Granny Flats and Minor Dwellings – Clear Rules, Confident Builds
Architecturally Designed Transportable Granny Flats
Transbuild offers a specialised range of architecturally designed granny flats and minor dwellings – up to 70m², fully code-compliant, and built to the same standard as our full-size homes. These homes deliver flexible, long-term living options for families, multi-generational households, downsizers and those exploring secure rental income.
Built for Kiwi Living
Up to 70m², architecturally designed and fully compliant with the NZ Building Code – permanent, durable homes built for long-term occupancy.
Proven Experience Since 2012
Over a decade of designing and delivering minor dwellings, with hundreds completed for clients across the North Island.
Guidance for Your Timeline
Whether you’re ready to build now or planning ahead, we help you navigate the right pathway.
Factory-Built Quality & Expert Support
In-house designers, LBPs, consenting specialists and project managers – paired with a controlled factory build for consistency, efficiency and precision.
Choose from our architecturally designed floorplans, optimised for space, light, and liveability.
2-3 bedroom options | Full kitchens & bathrooms | Premium finishes & Fisher & Paykel appliances | Ready-to-live transportable homes
Need help to check your site is suitable for a Transportable Minor Dwelling?
How Transbuild Makes the Process Easy
We keep the entire journey streamlined and transparent – no guesswork, no unnecessary delays.
Initial Consultation & Feasibility
We review your site to confirm suitability, including zoning, boundaries, access and services. You share your goals – family use, rental, investment – and we recommend a suitable plan from our minor dwelling range.
Design & Documentation
We refine your design within the required size and regulatory limits and prepare the documentation, drawings and specifications needed for compliance and council.
Approval Pathways, Made Clear
Every site is different. We assess your project early to confirm whether a consent-exempt pathway is suitable or whether a standard building consent is the better option. If council approvals are required, we prepare and manage all documentation, including PIMs, building consents, and LBP paperwork.
Construction & Project Management
Your dwelling is built in our factory under controlled conditions, with consistent quality checks and timeline management. You get regular updates, clear communication and confidence that every detail meets code.
Completion & Handover
We organise the compliance documentation & hand over a fully completed, ready-to-occupy home, delivered & installed on foundations at your site in as little as 12 weeks. We also offer an optional Site Works Package that can include driveways, landscaping and decking.
New Rules for Granny Flats & Minor Dwellings in NZ
New Zealand’s building regulations have changed, making it easier to build small, self-contained dwellings, often referred to as granny flats or minor dwellings.
A new building consent exemption now applies to certain standalone dwellings up to 70m², provided strict criteria are met.
This change is designed to reduce unnecessary time and cost, while still maintaining full Building Code compliance.
When a Building Consent May Not Be Required
A building consent may not be required if the dwelling:
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Is a single-storey, standalone unit for one household
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Has a net floor area of 70m² or less
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Sits no more than 1 metre above ground level
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Is no higher than 4 metres above floor level
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Is located at least 2 metres from any legal boundary or other dwelling
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Fully complies with the New Zealand Building Code
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Is built or supervised by Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs)
If all criteria are met, the project may follow a consent-exempt building pathway.
When a Standard Building Consent Is Still Required
A full building consent (and sometimes a resource consent) is still required for:
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Larger or more complex designs
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Sloping or technically challenging sites
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Flood-prone, coastal, or hazard-affected land
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Sites with tighter planning controls
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Projects that don’t meet all exemption criteria
In many cases, a standard consent can actually be the simpler and lower-risk option.
How Transbuild Helps You
The new granny flat rules make things simpler on paper, but they also place more responsibility on the design and build team. That’s where experience really matters.
At Transbuild, we bring:
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Decades of experience delivering transportable homes and minor dwellings across a wide range of site conditions
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Current, practical knowledge of the 70 m² consent exemption, including when it applies and when it doesn’t
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A full end-to-end service, from site assessment and design through to delivery, installation, and hand-over
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Clear pricing and efficient timelines, with fewer surprises along the way
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Architecturally considered designs, robust construction, and low-maintenance living suited to New Zealand conditions
Our role is to help you choose the right pathway from the outset, design to it properly, and deliver a home that’s compliant, well-built, and built to last.
What's Included in Transbuild Granny Flats
- Factory completion of your selected design
- Licensed Builder construction
- Kitchen + appliances included
- Bathroom fit-out & lighting
- Standard pile foundations
- Delivery & installation (North Island)
- GST included
Need a turnkey solution? Add our Site Works Package for decks, driveways, and service connections.
Site Works Package →
QUALITY YOU CAN LIVE IN
Our granny flats are permanent homes, not temporary cabins or tiny homes.
Built by Licensed Building Practitioners in our purpose-built factory, finished to residential standards, and delivered ready for installation anywhere in the North Island.
The best place to start is with a free site check or by requesting a quote on your preferred plan.
Request a Free Site Check →
Spacious Architectural Design
Spacious Architectural Design
Spacious Architectural Design
Spacious Architectural Design
Spacious Architectural Design
Spacious Architectural Design
Visit Our Show Homes
DRURY, AUCKLAND
CURRENT PLANS
• Ruapehu 151sqm Mono pitch roof
• Huxley 120sqm with Mono pitch roof
• Kaweka 119sqm with Dual gable roof
LOCATION
250b Sutton Road, Drury, South Auckland.
OPEN HOURS
• Weekdays 9am – 4.00pm
• Saturday by appointment only, Sunday 11am – 1pm
PHONE
0800 460 307
TRANSBUILD FINANCE
Finance & Build Process
We can connect you with lending specialists who understand off-site construction.
Typical build time: ≈ 12 weeks from consent to delivery.
How It Works:
- Free Site Check
- Choose Your Plan
- Prelim Design & Compliance
- Consents & Scheduling
- Factory Build
- Delivery & Handover
Enquire About Finance →
Here’s What Our Customers Say
“It definitely feels like our home…
with our own special touches on it. We’ve always wanted a transportable home: it’s so much quicker & more affordable.”
– Zoey & James
“Transbuild fit our parameters nicely which made a big difference…
Convenience was one of the reasons we chose Transbuild. We needed to downsize, and the best way to do it was with a transportable.”
– Judith & Mark
“We’ve always wanted a transportable home…
It was quicker, more affordable, and perfectly suited our needs.”
– Russell & Jean