A request for further information, or RFI, asks for clarification or evidence needed to assess the application. Your design team reviews the questions, coordinates any specialist input and submits a consistent response. The processing clock pauses while the information is outstanding.
Understand what the council needs
An RFI can concern a detail, calculation, specification or inconsistency between documents. It is not, by itself, a refusal of consent. Read each question carefully and identify the evidence needed to answer it. Some matters can be clarified with an explanation; others require revised drawings or specialist documentation.
Allocate and coordinate the response
The architectural designer may answer architectural questions, while the engineer or another consultant addresses their own work. Keep one coordinated record of the questions and responses. Where a revision affects more than one discipline, check that the documents describe the same solution before submitting them.
Check the effect on your project investment and programme
Response time depends on the nature of the request and the people involved. Your appointment should explain whether responding to RFIs is included or charged separately. If a request leads to a change in the agreed design, establish its effect on your architectural investment, construction allowance and programme before proceeding. Clear allowances help keep the investment aligned with the home you want to achieve. Do not assume every RFI represents the same amount of work.
Maintain a clear document record
Label revisions and keep a copy of the material submitted. Once consent is issued, confirm that the approved set includes the resolved information. Modal coordinates architectural responses and relevant consultant input within the agreed service. Our process explains the consent stage and helps clarify the responsibilities that should be agreed at the beginning of a project.
Related questions
- How do I navigate the building and resource consent process?
- Do I need building consent for a renovation?
- How long does building consent take in New Zealand?
Further guidance
Regulatory guidance checked September 2026. Confirm the current requirements for your project.
