New Zealand · Auckland · October 24, 2026

Auckland Council GeoMaps: Free Boundaries, Zones, Floods

How to use Auckland Council GeoMaps to see a property boundary, Unitary Plan zone, flood plains and rating details for free, with tips for buyers.

GeoMaps is Auckland Council's free public map. It covers the whole Auckland region, from Wellsford in the north to Pukekohe in the south and out to Waiheke and Great Barrier Island. In a few clicks it shows a property's boundary, its legal description, its zone under the Auckland Unitary Plan and the flood and hazard layers that matter for insurance. No login is needed.

Auckland Council GeoMaps ↗

GeoMaps opened with no login when we checked on October 24, 2026.

Find a property

1. Open GeoMaps with the button above.
2. Search the address in the search box and select the match.
3. Read the results. The property highlights and its details, such as the legal description and rating information, appear in the results panel.
4. Open the legend and layer list to turn on Unitary Plan zones, overlays and hazard layers.

If the address doesn't come up, zoom to the area using the aerial imagery and click the property.

Layers worth turning on

Unitary Plan base zone. The zone decides what you can build. Auckland's residential zones range from Large Lot and Rural and Coastal Settlement through Single House, Mixed Housing Suburban and Mixed Housing Urban to Terrace Housing and Apartment Buildings. The difference between, say, Single House and Mixed Housing Urban can be the difference between one house and several on the same section.

Unitary Plan overlays and controls. Special character areas, historic heritage, significant ecological areas, notable trees and others add extra rules.

Flood plains and overland flow paths. After the January 2023 Auckland floods, flood information became central to buying, insuring and lending in Auckland. Overland flow paths show where water runs in heavy rain, even away from streams.

Coastal inundation and erosion. Important on the many coastal sections around the harbours and gulf.

Aerial imagery by year. Compare years to see when a house was extended or a section was subdivided.

Underground services. A rough guide to where council water and wastewater pipes run. Building over or near a public pipe can need council approval.

What the property panel tells you

Depending on the property, you'll see the legal description, which you need to order the Record of Title, along with the land area and rating or valuation information. The legal description is usually in the form Lot 2 DP 456789.

Limits

• Boundaries are not survey-accurate. GeoMaps draws boundaries from the LINZ cadastre. For building near a boundary, hire a licensed cadastral surveyor.
• Ownership is not shown. Order the Record of Title from LINZ Land Record Search ($8 in October 2026).
• Maps are not the plan itself. The Unitary Plan text sets the rules. GeoMaps shows where zones and overlays apply; read the rules for your zone, or ask the council.
• Hazard maps are a guide. A LIM report and expert advice may be needed for a property in a flood area.

A worked example

Say you are comparing two houses in West Auckland.

1. Search both addresses in GeoMaps and note each legal description.
2. Turn on the Unitary Plan base zone. One is Single House, the other Mixed Housing Suburban: the second may allow more development.
3. Turn on flood plains and overland flow paths. If a flow path crosses one section, ask about drainage and insurance.
4. Check underground services in case a public pipe crosses where you'd want to extend.
5. Order both Records of Title ($8 each) and request a LIM for the one you prefer.

GeoMaps vs the Auckland Unitary Plan viewer

Auckland Council also publishes the Unitary Plan itself online, with its own map viewer. GeoMaps is the broader property map; the Unitary Plan viewer is the official planning map. For a planning question, check the Unitary Plan; for a general property check, GeoMaps puts more layers in one place.

Reading the Unitary Plan zones

GeoMaps colours each zone differently. The most common residential zones, roughly from least to most intensive, are:

• Rural and coastal settlement, and Large Lot. Big sections and low density, often without full council services.
• Single House. Generally one dwelling per site.
• Mixed Housing Suburban. Allows more than one dwelling in many cases, with height and coverage controls.
• Mixed Housing Urban. Allows more intensive housing, including three-storey buildings in many places.
• Terrace Housing and Apartment Buildings. The most intensive residential zone, near centres and transport.

The zone is only part of the story. Overlays, such as special character, heritage or natural hazards, can limit what a zone would otherwise allow. And rules change through plan changes, so check the current Unitary Plan text for your zone.

Checking flood information properly

Flood layers in GeoMaps are a starting point. For a specific property:

1. Turn on flood plains, flood-prone areas and overland flow paths.
2. Look at where water would flow from neighbouring properties and the street.
3. Check the LIM for any flooding information the council holds about the property.
4. Ask the seller about past flooding, and check whether insurance is available on normal terms.

Tips for using GeoMaps

• Search by legal description if the address isn't found, for example for a back section.
• Use the measure tool to check section size and setbacks against a listing.
• Print or save a map for each property you look at, with zones and hazards turned on.
• Check aerial imagery by year to spot unconsented additions, such as a new sleepout or carport that doesn't appear in older photos.

GeoMaps and the LIM

A LIM from Auckland Council collects the council's records for a property: consents, code compliance certificates, hazards it knows about, and more. GeoMaps shows mapped information that may also appear in a LIM, but the LIM is the formal record. For a purchase, use GeoMaps early to narrow your list, and get a LIM for the property you're serious about.

Common questions

Is GeoMaps free? Yes, and it needs no account.

Does GeoMaps show who owns a property? No. Order the Record of Title from LINZ.

Are the flood maps up to date? Auckland Council updates its flood information over time; check the layer details and ask the council for the latest information on a specific property.

Can I rely on the boundary for a fence? No. Use a licensed cadastral surveyor.

Related guides

• How to see property boundaries in New Zealand for free
• What is a Record of Title in NZ?
• Auckland parcel map page

Sources

• GeoMaps opened and checked October 24, 2026.
• LINZ: Land record order fees.