Rural Land Use
Land use activities in Rotorua District’s rural zones have the potential to adversely affect the amenity values associated with rural character.
The district’s rural amenity values include
- large separation distances between buildings
- low density and height of buildings
- more extensive areas of vegetation in comparison to urban areas
- limited areas of paved surfaces
- the presence of natural habitats of flora and fauna
- low levels of noise emissions
- a dominance of farming type activities
- good visual and landscape qualities.
The Rotorua District Plan contains rules relevant to rural land use.
Maximum height and daylighting
A building must not exceed the following standards.
| Rural A |
10 metres above the lower of either the natural ground level or the finished ground level. For residential units the maximum height is 7.5 metres |
| Rural B |
7.5 metres above the natural ground level |
| Rural C |
No height restrictions apply |
| Rural D |
7.5 metres above the natural ground level |
| Rural E |
7.5 metres above the natural ground level, provided that the maximum height at the boundary is 3 metres, plus 1 metre for every 1 metre from the boundary |
| Rural F |
15 metres above the natural ground level |
Buffers
These buffer requirements for buildings apply, except
- where Appendix D of the District Plan identifies a site for a road
- where a building, waste disposal facility or structure for confined animal farming is proposed to be erected within 10 metres of any river or stream, or any lake with a surface area of more than 8 hectares, or within 5 metres of any esplanade reserve or strip.
| |
Minimum front yard (metres) |
Minimum side yard |
Minimum rear yard |
Minimum rear site yard |
| Rural A |
10 |
5 |
7.5 |
5 |
| Rural B |
7.5 |
5 |
7.5 |
5 |
| Rural C |
No restrictions other than those that may be specified in a development plan |
|
|
| Rural D |
7.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
| Rural E |
7.5 |
2.5 |
5 |
2.5 |
| Rural F |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
Maximum site coverage
In all rural zones except Rural G:
- Buildings - 25%
- Impermeable surfaces - 40%
- Side, rear and rear site yard nil, except where the site adjoins a residential zone or is located within 25 metres of a residential zone, in which case a 5-metre yard is required.