Does public law control the detailed design, appearance and method of construction of any new building?
The Housing Standards and Control Act [Chapter 29:08] and Model Building By-laws constitute the policy instruments governing housing unit development. The Factories and Works Act [Chapter 14:08] specifies the minimum building standards for a factory. The government is empowered to deal with buildings of unsatisfactory standards, issues of overcrowding and control of harmful use of premises, including the protection of the rights of neighbours. Structures which are substandard may be demolished.
The Housing Standards and Control Act defines the council’s powers to monitor housing development and to order demolition where necessary. These two instruments work in conjunction with the Regional Town and Country Planning Act and together guide the enactment of council by-laws.
In cases where the construction of a new building is taking place on a wetland the Environmental Management Agency and Catchment Council working on the authority of the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] and Water Act [Chapter 20:24] provide direction on the method of construction. All this meant to ensure minimum negative impact on the environment.