Restricted Building Work (RBW) is one of the most misunderstood parts of residential construction in New Zealand. Getting it wrong can stall inspections, block Code Compliance Certificates (CCC), and create legal risk at sale time. This article explains what RBW is, which work must be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP), and how councils check RBW compliance—using Hamilton/Waikato practice as the reference point.

Getting a building consent is one thing. Getting smoothly through inspections and securing your Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) is where programmes either stay on track—or quietly blow out. This guide breaks down what NZ councils typically inspect, what documentation they expect on site, and the common “fail points” that cause re-inspections and delays (with Hamilton-specific CCC notes)