Do I Need Building Plans Approval?
Check whether your job needs municipal plan approval or counts as minor building work under SANS 10400.
Sound familiar?
- “You are not sure if a small job needs plans drawn up and approved by the municipality.”
- “A client wants to skip plans to save money and you do not know where you stand.”
- “You have heard about minor building work but you are not sure what counts.”
What this tool does
Pick the type of work and this tells you whether it usually needs approved building plans, or whether it falls under the minor building work that the National Building Regulations exempt. It is a starting point, not the final word - your municipality decides.
This is general guidance based on the National Building Regulations and SANS 10400. Your local municipality has the final say and some by-laws are stricter. Always confirm with your municipal building control office before you start.
Step 1 - What work are you doing?
How to get building plans approved
- Have plans drawn up by a competent person (an architect, draughtsperson or registered SACAP professional) to SANS 10400 standards.
- Submit the plans to your local municipality's building control office and pay the plan scrutiny fee. Approval can take a few weeks.
- Once approved, give the required notice, build to the approved plans, book the inspections, and get your occupation certificate (plus any electrical, gas or plumbing Certificates of Compliance) at the end.
What the law actually says
- •The National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act 103 of 1977 requires approved plans before most building work starts. The technical standards sit in SANS 10400. Some minor building work (small additions, certain freestanding structures) is exempt under the regulations, but exemption from plans does not mean exemption from the building standards - the work must still comply with SANS 10400.