller and your lawyer rather than assuming a CCC resolves it.

Check timing and sale terms

MBIE's current CCC issuing guidance says a building consent authority has 20 working days to decide a complete CCC application, unless it asks for more information, which pauses that period. This is a statutory processing timeframe, not a guaranteed completion or settlement date. The guidance was current when checked on 12 October 2026.

The owner must apply after the consented work is complete. MBIE also explains that the authority must decide whether to issue a CCC two years after consent was granted, unless an extension is agreed. Ask which stage has been reached: work complete, final inspection passed, CCC applied for, request for information outstanding, or CCC issued.

If a household unit has been built for sale, the on-seller generally must obtain a CCC before sale is completed or the purchaser takes possession. There is a narrow written-waiver exception. Have your lawyer explain the agreement and risk if a sale is proposed before the CCC is issued. See MBIE's homeowner sign-off guidance for the current detail.

Match the documents

Start with the CCC itself and confirm the property address, consent number, issue date and named owner. Then ask for the approved plans, specifications, variation records and the completion information that applies to the home. Depending on the project, that can include Records of Building Work, energy-work certificates, producer statements, drainage as-builts, installation certificates or information about specified systems.

The official property research guidance says completed work will usually have a CCC in the LIM or council property file. For Christchurch properties, the Council says its property files may include consents, plans, drainage information and CCCs. A file may not contain every item, so compare the documents you receive and ask the provider to explain gaps.

1. Request the issued CCC or a clear written update on its status.
2. Check the address and consent number against the home and contract.
3. Ask for approved plans, specifications and signed variation records.
4. Identify any outstanding document, inspection, payment or information request.
5. Ask who will remedy unfinished or non-compliant work and by when.
6. Have your lawyer review the sale terms, title and documents before committing.

Plan the handover

Arrange a practical handover list that separates defects or incomplete items from the CCC process. Record what needs fixing, who is responsible, the completion date, and how you will confirm the result. Keep copies of the contract, CCC and building documents. MBIE notes that residential building work has implied warranties for up to 10 years and a 12-month defect repair period, subject to the applicable rules and circumstances. Read the official warranty and defects guidance rather than treating a warranty as automatic resolution of a dispute.

For an apartment, townhouse or other shared property, also ask whether a compliance schedule, specified systems or body corporate documents apply. These can create continuing obligations that are separate from the seller's handover checklist.