Got a Building Line Restriction flagged on your Form 4? We handle the entire cancellation process so you can get on with your build.
A Building Line Restriction (BLR) is an old encumbrance on your property title that restricts where you can build. Most were imposed by Orders in Council in the 1940s-1960s for roads that have long since been fully formed - but the restriction stays on your title until it's formally cancelled.
Most owners discover a BLR when their building consent triggers a Form 4 certificate identifying the restriction on their title.
BLRs typically require buildings to be set back 48 feet (14.6m) or more from the road centreline, severely limiting where you can place your building.
Even building work exempt under Schedule 1 of the Building Act must comply with a BLR unless it is cancelled. It can hold up your entire project.
The good news: most BLRs can be permanently cancelled and removed from your title. That's what we do.
Building line restrictions are a legacy of mid-20th century road planning across New Zealand. They were created by Orders in Council — typically between the 1940s and 1960s — to protect land that councils might need for future road widening. The restriction was registered as an encumbrance on individual property titles under the Public Works Act.
A building line restriction is listed in the Interests section of your Record of Title (formerly called a Certificate of Title). It typically appears as a reference to an Order in Council with a Gazette notice number and date — for example, a reference to the New Zealand Gazette from the 1950s establishing a building line along a particular road.
The instrument will specify a setback distance from the road centreline — most commonly 48 feet (14.6 metres), though some require 66 feet (20.1 metres) or more. No building or part of a building can be erected between the road boundary and the building line without the restriction being cancelled first.
Many property owners in Northland and across New Zealand are unaware their title carries a BLR until they apply for a building consent. The restriction stays on the title indefinitely — even when the road it was protecting has been fully formed for decades and no further widening is planned.
There are several ways to find out whether a building line restriction affects your property.
Order a copy of your Record of Title from Toitū Te Whenua (Land Information New Zealand / LINZ) through their Landonline service. Look in the "Interests" section for any reference to a building line, an Order in Council, or a Gazette notice relating to road setbacks.
Most owners discover a BLR when they apply for a building consent and the council issues a Form 4 certificate as part of the Project Information Memorandum (PIM). If the Form 4 flags a building line restriction, your proposed building work may fall within the restricted area.
A Land Information Memorandum (LIM) from your local council will identify known encumbrances on your property, including building line restrictions. This is particularly useful during due diligence when purchasing a property.
Not sure whether your property has a building line restriction? Contact us and we can check your title and advise you on whether a BLR exists and what your options are for getting it removed.
BLR cancellation requires a planning report and a formal council application. It's a specialist process - not something your builder or architect typically handles. We've done it and we know exactly what's needed to get your restriction removed.
Talk to Us About Your BLRWe handle building line restriction cancellations from start to finish
Our planners have the expertise to prepare the planning report and statutory case required for BLR cancellation.
Title searches, historical instrument research, planning report, council application and liaison - we manage the entire process so you don't have to.
We keep you informed at every stage so you know exactly where things are at with your BLR cancellation.
A complete, well-prepared application avoids delays and gets your restriction removed so your building project can proceed.
Building line restrictions in New Zealand are cancelled under Section 327A of the Local Government Act 1974. This is a council-driven process — not a resource consent — and involves the following steps.
We obtain your Record of Title from LINZ and identify the specific Order in Council or Gazette notice that created the building line restriction. This tells us the setback distance, the road it relates to, and the original purpose.
We assess the current road formation, property boundaries, and the position of your proposed building work relative to the building line. This establishes whether the original reason for the restriction still applies.
We prepare a planning report that sets out the statutory case for cancellation. This includes the history of the restriction, the current road status, an assessment of whether the land is still needed for road widening, and a recommendation for cancellation.
We submit the planning report and formal application to the council requesting cancellation of the building line restriction under Section 327A. The council's roading and planning teams review the application.
Once the council approves the cancellation, they issue a resolution and notify LINZ. The building line restriction encumbrance is permanently removed from your Record of Title, and you can proceed with your building project.
Common questions about BLR removal and cancellation in New Zealand
A Building Line Restriction is an encumbrance registered on your property title that restricts where buildings can be placed on your land. Most were imposed by Orders in Council in the mid-20th century and require setbacks of 48 feet (14.6m) or more from a road centreline. Many are now outdated because the roads they were protecting have long since been fully formed.
Most property owners discover a BLR when they apply for a building consent and receive a Form 4 certificate from the council flagging the restriction. BLRs are listed on your Record of Title under the "Interests" section. If you're unsure, contact us and we can check for you.
A Form 4 is a certificate issued by the council as part of a Project Information Memorandum (PIM) when you apply for a building consent. It identifies any building line restrictions or other encumbrances that affect where buildings can be placed on your property.
Yes. Councils have the power to cancel a Building Line Restriction, and once cancelled the encumbrance is permanently removed from your Record of Title. Once removed, our property development management service can coordinate the rest of your project through to completion. Contact us to discuss whether your BLR is a candidate for cancellation.
No. BLR cancellation is a separate process under the Local Government Act 1974 - it is not a resource consent. However, your building project may still require resource consent for other reasons. We can advise you on both.
BLR cancellation requires a formal planning report and council application. It involves statutory analysis, historical instrument research, and a case for cancellation that satisfies council. It's specialist work - talk to us and we'll take care of it.
The timeline depends on the council and the complexity of the application. Once we submit a complete application, councils typically process it within a few weeks. The overall process — from initial title search through to the encumbrance being removed from your Record of Title — usually takes 4 to 8 weeks.
A BLR can affect property value because it limits where you can build and can delay or prevent building projects. Removing the restriction clears the encumbrance from your title permanently, which can increase the development potential and value of your property.
A building setback is a rule in the district plan that controls how far buildings must be from boundaries — it applies to everyone in a zone and doesn't appear on your title. A building line restriction is a separate legal encumbrance registered on your specific property title under historical legislation. Both limit where you can build, but they are different legal instruments with different removal processes. Your project may need to comply with both.
Contact us for a free assessment. We'll confirm whether your BLR can be cancelled and handle the entire process for you.
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