Granny Flats up to 70m² – Smart, Compliant Builds for New Zealand
What is a granny flat up to 70m² in New Zealand?
A granny flat up to 70 square metres is a self-contained residential dwelling commonly used for family accommodation or rental purposes. In New Zealand, some granny flats up to 70m² may qualify for building consent exemptions if they meet specific Building Code and district plan requirements.
Granny flats up to 70m² are becoming one of the most popular building options in New Zealand — offering flexible living for family, rental income, or downsizing, without the complexity of a full second dwelling. In fact, a well-designed build can transform how your property is used.
At Wai Build Group, we design and build high-quality homes developed specifically for New Zealand sites and building conditions. Our designs are available as a complete kitset or full turn-key builds and may be eligible for the small standalone dwelling consent exemption pathway, where conditions are met. When you choose a granny flat, you’re getting a great blend of function and style.
Why build a granny flat?
- Provide independent living for family members in a modern granny flat setting
- Generate rental income without subdividing your land with an extra granny flat
- Downsize without leaving your property and enjoy the benefits of a self-contained granny flat
- Add long-term value to your land by building a thoughtful granny flat solution
- Faster build time than a full-sized home when developing a small granny flat
- Smooth pathway due to a change in legislation for granny flat compliance
Can a 70m² granny flat be built without building consent?
Because every site is different, eligibility must be assessed before construction. For anyone considering a granny flat, we need to visit your site and confirm some important details before we can discuss further.
Information on this can be found on the external link below, and it’s especially useful for anyone interested in building a new granny flat.
Granny Flats Exemption Guidance
Our Granny Flat Designs (Up to 70m²)
- Classic gable-style designs for your future granny flat
- Modern pavilion and architectural forms suited to any granny flat project
- Traditional NZ-inspired layouts for a granny flat feel at home
- Premium statement designs with feature glazing to enhance your granny flat
Granny Flat Regulations, Materials & Build Options
Understanding what is allowed, what is included, and how a granny flat is built is critical before starting. The links below explain the key considerations for granny flats up to 70m² in New Zealand.
- Consent-free granny flats explained → /consent-free-granny-flats-nz/
- Granny flat kitset materials →/granny-flat-kitset-materials/
- Granny flat site requirements → /granny-flat-site-requirements-nz/
🔒 Access Our Granny Flat Designs (Free)
To protect our design IP and ensure we provide the right advice, full design details are available via our private Design Library. Access is free, with no obligation. Check our range to see which granny flat suits your needs.
What you’ll get:
- Full floor plans for every granny flat model
- Artist impressions of your chosen granny flat
- Design broucher with specifications showing granny flat features
After a free site visit we can supply
- Kitset vs turn-key options for your granny flat project
- Guidance on site suitability for a granny flat in your location
- Costs associated with building a new granny flat
Kitset or Turn-Key — you choose
We offer flexible build pathways depending on your needs. This flexibility is especially appealing for granny flat builds.
Kitset option – Use your own sub-trades and labour
- Full scope of building materials, Kitchen joinery, Bathroom fixtures, floor coverings and finishing items designed to suit a granny flat
- Full set of approved drawings for your intended granny flat
- Liaison with council including lodging PIM for your granny flat project
- Supplied building components and products when required on site in stages for a hassle-free granny flat delivery
- Ideal for owner-builders or remote sites—makes a granny flat achievable almost anywhere
- Full advice through the process for your planned granny flat
Turn-key build
- Fully managed build start to finish with our own staff and approved trades specialised in granny flat construction with a 10 year Guarantee.
- Qualified and experienced trades for reliable granny flat build quality
- Fixed scope for your turnkey granny flat solution
- One point of contact for your granny flat project
- Hassle Free from the first step to granny flat completion
- Fixed price contract for a stress-free granny flat experience
All options can be tailored to suit your site, budget, and finish level – ensuring your granny flat perfectly matches your requirements.
Our process
- Initial enquiry & design selection for your new granny flat
- Site review & compliance assessment to meet granny flat regulations
- Scope confirmation (kit set or turn-key) for your desired granny flat
- Price prepared / Contract Signing for your granny flat build
- Pre build paperwork eg Working drawings, PIM etc. for your granny flat project
- Start Build or deliver kit set to schedule—ideal for every granny flat timeline
- Check-in and conformation for all granny flat project stages
- Sign-off with all necessary paperwork and Guarantees for your new granny flat
Where we build
Wai Build Group is based in Masterton and services the Wellington, Wairarapa and surrounding regions. Kitsets can be supplied New Zealand wide on request without additional cost
Ready to explore your options?
Frequently asked questions
Do all granny flats qualify as consent-free?
No. Eligibility depends on design, site conditions, and Building Code compliance. We assess this early to avoid issues later. Our team will review whether your proposed granny flat can be consent-free and can liaise with local council.
Can I rent out a granny flat?
In many cases, yes — subject to planning rules and how the dwelling is classified. Renting out your granny flat can be an option, and we can discuss this during consultation.
How long does a granny flat build take?
Timeframes vary by design and build type, but a granny flat is typically much faster than full-size homes.
This page is provided by Wai Build, a New Zealand-based building company specialising in granny flats and residential construction, and reflects current New Zealand building practices and regulations.