Builders frustrated by BCAs

A nationwide CBS Co-op survey has found that 82% of respondents rated their local BCA as either poor or fair in terms of efficiency. 73% stated that council decisions and requirements were highly inconsistent between inspectors or regions.

“Our members are telling us that delays, inconsistency, and a lack of accountability within the consenting system are adding unnecessary cost and stress to an already strained industry,” says Carl Taylor, CEO of Combined Building Supplies Co-operative.

Builders reported a huge inconsistency in inspection timelines. Many projects are being put on hold for days or even weeks, waiting for inspections that, in many cases, could be easily completed via video or phone-based assessments.

“Some builders are waiting over a week for a basic inspection — halting progress on site — when the same task could be done remotely in minutes. Councils must adopt modern, flexible approaches to keep the industry moving.”

The CBS Co-op survey of its 2,000-member network revealed limited innovation among councils, with most still not offering video or phone-based inspections.

It also found that 60% of builders view traffic management as an expensive and unnecessary hurdle for small projects, while nearly 80% reported that BCA inspectors handle on-site amendments inconsistently.

Respondents named over a dozen BCAs, showing the issues are systemic, including Christchurch, Selwyn, and Waimakariri District Councils.

“CBS is calling on central government to take leadership and create a nationally consistent consenting framework,” Carl Taylor says.

“We’re ready to work with the Minister for Building and Construction, councils, and industry bodies to find practical, technology-driven solutions that reduce red tape and restore confidence in the consenting system.”

The survey gathered responses from CBS builder members across regions, including Christchurch, Selwyn, Waimakariri, Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, and Masterton.

Builders are frustrated with the current consenting and inspection system, citing long delays that can halt projects entirely. They say inspections can often be done by video, but councils rarely offer this option.

Other issues include inconsistent rules between inspectors and councils, inspectors with limited practical building experience, and excessive paperwork that slows down work.

Even small changes, such as relocating a bathroom or selecting a different product, can incur significant costs and take weeks to obtain approval.

Communication problems exacerbate the situation, with emails going unanswered and conflicting advice leaving builders uncertain about what to do.

Many want a simpler system with the same rules applied across all councils, more video inspections, and less bureaucracy. Builders also say councils should work with them to complete projects, rather than acting as enforcers looking for mistakes.