Do I Need Council Approval?
Check whether your project needs municipal land-use or building approval before you start.
Sound familiar?
- “You are not sure if a change needs the municipality's blessing or if you can just get on with it.”
- “A client wants to build close to the boundary or change how the property is used and you do not know the rules.”
- “You do not know the difference between building plan approval and land-use (zoning) approval.”
What this tool does
Answer a few questions and this gives you a steer on whether your project needs municipal approval - building plans, a land-use or zoning change, or both. It is a guide, not the final word: your municipality decides.
This is a simplified guide based on national rules and common municipal by-laws. It does not replace professional planning advice. Municipal by-laws differ, so always check with your local municipality before starting work.
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Job type
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Property
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Details
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Result
Step 1 - What type of job?
What the law actually says
- •Two separate approvals can apply. Building work needs approved plans under the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act 103 of 1977 (technical standards in SANS 10400). Changing how land is used, or building outside the allowed lines, needs land-use approval under the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013 and your municipality's own by-law and zoning scheme. Rules differ from one municipality to the next, so always check the local town planning scheme.