Tauranga's building boom is putting pressure on in unexpected places, like providing portable toilets for building sites.

As the issued building consent figures reported by Priority One continue to climb, so does the uptake of on-site portable toilets.

New health and safety laws mean builders are now obliged to provide toilets and safety fencing.

A Katikati couple was told by one company that there is a waiting list.

Hirepool Mount Maunganui normally has 200-300 toilets for hire and is having to bring in ‘a whole pile' from Auckland to meet demand.

Many of their toilets have been hired out for two years or so, says a company spokesman. But there is definitely a demand.

Superloo Tauranga has toilets available, but is also relocating.

'We've been booming for a couple of years,” says a spokesperson.

'Christchurch is dropping off. We pooled a lot of resources to Christchurch, and we have now slowly started bringing them back. If anyone wants a toilet Superloo will happily provide them.”

She believes the demand is also boosted by new health and safety regulations. Builders are now obliged to provide toilets and safety fencing that they have not had to in the past.

Building consent figures for March show consents issued are continuing to track very well for both Tauranga city and Western Bay of Plenty district councils.

Following a record breaking year in 2015, consents issued in 2016 are continuing to track very well for both councils, according to figures compiled by Priority One.

A recorded $181.1 million in building consents issued by Tauranga City Council for the first three months of 2016 is 40 per cent higher than the previous high in 2015.

In the Western Bay, the district council issued $56.7 million in consents over the same period, which is 30 per cent more than the previous high in 2007.

Consents for the combined sub-region are valued at $237.9 million for the three month period, 47 per cent more than the previous high recorded in 2015.

In March this year, the Western Bay of Plenty District Council issued the highest value of building consents, $23.6 million, in any month since Priority One commenced records in 2003.

The Western Bay council also achieved new two year records for the 113 building consents issued, the $13.1 million value of consents for new houses and the 37consents issued for new residential builds.

Total value of building consents issued by Tauranga City Council in March 2016 is $59.8m, less than last month's $66.5m but ahead of the $41.7m issued in March 2015. The two year high is $81.1m in consents issued in September 2015, while the low over the same period is $30.8m recorded in June 2014.

Total number of consents is 207, less than February's 224 but greater than the 180 consents issued in March 2015. The two year high is 289 consents issued in October 2015, while the low over the same period is 138 consents recorded in April 2015.

Single house consents issued in March are valued at $38.7m, slightly ahead of February's $38.4m and also more than the $26.4m issued in March 2015. The two year high is $45.6m consents issued in October 2015, while the low is $17.7m recorded in April 2014.

The number of house consents is 103, slightly less than 110 in February, but well ahead of the 80 consents issued in March 2015. The two year high is 136 consents issued in October 2015, while the low over the same period is 50 consents issued in April 2014.

Commercial building consents valued at $16.4m were issued in March, less than February's $20.2m but an increase on the $9.5m commercial consents issued in March 2015. The two year high is $32.5m issued in August 2015, while the low is $2.3m issued in May 2014.

The consent at Metlifecare Somervale retirement village at 33 Gloucester Road is for $11.7m. The number of commercial consents issued in March is 19, less than last month's 40, which was a joint two year high along with October 2015, but more than the 16 commercial consents issued in March a year ago.

The two year low is 8 consents issued in June 2014.