Code Compliance Certificate (CCC)

A Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) is a certificate issued by a council confirming that building work carried out under a building consent was completed in accordance with that consent and the Building Code.

Why it matters to investors

A missing CCC is one of the most common serious findings in due diligence, and it has consequences well beyond paperwork:

• Insurance — insurers may decline cover or exclude the unconsented work
• Lending — banks may decline or require it be resolved before settlement
• Resale — it must be disclosed and will affect the buyer pool and the price
• Liability — you may inherit responsibility for work you didn't commission

How it goes wrong

A consent is issued, the work is done, and the owner never calls for the final inspection. The consent lapses. Years later the property sells and the gap appears on the LIM.

Resolving it

Options include applying for a CCC on the historic consent (councils may require inspection and may not grant it), or applying for a Certificate of Acceptance — a lesser instrument acknowledging work that can't get a full CCC. Neither is guaranteed, and both cost time and money.

Common misunderstanding

A CCC is not a guarantee the building is sound. It confirms the consented work met the Code at the time of inspection. It doesn't cover unconsented work, subsequent alterations, or defects that emerged later.

New builds and interest deductibility: a property with a CCC issued on or after 27 March 2020 qualifies as a "new build" for tax purposes, which affected interest deductibility and ring-fencing treatment.

Related terms

Last reviewed: 1 August 2026 · ---

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