Download the current version of the Construction Standard Specification (CSS).
Construction Standard Specification 2025
The Construction Standard Specification is available online only. Printed copies are no longer available for purchase from Christchurch City Council. The current version is dated 2025.
See the 2025 CSS Amendments Summary [PDF, 342 KB].
- CSS Part 1 – General [PDF, 1.3 MB]
- CSS Part 1 – General - Standard drawings [PDF, 351 KB]
- CSS Part 2 - Earthworks [PDF, 596 KB]
- CSS Part 2 - Earthworks standard drawings [PDF, 32 KB]
- CSS Part 3 – Drainage [PDF, 1.7 MB]
- CSS Part 3 – Drainage standard drawings [PDF, 7.1 MB]
- CSS Part 4 – Water supply [PDF, 1 MB]
- CSS Part 4 – Water supply standard drawings [PDF, 1.4 MB]
- CSS Part 5 – Lighting [PDF, 656 KB]
- CSS Part 5 - Lighting standard drawings [PDF, 1.8 MB]
- CSS Part 6 – Roading [PDF, 1.3 MB]
- CSS Part 6 – Roading standard drawings [PDF, 4.4 MB]
- CSS Part 6 – Appendix 2 [XLSX, 22 KB]
- CSS Part 7 – Landscapes [PDF, 804 KB]
- CSS Part 7 – Landscapes standard drawings [PDF, 2.2 MB]
Use of the CSS documents
These specifications set out the Christchurch City Council technical requirements for the construction of land and asset developments undertaken both on behalf of Christchurch City Council or that are intended to be taken over or maintained by Christchurch City Council.
The Infrastructure Design Standard set out the technical requirements for the design of land and asset developments. As such, there is a degree of interrelatedness between these two documents and they should be read in conjunction with each other.
While all possible care and effort have been taken in the development of the CSS, these documents relate to situations, practices and procedures that are likely to change.
Christchurch City Council accepts no responsibility for failure in any way related to the application of these standards. They should not be deemed as providing either the formal or the only answers to any particular situation or set of circumstances. Therefore, they need to be considered and applied with due care and forethought and should not be relied on in isolation from other sources of advice and information.
Document control
To allow for regular reviews, the above version of the Construction Standard Specification is the controlled version. It is your responsibility to be familiar with and refer to this version.
Subscribe to receive updates to the Infrastructure Design Standard, the Construction Standard Specifications (CSS), the approved materials specifications and other related matters.
Superseded versions
- CSS Amendments Summary [PDF, 309 KB]
- CSS Part 1 – General [PDF, 1.6 MB]
- CSS Part 1 – General - Standard drawings [PDF, 357 KB]
- CSS Part 2 - Earthworks [PDF, 809 KB]
- CSS Part 2 - Earthworks standard drawings [PDF, 37 KB]
- CSS Part 3 – Drainage [PDF, 2.3 MB]
- CSS Part 3 – Drainage standard drawings [PDF, 7.9 MB]
- CSS Part 4 – Water supply [PDF, 1.3 MB]
- CSS Part 4 – Water supply standard drawings [PDF, 1.5 MB]
- CSS Part 5 – Lighting [PDF, 924 KB]
- CSS Part 5 - Lighting standard drawings [PDF, 1.8 MB]
- CSS Part 6 – Roading [PDF, 1.3 MB]
- CSS Part 6 – Roading standard drawings [PDF, 3.4 MB]
- CSS Part 6 – Appendix 2 [XLSX, 22 KB]
- CSS Part 7 – Landscapes [PDF, 910 KB]
- CSS Part 7 – Landscapes standard drawings [PDF, 2.1 MB]
2023 updates
- CSS Part 6 – Roading 2023 update [PDF, 1.1 MB]
- CSS Part 6 – Roading standard drawings 2023 update [PDF, 3.5 MB]
- CSS Part 1 – General 2019 [PDF, 1.5 MB]
- CSS Part 1 – General standard drawings 2019 [PDF, 148 KB]
- CSS Part 2 - Earthworks 2019 [PDF, 865 KB]
- CSS Part 2 - Standard drawings 2019 [PDF, 30 KB]
- CSS Part 3 – Utility drainage 2019 [PDF, 1.4 MB]
- CSS Part 3 – Utility drainage standard drawings 2019 [PDF, 6.4 MB]
- CSS Part 4 – Water supply 2019 [PDF, 1.4 MB]
- CSS Part 4 – Water supply standard drawings 2019 [PDF, 1.2 MB]
- CSS Part 5 – Lights 2019 [PDF, 824 KB]
- CSS Part 5 - Lights standard drawings 2019 [PDF, 1.4 MB]
- CSS Part 6 – Roads 2019 [PDF, 1.4 MB]
- CSS Part 6 – Roads standard drawings 2019 [PDF, 1.9 MB]
- CSS Part 6 – Appendix 2 2019 [XLSX, 22 KB]
- CSS Part 7 – Landscapes 2019 [PDF, 989 KB]
- CSS Part 7 – Landscapes standard drawings 2019 [PDF, 1.8 MB]
- CSS Part 1 - General 2014 [PDF, 1.7 MB]
- CSS Part 2 - Earthworks 2014 [PDF, 580 KB]
- CSS Part 3 - Utility Drainage 2017 [PDF, 9.4 MB]
- CSS Part 4 - Water Supply 2015 [PDF, 1.7 MB]
- CSS Part 5 - Lights 2013 [PDF, 1.2 MB]
- CSS Part 6 - Roads 2015 [PDF, 3.6 MB]
- CSS Part 7 - Landscapes 2014 [PDF, 1.8 MB]