Unconsented building work has proved costly for one Tauranga resident who has been fined.

Bill Taylor has been ordered by the Tauranga District Council to pay fines and costs after a five year battle over the unconsented work.

In October 2009 Tauranga City Council received a complaint that unlawful building work was being carried out at Mr Taylor's residential property in Wharf Street without building consent.

The work included the removal of a retaining wall and part of a bank between his and the neighbouring property.

Since then, Council has been working with Taylor to try to find a workable resolution.

The issue remained unresolved and Council brought legal proceedings against Taylor in mid-2013 for failure to comply with the Building Act 2004. In August 2014 Taylor pleaded guilty to the charge.

Taylor has been ordered to pay fines and costs totalling $41,130, 90 per cent of which will be returned to Council.

Chief executive officer Gary Poole is pleased with the result.

'The Building Act 2004 exists to protect people from dangerous building work. Council's role is to ensure compliance with the Act and Building Code and we have spent many hours, as well as ratepayer money, to try and resolve this issue with Mr Taylor.

'The decision to take a prosecution against him was a last resort, but we are pleased that the Court recognised the seriousness and prolonged nature of his offending.”