Coastal Environment

District plan rules for the Coastal Environment in Far North, New Zealand.

Summarised from the Far North 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.

Coastal Environment — Far North

General Coastal Zone

Building Standards

RuleValueNotes
Maximum height8mPermitted activity
Height in relation to boundary45° recession plane from 2m above groundStandard applies
Site coverage (impermeable surfaces)10%Maximum proportion of gross site area
Front yard10mMinimum; 3m if site < 5,000m²
Rear yard10mMinimum; 3m if site < 5,000m²
Side yard10mMinimum; 3m if site < 5,000m²

Permitted Activities

ActivityStatusNotes
Building not for human habitationPermittedMax 50m² gross floor area
Building for human habitationPermittedMax 25m² gross floor area
Alteration/addition to existing buildingPermittedMax 50m² if existing at 28 April 2000
Renovation or maintenancePermittedAny building
Residential unitPermitted1 unit per 20ha; 3,000m² exclusive + 19.7ha elsewhere
Scale of activitiesPermitted4 persons per site OR 1 person per 1ha (whichever greater)

Visual Amenity Standards

StandardValueNotes
Building colour/reflectanceBS5252 palette ≤30% reflectanceOr natural materials in same range

Noise Standards

PeriodLimitNotes
0700–2200 hours55 dBA L₁₀Measured at boundary or notional boundary
2200–0700 hours45 dBA L₁₀Measured at boundary or notional boundary
Maximum70 dBA LmaxAll hours

Coastal Living Zone

Building Standards

RuleValueNotes
Maximum height8mPermitted activity
Height in relation to boundary45° recession plane from 2m above groundStandard applies
Site coverage (impermeable surfaces)10% or 600m²Whichever is lesser
Front yard10mMinimum; 3m if site < 5,000m²
Rear yard10mMinimum; 3m if site < 5,000m²
Side yard10mMinimum; 3m if site < 5,000m²

Permitted Activities

ActivityStatusNotes
Building not for human habitationPermittedMax 50m² gross floor area
Building for human habitationPermittedMax 50m² gross floor area
Alteration/addition to existing buildingPermittedMax 30% of existing gross floor area; existing at 28 April 2000
Replacement buildingPermittedWithin previous building envelope
Renovation or maintenancePermittedAny building
Residential unitPermitted1 unit per 4ha; 3,000m² exclusive + 3.7ha elsewhere
Scale of activitiesPermitted1 person per 2,000m² net site area

Controlled Activities

ActivityStatusConditions
New building outside approved envelopeControlledIf entire building within approved building envelope
Papakainga housingControlled3,000m² exclusive + minimum discretionary standard elsewhere

Restricted Discretionary Activities

ActivityStatusNotes
Building exceeding visual amenity standardRDAPartially or entirely outside approved envelope
Building height exceeding 8mRDAMax 9m for RDA
Sunlight standard breachRDA45° from 3m; max 25% of boundary
Site coverage exceeding 10%/600m²RDAMax 15% or 1,500m² for RDA
Setback standard breachRDAMin 3m or 1.2m with conditions
Scale of activities breachRDAUp to 2 persons per 1,000m² (sewered); 2 per 3,000m² (unsewered)

Discretionary Activities

ActivityStatusNotes
Residential intensity exceeding 1 unit per 5,000m²Discretionary2,000m² exclusive + 3,000m² elsewhere
Integrated development (Māori freehold/customary land)DiscretionaryPapakainga, marae, associated buildings
Helicopter landing areaDiscretionaryMin 200m from Residential/Coastal Residential/Russell/Point Veronica zones

Visual Amenity Standards

StandardValueNotes
Building colour/reflectanceBS5252 palette ≤30% reflectanceOr natural materials in same range

Non-Residential Activity Standards

RuleValueNotes
Hours of operation50 hours/week max0700–2000 Mon–Fri; 0800–2000 Sat/Sun/Public holidays
Screening height1.8m–2.0mLandscaping min 2m depth
Factory farming, kennels, catteryProhibitedOr min 600m from Residential/Coastal Residential/Russell zones

Noise Standards

PeriodLimitNotes
0700–2200 hours55 dBA L₁₀At boundary or notional boundary
2200–0700 hours45 dBA L₁₀At boundary or notional boundary
Maximum70 dBA LmaxAll hours

Coastal Residential Zone

Building Standards

RuleValueNotes
Maximum height8mPermitted activity
Height in relation to boundary45° recession plane from 2m above groundUp to 10m for max 10m length; then 2.7m max
Site coverage (impermeable surfaces)50% or 1,000m²Whichever is lesser; permitted
Building coverage45% or 900m²Whichever is lesser; permitted
Front yard3mMinimum from road boundary
Side yard1.2mMinimum; 0m for max 10m total length
Rear yard1.2mMinimum; 0m for max 10m total length

Permitted Activities

ActivityStatusNotes
Relocated buildingsPermittedExterior reinstatement within 6 months
Residential unit (sewered)PermittedMin 800m² net site area
Residential unit (unsewered)PermittedMin 3,000m² net site area
Scale of activities (sewered)Permitted2 persons per 800m²
Scale of activities (unsewered)Permitted2 persons per 3,000m²
Alteration/addition to existing buildingPermittedRespecting existing building height
Renovation or maintenancePermittedAny building

Restricted Discretionary Activities

ActivityStatusConditions
Residential unit exceeding minimumRDA600m² (sewered); 2,000m² (unsewered)
Scale of activities breachRDA4 persons per 800m² (sewered); 4 per 3,000m² (unsewered)
Building height exceeding 8mRDAMax 9m
Sunlight standard breachRDA45° from 3m; max 25% of boundary
Site coverage exceeding 50%/1,000m²

Other zones in Far North