Settlement — Far North
Building Standards
| Rule | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum height | 8m above ground level | Excludes solar/water heating (0.5m), chimneys (1.2m × 1m), architectural features (1m) |
| Height in relation to boundary | 55° at 2m (north); 45° at 2m (east/west); 35° at 2m (south) | Recession planes measured inward from boundary |
| Setback (general) | 1.2m from site boundaries | Minimum; 3m from road boundary |
| Setback from Mean High Water Springs | 26m | Applies to buildings and structures |
| Outdoor living space | 50m² minimum at ground level (5m minimum dimension) OR 8m² (2m minimum dimension) if not ground floor | Must be north, east or west facing; directly accessible from habitable room; free of buildings, parking, storage |
| Impermeable surface coverage | 35% or 600m², whichever is lesser | Restricted discretionary if exceeded |
| Outdoor storage | Complies with RSZ S6 Landscaping and screening | Must be screened |
Permitted Activities
| Activity | Status | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| New buildings or structures; extensions or alterations | Permitted | Complies with all building standards (RSZ-S1 through S7); accommodates permitted activity |
| Residential activity | Permitted | Site area minimum 3,000m² per residential unit (single unit exemption applies) |
| Visitor accommodation | Permitted | Within residential unit, accessory building, or minor residential unit; occupancy max 6 guests/night; no shared access |
| Home business | Permitted | Within residential unit or accessory building (max 40m² GFA) or minor residential unit; max 1 full-time equivalent off-site employee; all manufacturing/processing indoors; hours 7am–8pm weekdays, 8am–8pm weekends/public holidays; no offensive trade |
| Educational facility | Permitted | Within residential unit, accessory building, or minor residential unit; max 4 students at one time (excl. residents); excludes Kōhanga reo |
| Grazing of animals (except pig farming) | Permitted | Max 12 poultry per site; no roosters |
| Commercial activity — retail | Permitted | Max 400m² GFA in Moerewa settlement; max 300m² GFA in all other settlements |
| Commercial activity — office | Permitted | Max 200m² GFA in Moerewa settlement; max 100m² GFA in all other settlements |
| Community facility | Restricted Discretionary | Combined buildings/structures max 300m² GFA or max 10% increase if additions/alterations to existing facility; complies with RSZ-S5 (outdoor storage) and RSZ-S6 (landscaping and screening) |
| Minor residential unit | Discretionary | Max 1 per site; shares vehicle access with principal unit; separation distance max 15m; max 65m² GFA (plus optional attached garage/carport max 18m² GFA for vehicle storage, general storage, laundry) |
| Impermeable surface coverage | Permitted | Max 35% or 600m² (whichever lesser); if exceeded, restricted discretionary with conditions on stormwater management, landscaping, and cumulative catchment effects |
Discretionary & Non-Complying Activities
| Activity | Status |
|---|---|
| Rural industry | Discretionary |
| Industrial activity | Discretionary |
| Activities not otherwise listed | Discretionary |
| Mineral extraction activity | Discretionary |
| Offensive trade | Discretionary |
| Intensive indoor primary production | Discretionary |
| Residential activity (site area 1,500–3,000m²) | Discretionary |
| Home business (with infringements) | Discretionary or Non-complying |
| Residential activity (site area <1,500m²) | Non-complying |
Subdivision Standards
| Rule | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum lot size — residential | 3,000m² per residential unit | Single residential unit exemption on sites <3,000m² |
| Minimum lot size — residential (discretionary) | 1,500m² per residential unit | Triggers discretionary activity status |
Infrastructure & Services
| Rule | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Onsite wastewater treatment (where not reticulated) | Minimum 2,000m² exclusive use area per residential unit | Must be contained within site; septic tank or soakage field; not on instability areas or inundation zones |
| Onsite potable water supply (where not reticulated) | 45,000 litres storage capacity OR connection to community scheme or private bore | For residential units |
| Stormwater disposal | Reticulated system where available, or onsite disposal per Far North District Engineering Standards 2022 | No disposal to flood/inundation areas |
Matters of Discretion — General
When standards are not met, council discretion is restricted to:
- Character and amenity of surrounding area
- Dominance in relation to road and adjoining sites
- Loss of privacy to adjoining sites (including potential loss on vacant sites)
- Shading and loss of access to sunlight to adjoining sites
- Landscaping, screening, and planting
- Natural hazard mitigation and site constraints
- Siting and design of buildings/structures
- Reverse sensitivity effects (within zone or at zone interface)
- Adequacy of roading infrastructure
- Capacity for onsite infrastructure
- Cumulative effects on catchment impermeability
- Effectiveness of stormwater control methods
- Historic heritage, cultural values, natural features, and landscapes
Zone Context
The Settlement zone accommodates residential activities and complementary non-residential uses (retail, office, community facilities) at scales appropriate to small rural and coastal settlements. Land use and subdivision must be appropriate to physical and environmental site attributes, avoid urban sprawl outside urban zones, and manage reverse sensitivity effects both within the zone and at zone interfaces with adjacent zones.