Livestock on the road Livestock on the road

If any person intends to move, graze, tether, or locate livestock in the road corridor other than unformed roads, roads on beaches, or movement activities compliant with requirements set in CoPTTM Section I-5 (or any replacement adopted by Auckland Transport, they must have prior approval from Auckland Transport.

The road corridor is the area of road, footpath, berm, kerb and channel that moving, grazing, tethering, or locating livestock may affect its normal operation and create a hazard.

The activities related to livestock on roads in Auckland are covered by the Auckland Transport Activities in the Road Corridor Bylaw 2022.

Grazing, tethering, or locating livestock in the road

Step 1 - Check if you need a permit 

To check if you need to apply, please use the flow chart below to see if you need a Permit or Licence for grazing, tethering, or locating livestock, or if your activity will affect the normal operation of the road.

A flowchart to tell you that if you need a permit depending on whether or not you will graze, tether or locate livestock in the road corridor. If you will, but on unformed roads or roads on beaches then you do not need a permit. You can simply coordinate with AC for roads on beaches. If grazing is on the road corridor, you will need to apply for a permit or non-exclusive licence. If you will erect wires, fences or use any other means of confining livestock, then you need to apply for a road encroachment licence. If not, you can check if your request falls within other activities in the road corridor.

When would a permit be required to graze, tether or locate livestock in the road corridor (PDF 53KB)

Note:

  • Approval is only required for wires and fences outside the property/boundary line.
  • Pre-existing fencing in the road corridor that does not have approval will also need approval.

Step 2 - Know what to include in your application 

Before you apply for a Permit make sure you have everything you need. All new customers must complete forms where applicable.

These are:

  1. Application form – Grazing, Tethering, and locating livestock on the road corridor (DOCx 698KB)
  2. Affected Landowner Consent (Written Consent form) (DOCx 694KB) 
  3. Include a sketch plan of the livestock activity and any infrastructure/building requirements.

Step 3 - Apply for a permit

Applications must be made at least 5 working days before work starts.

Submitting an application is not an authority to start work. You must wait until you receive your approved Permit by email.

Submitting your application

You can send us your application to Auckland Transport by email livestockapplications@at.govt.nz

Step 4 - Pre-approval process 

When AT receives your application, the pre-approval process is as follows:

  1. AT conducts on-site inspection and validation (on a case-by-case basis)
  2. AT evaluates and decides on your application based on the following considerations:
    • Applicant eligibility (i.e., check that you are an adjoining landowner) 
    • Number of livestock 
    • Type of livestock 
    • Proposed location of the livestock (AT expects requests to focus on grazing, tethering, or locating livestock in front of the owners’ property lines)
    • Proposed methods to confine livestock and prevent any damages
    • Ensure the rights of the public to pass and re-pass the road is not affected.
    • Ensure the site is not an elections signs site
    • Public safety
    • AT's current and proposed future use of the land;
    • Compliance with other requirements (e.g. is resource consent required and the activity otherwise lawful)
    • Assets/utilities affected l. AADT/Traffic count in the road corridor
    • Infrastructure or building requirements
    • Legacy agreements o. Mutual agreement with neighbours or any other parties affected (if the proposed site covers neighbours’ frontage) 
    • Additional information gathered during the on-site inspection with the applicant/s

Step 5 - Application outcome

If your application is approved, you will be issued a non-exclusive licence or permit to graze, tether, or locate livestock in the road corridor.

If your application is declined, you will be notified with recommendation on alternative livestock grazing, tethering, or locating areas, whenever possible.

Auckland Transport will conduct monitoring and audit activities.

Crossing or droving livestock in the road corridor

Step 1 - Check if you need a permit. 

To check if you need to apply, please use the flow chart below to see if you need a Permit for crossing or droving livestock on the road corridor or if your activity will affect the normal operation of the road.

Flowchart showing whether you need a permit. If your livestock movement will comply with any required standards in CoPTTM Section I, and standards listed in Part 5 of the Bylaw, then you do not need a permit. If not, you need to apply for a one-off or ongoing permit for the livestock movement.

When would a permit be required to move stock in the road corridor (PDF 50KB).

Step 2 - Know what to include with your application 

Before you apply for a Permit make sure you have everything you need. All new customers must complete forms where applicable.

Application form - Crossing or droving livestock in the road corridor (DOCx 695KB)

Step 3 - Apply for a permit

Applications must be made at least 5 working days before work starts.

Submitting an application is not an authority to start work. You must wait until you receive your approved Permit by email.

Submitting your application

You can send us your application to Auckland Transport by email livestockapplications@at.govt.nz

Step 4 - Pre-approval process

When AT receives your application, the pre-approval process is as follows:

  1. AT evaluates and decides on your application based on the following considerations:
    • Number of livestock
    • Type of livestock 
    • The time-of-day livestock is to be moved
    • CoPTTM or Bylaw standard/s not complied with(Please add hyperlink)
    • Proposed method/s by the applicant to mitigate potential issues (arising from non-compliance with CoPTTM or Bylaw standard/s) while droving or crossing livestock in the road corridor 
    • AADT/traffic count in the road corridor
  2. Auckland Transport will conduct monitoring and audit inspections for livestock droving and crossing activities (with or without a permit).

National code of practice 

The National Code of Practice for Utility Operators' Access to Transport Corridors (PDF 2.4MB) defines the set of standards for working in the road and the Corridor Access Request (CAR) processes. The Code is mandatory under the Utilities Access Act 2010 and applies to all works carried out in the road corridor, whether the work is for or by a utility, local government, commercial organisation or private individual(s).