WCC Building Consents Explained |

When submitting your building or resource consent application to Wellington City Council (WCC), more often than not, we will receive something called an RFI — a common part of the application process that can sometimes cause confusion or delay if not properly understood. Here's a quick breakdown of what it means, why it happens, and how INLINE responds.

What does R.F.I stand for?

RFI stands for a Request for Information. It's a formal request issued by the Council when your building or resource consent application is missing key details or needs clarification. These requests can address any information provided within your application regarding construction details, product warranties and legal requirements. RFI’s are a big part of the consenting process, and receiving one doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong — it simply means the Council needs more information to assess the submission properly. There is no limit on the quantity of RFI's WCC can issue.

When is an R.F.I issued?

An RFI is usually issued partway through the consent process, often after the Council’s consenting officer has completed an initial review of your application. Receiving an RFI is a good indication that your submission has been assessed at least once. It's worth noting here that WCC often sends applications out to independent consultants for review. These external consultants aren’t bound by the same timeframes as the Council, which can slow things down. So, while a standard consent might typically be processed in 20 working days, involving external reviewers can sometimes stretch that timeline out to 3+ months — without any formal accountability for delays.

If this happens, INLINE (as your agent) actively follows up with Council and pushes back to keep things moving. We don’t accept excessive delays as the norm and will continue to advocate on your behalf to achieve the intended timeline for your project.

Who is responsible for answering an R.F.I?

When INLINE submits your building consent or resource consent application, we become the agent acting on behalf of the client. In these cases, it is INLINE’s responsibility to respond to any Council requests on the submission, including all RFI’s. As the licensed party for both design and construction, INLINE is accountable for ensuring the submission is complete and that the design complies with the Building Act, the New Zealand Building Code, and all relevant Council regulations.

What are the time and cost implications of an RFI?

Responding to an RFI can impact both your project timeline and budget. Once an RFI is issued, the Council’s 20-working-day processing clock pauses and does not restart until all full responses are submitted. For INLINE, this might mean tweaking construction details in the drawings, finding alternative solutions for specific design elements, or working with our trusted consultants to provide the extra information WCC needs.

We put a lot of consideration into creating smart, practical designs that make the review process as straightforward as possible for WCC consenting officers. Here it’s worth noting that WCC can charge additional fees for assessing RFIs, and your consent won’t be released until those fees are paid.

Where we believe an RFI is unreasonable or outside the scope of fair review, INLINE is not afraid to push back. We advocate for our clients and, when appropriate, challenge requests to help minimise unnecessary costs and delays.

In Summary:

RFI’s are a routine part of the consent process — how the responses are handled can make a big difference to the overall timeline and cost of the project. We work extremely hard at the front end of design to mitigate delays and streamline the consenting process for all parties. And that's the INLINE winning formula!