General Residential

District plan rules for the General Residential 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.

General Residential — Far North

Building Standards

RuleValueNotes
Maximum height8mOperative plan; proposed plan also 8m
Height in relation to boundary55° at 2m (north); 45° at 2m (east/west); 35° at 2m (south)Recession plane; proposed plan standard
Setback from road boundary3mStandard minimum; 9m on Kerikeri Road (SH10 to Cannon Drive); 10m on Cobham Road (specific lots)
Setback from other boundaries1.2mExcept max 10m length requires no setback; specific lots require 3m
Building coverage (permitted)45%Operative plan; or 600m² whichever is lesser for controlled activities
Building coverage (restricted discretionary)55% or 550m²Whichever is the lesser
Stormwater/impermeable surface (permitted)50%Operative plan; proposed plan also 50%
Stormwater/impermeable surface (controlled)60% or 600m²Whichever is the lesser; requires engineering report
Sunlight recession plane45° from 2m above ground levelOperative plan; from 3m in restricted discretionary context
Façade length recess1m depth × 2m length minimumWhere façade exceeds 20m along road/public land; proposed plan standard
Outdoor living space50m² at ground level (min. 5m dimension) OR 8m² if not ground floor (min. 2m dimension)Proposed plan standard; must be accessible from habitable room
Outdoor storage screening1.8m solid fence/wall minimumMust not be visible from adjoining sites/public land
Fencing height1.8m maximumGeneral standard; 2.0m for screening non-residential outdoor areas
Road planting strip50% landscaped2m wide strip along road boundary on non-special amenity sites

Residential Intensity Standards

RuleValueNotes
Minimum net site area (sewered, permitted)600m²Operative plan; existing site exemption applies
Minimum net site area (unsewered, permitted)3,000m²Operative plan; existing site exemption applies
Minimum net site area (sewered, restricted discretionary)300m²Operative plan
Minimum net site area (unsewered, restricted discretionary)2,000m²Operative plan

Scale of Activities

RuleValueNotes
Maximum persons on site (permitted, sewered)2 per 600m²Excludes residents; exemptions for construction, marae visits, 60-day ancillary activities
Maximum persons on site (permitted, unsewered)2 per 3,000m²Excludes residents; exemptions for construction, marae visits, 60-day ancillary activities
Maximum persons on site (restricted discretionary, sewered)4 per 600m²Excludes residents; exemptions for construction, marae visits, 60-day ancillary activities
Maximum persons on site (restricted discretionary, unsewered)4 per 3,000m²Excludes residents; exemptions for construction, marae visits, 60-day ancillary activities

Non-Residential Activities

RuleValueNotes
Maximum site intensity (sewered)1,000m²Net area excluding residential units
Maximum site intensity (unsewered)5,000m²Net area excluding residential units
Hours of operation0700–2000 weekdays; 0800–2000 weekends/holidays50 hours/week maximum; exemptions apply for indoor activities, on-site residents
Noise limit (0700–2200 hours)50 dBA L₁₀Measured at boundary or notional boundary of adjacent site
Noise limit (2200–0700 hours)45 dBA L₁₀ and 70 dBA LmaxMeasured at boundary or notional boundary of adjacent site
Construction noiseNZS 6803P:1984 standardsMeasurement and assessment requirements
Screening for outdoor activities1.8m–2.0m heightLandscaping, walls, fences required; 2m depth minimum if vegetated

Coopers Beachfront Estate (Specific Rules)

RuleValueNotes
Vehicle/vessel storageDomestic vehicles and trailers onlyNo non-domestic vehicles, machinery, or vessel repairs
Accessory buildingsMaximum 1 detached per residential unitMaximum 45m² floor area
Retail activityNot permittedExcluding homestay, rental, holiday accommodation (non-camping)

Kerikeri Road Urban Fringe Sites (Specific Rules)

RuleValueNotes
Road setback (Kerikeri Road, SH10 to Cannon Drive)9mAdditional to standard 3m
Cobham Road setback (Lot 1 DP 28017, Lot 1 DP 46656)10m
Kerikeri Inlet Road setback (Lots 1 DP 404507, etc.)10mAs of 25 March 2019
Non-road boundary setback (special amenity sites)3m
Fencing requirement (Cobham Road frontage)Visually permeable, max 1.8mVarying heights; with 3m depth planting
Hedging requirement (Kerikeri Inlet Road)Pittosporum or similar; 3m minimum height20 trees min. (5m height) in 10m setback area

Permitted Activities

ActivityStatus
Single residential unitPermitted
Relocated buildingsPermitted
Home-based non-residential activitiesPermitted
Visitor accommodation (home-based)Permitted
Educational facility (home-based)Permitted
Supported residential care (home-based)Permitted
Conservation activityPermitted
Outdoor activitiesPermitted
Helicopter landing areasNot permitted
Factory farming, kennels, catteriesNot permitted

Controlled Activities

ActivityStatusCondition
Buildings exceeding stormwater thresholdControlledRequires engineering report demonstrating mitigation to permitted runoff levels

Restricted Discretionary Activities

ActivityTrigger
Buildings exceeding 45% coverage (up to 55%/550m²)Building coverage non-compliance
Residential units (min. 300m² sewered / 2,000m² unsewered)Residential intensity non-compliance
Scale of activities (up to 4 persons per 600m²/3,000m²)Scale of activities non-compliance
Buildings up to 9m heightBuilding height non-compliance
Buildings exceeding sunlight recession planeSunlight non-compliance
Setback from boundaries (road/non-road)Setback non-compliance
Transportation/traffic effectsTransportation non-compliance
Noise (up to specified limits with mitigation)Noise non-compliance

Discretionary Activities

ActivityNotes
Helicopter landing areaSingle landing area permitted in certain zones; discretionary in Residential Zone
Activities exceeding restricted discretionary thresholdsWhere permitted/controlled/RDA standards not met but complying with district-wide rules

Other zones in Far North