Architect or architectural designer: who should design your house?
Both can design a New Zealand home and get it consented. Here's what the titles mean, and how to choose.
Updated 1 October 2026 · By CAD Consultants Ltd
In New Zealand, "architect" is a protected title: only people registered with the NZ Registered Architects Board can use it. An architectural designer who holds a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) Design licence can design houses and sign the Certificate of Design Work that council needs for building consent. Most new homes in New Zealand are designed by architectural designers.
The short version
| Registered architect | Architectural designer (LBP Design) | |
|---|---|---|
| Title protected by law | Yes, Registered Architects Act 2005 | No. Check the LBP licence instead |
| Can design a new home for consent | Yes | Yes, within their licence class |
| Signs the Certificate of Design Work | Yes | Yes |
| Typical work | Wide range, often larger or complex buildings | Mostly residential: new homes, extensions, granny flats, multi-unit |
| Where to check | NZ Registered Architects Board register | LBP Register (lbp.govt.nz) |
What an LBP Design licence means
Designing restricted building work, the structure and weathertightness of a home, must be done or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner (Design) or a registered architect. They provide the Certificate of Design Work that council requires with your consent application. LBP Design licences come in three classes (Design 1, 2 and 3) that cover increasingly complex buildings. Check the class matches your project.
How to choose
- Check the register. Search the designer's name on the LBP Register, or the architect's on the Registered Architects Board register.
- Look at homes like yours: similar size, budget and site, ideally in your district.
- Ask about council experience. How many consents have they taken through your council, and how do they handle RFIs?
- Ask for a fixed fee and a clear scope, from concept through to consent and construction support.
- Ask whether they design to a budget and coordinate the engineer, so the drawings are buildable and priceable.
About us
CAD Consultants Ltd is an architectural design practice, not an architecture firm. Our design work is led by a Licensed Building Practitioner (Design), and we've taken 391 projects through 23 New Zealand councils since 2017. Our first consultation is free, and we give a fixed-fee proposal before you commit.
Common questions
Do I need an architect to build a house in NZ?
No. A house can be designed by a Licensed Building Practitioner (Design) or a registered architect. Most New Zealand homes are designed by architectural designers holding an LBP Design licence.
Is an architectural designer cheaper than an architect?
Often, but fees depend on scope more than title. Compare fixed-fee proposals covering the same stages: concept, developed design, consent documentation and construction support.
How do I check if a designer is licensed?
Search their name on the LBP Register at lbp.govt.nz. It shows whether they hold a current Design licence and which class.
Can an architectural designer call themselves an architect?
No. In New Zealand only registered architects may use the title "architect", under the Registered Architects Act 2005.