This is the district plan for the area of Christchurch City prior to its amalgamation with the former Banks Peninsula District Council.

As a consequence of the withdrawal of the coastal hazard provisions from the proposed Christchurch Replacement Plan, the provisions of the Christchurch City Plan and the Banks Peninsula District Plan that relate to coastal hazards continue to apply. The provisions of those plans that still apply are set out in this table.(external link)

Important changes

Coastal Marine Area – change

Planning maps 34 and 41 of the Christchurch City Plan have been amended following changes by the Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration under section 27 of the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011.

The amendments apply to the location of the Avon River Mouth and the Coastal Marine Area Boundary to respond to the change in estuary dynamics as a result of land subsidence following the Canterbury earthquake sequence.

The map changes are effective from 16 April 2016.


Christchurch City Plan

Overview [PDF, 101 KB]

Introduction [PDF, 99 KB]

Volume 1 – The Statement of Issues [PDF, 2.5 MB]

  • Introduction to the Statement of Issues
  • Chapter 1: A Description of the city and its Natural and Physical Resources
  • Chapter 2: A Sustainable City
  • Chapter 3: The Issues for Christchurch

Volume 2 – The Statement of Objectives, Policies and Issues [PDF, 8 MB]

  • Introduction
  • Section 1 Planning for a Sustainable Christchurch
  • Section 2 Natural Environment
  • Section 3 Energy
  • Section 4 City Identity
  • Section 5 Tangata Whenua
  • Section 6 Urban Growth
  • Section 7 Transport
  • Section 8 Utilities
  • Section 9 Community Facilities and Identity
  • Section 10 Subdivision and Development
  • Section 11 Living
  • Section 12 Business
  • Section 13 Rural
  • Section 14 Recreation and Open Space
  • Section 15 Methods of Implementation

Volume 3 – The Statement of Rules

Zoning Index [PDF, 294 KB]

Planning maps(external link)

Change Register [PDF, 66 KB]

Footnotes [PDF, 83 KB]