Solid Fuel Heaters
All liquid and solid fuel heaters, including wood, pellet and diesel burners, require building consent. Check the information below before you purchase or install this type of heater.
To apply for building consent to install a solid or liquid fuel burner, complete and return the Solid Fuel Heater application form. Your application process will only begin once we've received the complete payment for this service.
The consent process
- Complete the solid fuel heater application form above
- Send the form with your payment of the lodgement fee (page 5)
- Your application will be processed
- Once approval is granted, you will be able to install the heater
- You will need to get the heater inspected and have a Code Compliance Certificate issued before using it.
Depending on how you intend to lodge for building consent (paper or electronic) the building consent process will vary.
After the building consent is approved
When the consent has been approved and sent back to you (paper application by post and electronic applications will be emailed back to the applicant), you are then able to install the fire. The solid/liquid fuel heater must be inspected before it can be used.
Please note that using your fire without an inspection could jeopardise your insurance and possibly the ability of Council to issue the Code Compliance Certificate.
Which solid fuel heaters can be installed within the Rotorua Region
Check your appliance against the list of approved wood burners - (environment.govt.nz) on the Ministry for the Environment website. Generally, local fire appliance retailers know the rules and can offer advice on the types of wood burners, pellet fires and diesel burners available to you.
When selecting a solid fuel heater (SFH) for installation within the Airshed of Rotorua district, particular care is required where the appliance has a particulate emission rate of 0.6 g/kg, as this is the upper limit permitted under Bay of Plenty Regional Council (BOPRC) air quality rules for certain situations (notably replacement installations within the Rotorua Airshed). In these cases, BOPRC requires confirmation that the appliance is formally authorised under the Ministry for the Environment Authorised Wood Burners List - (environment.govt.nz), which demonstrates compliance with the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality.
Authorisation is based on independent laboratory testing recognised by Ministry for the Environment; such testing and verification is commonly undertaken through Environment Canterbury’s burner authorisation processes, which are relied upon nationally. An SFH having an emission of 0.6g/kg on the Ministry for the Environment Authorised Wood Burners List must also appear on the ECAN authorised list - (ecan.govt.nz) before a building consent can be granted for installation. By contrast, solid fuel heaters with an emission rate below 0.6 g/kg that already appear on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council / Ministry for the Environment approved wood burner list do not trigger this additional verification step and may proceed through the standard building consent process.
To read more about what is required check out BOPRC's Air Quality Guide. For all enquires contact Bay of Plenty Regional Council directly: phone 0800 844 880 or email info@boprc.govt.nz.
Installing second-hand fuel burners
Second-hand solid and liquid fuel burners can only be installed when:
- Clean Air approval can be established - contact Bay of Plenty Regional Council for further information; and
- A durability certificate is provided. This could be issued by the manufacturer or manufacturers' agent; and
- A new inner flue is installed.
Heating systems that don't need a building consent
You can install these heating systems without needing a building consent:
- Gas fires installed by a registered gas fitter; and/or
- Heat pumps installed by a registered electrician.
