Apply for a Project Information Memorandum (PIM)

A Project Information Memorandum (PIM) is a document issued by Horowhenua District Council. It provides information held by Council about the property that may affect the building work.

A PIM does not give any form of approval under the District Plan or Building Act.

You can apply for a PIM by registering and submitting your application through the Simpli online consent portal.

Information included in a PIM

A PIM will include information about:

  • compliance with District Plan requirements
  • information about natural hazards potentially affecting the site
  • the presence of any hazardous contaminants known to Council
  • details on stormwater and sewerage systems and current drainage positions
  • the heritage status of the property
  • other relevant approvals needed eg Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), New Zealand Historic Places Trust, service connections and resource consents.

When a PIM is required

A PIM must be issued before building work starts on non-consented small standalone dwellings (also known as Granny Flats) that are constructed as exempt building work under Schedule 1A of the Building Act 2004. More information about these exemptions, including how to apply for a PIM for these, can be viewed on our Building a non-consented small standalone dwelling (Granny Flat) page.

More information about PIMs can be found on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) website.

What you'll need to include

You'll need to include the following information with your applications:

  • Site plan - showing all existing buildings on site, site access, sizes of buildings on site, distances between existing buildings and the proposed building work, setbacks from boundaries and dimensions of proposed building work
  • Proposed details of stormwater and wastewater disposal
  • Floor plans
  • Elevations.

Apply online

Step 1.Register on the Simpli portal

You'll need a valid email address and a password to register to use the portal. 

Register on Simpli

Step 2.Ensure your application form is correct and complete

Once you've registered, you can apply for a PIM through the Simpli portal.

The application form has a number of parts and it's important that all sections are completed. You'll also be required to upload the documentation relevant to your project. 

Apply for a PIM

Step 3.Make a payment

Once your application is received, you'll receive an invoice from our team for payment. Details of fees and charges can be found on our Building Fees & Charges page.

For full information on how to make payments please view our Paying Us page.

The Building Act requires Council to process a PIM application in twenty (20) working days. The “working day clock” starts the day after the complete application is received by Council. If the application is for a PIM for a non-consented small standalone dwelling (also known as Granny Flats), the processing time is ten (10) working days – details about how to apply for this type of PIM are available on our Apply for a Project Information Memorandum (PIM) - Granny Flats page.

The period between 20 December and 10 January each year is classed as one working day with regards to the 10 and 20 working day clock.

If there is information missing from your application you will receive a request for further information/clarification. When a request for further information is sent the “clock” is stopped and the applicationis suspended until this information is provided. The “clock” is restarted on the next working day after all of the requested information is received.

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