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Medium density residential zone frequently asked questions

Please note, these questions and answers provide general guidance only.

For more information and advice tailored to your individual query, situation, or proposal, please contact Waipā District Council’s Duty Planner either by phone 0800 924 723 or email info@waipadc.govt.nz. Refer to the Waipā ePlan.

Download the Plan Change 26 frequently asked questions (445KB, PDF).

What is Plan Change 26?

Plan Change 26 (PC26) is Waipā District Council’s response to central government’s 2021 housing laws, which mandated increasing housing density in Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and Kihikihi.

The plan change allows that in residential zones, landowners may extend or build up to two houses and up to three storeys high per site in Cambridge, Te Awamutu and Kihikihi residential zones, without a resource consent or notifying neighbours (unless they are in a character cluster area).

What can I build in the Medium Density Residential Zone?

Plan Change 26 has introduced a new Medium Density Residential Zone (MDRZ) for Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and Kihikihi. The table below shows the new rules that apply to buildings in the MDRZ.

How to use this table:

  • View the council’s ePlan maps to:
    • Confirm your property is in the MDRZ.
    • See if your property is in any overlay areas (exemptions apply for overlay areas).
  • All sites are allowed to have up to two dwellings on them unless they are in a character cluster area.
  • Resource consent is required if:
    • More than two dwellings per site are proposed; or
Standard Control
Permitted number of dwellings


2 dwellings per site (in all areas except in character areas below)
Character Cluster Qualifying Matter Overlay = 1 principal + 1 secondary (attached; ≤70m2 GFA; minimum net site area for secondary dwelling: 850m2)
Character Cluster = existing dwelling only
Front yard setbacks
1.5m (in all areas unless exemption below applies)
Exemptions:
- State highway frontage = 7.5m (dwellings and sleepouts only)
- Arterial road frontage = 4m
- Character street = 6m
Side and rear yard setbacks
1m (in all areas unless exemption below applies)
Exemptions for 2nd+ dwellings per site:
- Reserve boundary = 4m
- Significant natural area boundaries = 20m
Maximum height 11m (see Diagram 1 below)
Height in relation to boundary 4m + 60° recession plane (see Diagram 2 below)
Maximum building coverage
50% net site area (in all areas unless exemption below applies)
Exemptions:
- 40% (River / Gully Proximity Overlay and Stormwater Constraint Overlay)
- 700m2 (St Kilda Structure Plan Area – site coverage + impermeable)
Maximum site impermeability
 60% net site area (in all areas unless exemption below applies)
Exemption:
- 45% net site area in Cambridge North Structure Plan Area
- 700m2 (St Kilda Structure Plan Area – site coverage + impermeable)
Landscaping
20% of site landscaped with grass or plants (in all areas unless exemption below applies)
Exemption:
- 30% of site planted in native plants (River / Gully Proximity Overlay)
Outdoor living space
Dwellings with ground floor level
- 20m2 (3m minimum dimension) – may include balcony, patio or roof terrace
Dwelling above ground floor level
- 8m2 (1.8m minimum dimension)
Outlook space
Principal living room
- 4m x 4m (see Diagram 3 below)
Other habitable rooms
- 1m x 1m (see Diagram 3)
Windows to street Dwellings = 20% of street-facing façade in glazing (windows or doors)
Roof pitch Any dwelling of 2 or more stories
- Character Clusters = 30° minimum
- All other areas = 15° minimum

Key diagrams

Diagram 1: Maximum building height.

Diagram 2: Height in relation to boundary.

Diagram 3: Outlook space.

Can I subdivide my Medium Density Residential Zone section?

Plan Change 26 has introduced new rules for subdivision in the MDRZ of Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and Kihikihi. If you’re looking to subdivide, the table below sets out the key things you’ll need to be aware of.

How to use this table:

  • View the council’s ePlan maps to confirm that your property is in the MDRZ.
  • Consider what type of subdivision you want to do. Separate standards apply to subdivisions where:
    • All new lots will contain a dwelling (existing or proposed via concurrent land use consent);
      OR
    • One or more vacant lots will be created.
  • Refer to the table below for standards applying to each type of subdivision.

Note: All subdivision in the Waipā District requires resource consent. The standards in the table below determine which activity status your subdivision will be assessed under. It is recommended you seek independent planning / surveying advice if you wish to subdivide.

Medium Density Residential Zone - Subdivision Standards

Standard
Type of subdivision
Around existing or proposed dwellings
(i.e. no vacant sites are created by the subdivision) 		To create a vacant lot
Resource consent Yes Yes
Activity status Controlled Restricted discretionary if meeting all relevant standards in this table; non-complying if not
Minimum size of new lots No minimum 500m2
Maximum size of new lots No maximum 1000m2
Shape factor No shape factor 13m diameter circle or 8m x 15m rectangle
Road frontage No road frontage requirement 10m
Vehicle crossing 3-5.5m
Minimum width of shared accessway to rear lots
≤3 lots = 4m (3.6m if vehicles can exit the site frontward after no more than a three-point turn)
4-6 lots = 6m (6+ lots may require road naming)
7+ lots = public or private road may be required
Infrastructure All lots are to be connected to Council wastewater and water supply services
Street trees If new roads are created, the planting of street trees must be provided for at an equivalent rate of one tree per road-fronting lot
Notification preclusion Yes, where:

- Associated with up to 3 units that do not comply with one or more density standards*,

-Associated with 4 or more units that comply with all density standards.

No

*Density standards = height, daylight control, setbacks, building coverage, outdoor living space, outlook space, front façade glazing, and landscaped area. For further information, refer to the table under heading “ What can I build in the Medium Density Residential Zone?” above.

My property is in a character cluster area – what does this mean for me?

Plan Change 26 has introduced new rules for a small number of character cluster properties in the MDRZ of Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and Kihikihi. If your property is in a character cluster area and you’re considering development, the table below sets out what rules apply.

How to use this table:

  • View the council’s ePlan maps to check if your property is in a:
    • Character Cluster, or
    • Character Cluster Qualifying Matter Overlay.
  • Refer to the table below for which activities are permitted or will require resource consent in each character cluster area type.

Note: The following table sets out what activities are permitted or need resource consent within each character cluster area type. For details about the resource consent process and what the council will require in each resource consent scenario below, contact the Duty Planner, either by phoning 0800 924 723 or emailing info@waipadc.govt.nz.

Activity
Character Cluster Character Cluster Qualifying Matter Overlay
Character defining Non-character defining Character defining Non-character defining
Permitted number of dwelling
Existing dwelling only

1 principal + 1 secondary dwelling (subject to standards below):
Secondary dwelling standards:

Net site area = ≥850m2
- May be reduced to 600m2 if principal dwelling is two storeys and standards below are complied with.

Secondary dwelling to be:
- ≤70m2 GFA (excluding garaging)
- Encompassed within the bulk of the principal dwelling
- Not separated from principal dwelling by a garage.
Demolition / removal of existing buildings Resource consent required Permitted
Construction of new buildings Permitted if single storey and to the rear of site
Permitted if single storey and set back a minimum of 6m from road boundaries

Permitted if single storey and to the rear of site
Permitted if single storey and set back a minimum of 6m from road boundaries
Alterations / additions to existing buildings

There’s a development going in next door – what can I do?

Plan Change 26 has introduced new rules for housing in the MDRZ of Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and Kihikihi. We appreciate that new development next door can be concerning – the information below explains what changes you can expect in the district and when you’ll be able to have a say.

What could new permitted development look like

The table under the heading “What can I build in the Medium Density Residential Zone?” above sets out what people are allowed to build on their property:

  • Without needing a resource consent; and
  • Without advising you or requiring your input as a neighbour.

Notification preclusion – built form and subdivision

Some forms of development requiring resource consent are automatically precluded from public and limited notification, meaning not open for public or neighbour input.

For example:

  • Two or three dwellings are unlikely to be notified, and
  • Four or more dwellings could only be notified when density standards are not met.

* Density standards = height, daylight control, setbacks, building coverage, outdoor living space, outlook space, front façade glazing, and landscaped area. For further information, refer to the table under heading “What can I build in the Medium Density Residential Zone?” above.

When can I have a say?

If you are deemed to be affected, the council will either:

  • Notify you directly; or
  • Issue a public notice letting you know formal submissions can be made.
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