Otautau is a suburb which lies within the Territorial Authority of Southland, one of 43 residential suburbs which form the wider region. Otautau is the 5th largest suburb of Southland in terms of the total number of residential housing stock. Otautau provides a range of housing stock, with the earliest residential housing recorded in the area constructed between 1900 - 1909. The majority of the residential housing stock in the locality was constructed between 1910 - 1919. Residential housing stock in Otautau is made up of approximately 80% residential housing , 1% residential investment housing and 19% lifestyle properties.