Code Compliance Certificate NZ: What It Is and How Producer Statements Support It

For anyone involved in New Zealand construction — whether you're a builder, engineer, plumber, drainlayer, electrician, or property owner — the code compliance certificate (CCC) is the finish line. It's the official confirmation from the building consent authority (BCA) that the work was completed in accordance with the building consent and complies with the New Zealand Building Code (NZBC).

Without a CCC, a building can't legally be occupied (for new builds), may have reduced resale value, and creates ongoing liability for everyone involved in the project. Getting the CCC issued efficiently depends heavily on having the right documentation — and producer statements are central to that process.

What Is a Code Compliance Certificate?

A code compliance certificate is issued by a BCA under Section 95 of the Building Act 2004. It confirms that, to the best of the BCA's knowledge and belief, the building work described in the building consent has been completed and complies with the Building Code.

It is the final document in the building consent lifecycle:

1. Building consent application submitted (including designs, specifications, producer statements)
2. Building consent granted by the BCA
3. Construction begins, with inspections at agreed stages
4. Construction completes
5. CCC application submitted with supporting documentation
6. BCA reviews the application
7. CCC issued

A BCA has 20 working days to decide on a CCC application once they have all required information. Delays typically happen because documentation is incomplete or incorrect when first submitted.

What Does a BCA Need Before Issuing a CCC?

The exact requirements vary by BCA and project type, but for most residential construction projects in New Zealand, a CCC application needs to include:

• Completed CCC application form
• Producer statements (PS3) for all relevant restricted building work and specialist trade work
• Record of Work from each LBP who carried out or supervised restricted building work
• Producer statements (PS4) if construction review statements were required
• Compliance schedules for any specified systems (fire alarms, sprinklers, etc.)
• As-built drawings if work varied from the approved plans
• Certificates of compliance for specific items (e.g. electrical safety certificate)
• Inspection records confirming all required BCA inspections were passed

For larger or more complex projects, additional documentation may be required — including PS1 and PS2 design statements, engineering reports, and material specifications.

The Role of Producer Statements in a CCC Application

Producer statements are the primary mechanism by which BCAs accept professional assurance of code compliance without having to independently inspect every element of a build. Rather than a BCA officer verifying that your structural framing or drainage system meets the NZBC themselves, they rely on the declaration of the licensed professional who did the work.

This is why getting producer statements right — the right form type, the right NZBC clauses, the right scope description — is so important. A producer statement that's incomplete, uses the wrong form, or is signed by someone outside their competency will be queried, causing delays to the CCC.

The PS3 statements you'll need for a typical residential CCC application include:

• LBP PS3 (AC2310 or equivalent) — for general carpentry, framing, and restricted building work
• Plumbing PS3 (AC2335/AC2336) — if the project included new or altered plumbing and drainage
• Electrical PS3 (AC2337) — for electrical installation work
• Drainlaying PS3 (AC2338) — for new or altered drainage work
• Any other specialist sub-forms relevant to the work carried out

What Happens If the CCC Is Refused?

A BCA can refuse to issue a CCC if they are not satisfied that the building work complies with the building consent, or if required documentation is missing or deficient. Under the Building Act, a refusal must be in writing and give reasons.

Common reasons CCC applications are refused or delayed include:

• Missing producer statements for completed work
• Producer statements with incorrect or incomplete NZBC clause selections
• Work that differs from the approved consent plans without an amendment
• Outstanding inspection stages that were never booked or completed
• Producer statements signed by unqualified or unlicensed individuals
• Records of Work not provided by relevant LBPs

If a CCC is refused, the BCA must give you the opportunity to remedy the issues before a final decision is made.

Can You Occupy a Building Without a CCC?

For most new residential buildings, you cannot legally occupy a building without a CCC. Section 363 of the Building Act makes it an offence to occupy or use a building where building work has been carried out unless a CCC has been issued (or an exemption applies).

Practically speaking, this means:

• New builds cannot be occupied until the CCC is issued
• Major renovations or additions may affect occupancy of the affected areas
• Selling a property without a CCC for consented work can create legal issues and reduce buyer confidence
• Lenders and conveyancers will typically require a CCC before settlement on a property with recent building work

How Long Does It Take to Get a CCC?

Once a complete CCC application is submitted, a BCA has 20 working days to issue or refuse the certificate. In practice, the clock only starts once all required documentation is received and the application is deemed complete.

This is where delays most often occur. If producer statements are missing, incomplete, or contain errors, the BCA will issue a request for information (RFI), which pauses the 20-working-day clock until you respond. A simple documentation error can add weeks to the CCC process.

Preparing for Your CCC: A Producer Statement Checklist

To streamline your CCC application and avoid delays, it's worth building a producer statement checklist at the start of every project and tracking it as work is completed:

1. Identify all restricted building work and specialist trade work required under the consent
2. Confirm which LBPs or licensed trades will carry out each category of work
3. Confirm the PS3 form required by the relevant BCA for each work type
4. Arrange for each PS3 to be completed on-site, immediately on completion of work
5. Collect PS3 statements progressively throughout the build — don't leave them all until the end
6. File each statement against the building consent number
7. At CCC application time, review the full set of statements before submitting

Make CCC Documentation Easier with PS Express

PS Express was designed specifically to solve the producer statement bottleneck that delays CCC applications. The app lets LBPs, plumbers, drainlayers, electricians, and engineers complete their PS3 forms on-site — immediately after the work is done — and stores every statement against the building consent number for easy retrieval.

When it comes time to apply for your CCC, all the producer statements for that consent are in one place, correctly formatted, and ready to attach to your application. No more chasing tradespeople for paperwork at the end of the job, and no more BCA queries because a clause was missed.

Try PS Express free for 28 days — available on Android and iOS. Built for NZ building professionals who need compliant producer statements without the paperwork headache.