Council permission is required when certain activities or works are proposed within a Council managed park or reserve.
Depending on what you need to do, you may require formal Landowner Approval or temporary access utilising a council-issued reserve key. The information below will help you understand the difference and guide you to the correct form.
Landowner Approval
Landowner approval is formal permission to carry out an activity on Council land (such as a park or reserve). This is generally required for activities that may impact public use, the environment, or existing infrastructure.
This may include (but not limited to):
- Installing new connections to infrastructure through a reserve to serve private property
- Accessing private property for construction or maintenance from a reserve
- Earthworks within a reserve
- Locating stormwater or wastewater infrastructure within a reserve
- Using part of a reserve as a temporary construction laydown area
- Creating easements or other legal permissions
- Utilising Council-owned or managed land is generally considered a last resort, and applicants will be asked to explore alternative options before seeking approval.
- Some proposals may also require easements or professional services, with associated costs on-charged to applicants.
Please note: Due to high demand, landowner approval applications may take longer than 20 working days to process.
Fees
Applicants will be charged for:
- An application fee, plus an hourly rate for any processing time exceeding 2.5 hours
- Compensation for easements (if required)
- Disbursements, such as valuation, legal fees, and engagement with iwi and hapū
View the full fees and charges
Landowner Approval Application Form
Please complete and submit this form to apply for landowner approval.
Landowner approval application
Key/Vehicle Access on Reserves
Key/Vehicle Access provides temporary permission to enter a reserve, usually for low-impact and low duration activities. This may be suitable if you do not require formal landowner approval but do require access to a reserve, for instance requiring a key to launch a vessel at Taylor’s Reserve.
Unlike landowner approval, temporary access does not permit construction or major works and generally does not require reserve closures.
Key/Vehicle Access Form
Please use the form below to apply for key or vehicle access to Council land.
Application for Vehicle Access to a Reserve
If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact admin.spacesandplaces@tauranga.govt.nz.
Easements
Sometimes, when we approve work on Council land, we also need to register an easement. An easement gives a neighbouring property the legal right to use a part of Council land for a pipe or accessway, for example.
Because an easement places a legal burden on Council land, we charge fair compensation. A registered valuer usually calculates this. Applicants also pay for staff time, legal work, survey and valuation fees, and any other costs like public consultation or engagement with mana whenua, if required.
If an easement is needed
If your project needs an easement, here’s what to expect:
- We confirm and outline costs – We’ll give you an indicative breakdown of costs, including valuation, survey, staff time, consultation, legal fees, LINZ fees, compensation, and other disbursements.
- Engage with mana whenua – We work with iwi and hapū as part of the process if required.
- Complete valuation – A registered valuer determines fair compensation.
- Agreement prepared – We arrange for an Agreement to Grant Easement to be prepared. Any landowner approval will depend on registering the easement on terms acceptable to Council.
- Pay compensation and costs – You pay the agreed amount.
- Carry out site works – Work on site can begin.
- Provide as-built plans – Submit as-built drawings once work is complete.
- Complete survey and approval – A surveyor prepares the survey plan showing the easement area. The plan will need to be approved by Council and also by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ).
- Register the easement – The easement is registered with LINZ on the property titles for both Council and the landowner.