The City of Cape Town's Planning and Building Development Management (P & BDM) Department directs and manages building development in Cape Town to benefit residents and visitors, and conserve the city's natural and built heritage.

In order to deliver on our responsibilities, we work closely with other City departments, such as Spatial Planning and Urban Design, Environmental Resource Management, Transport, Roads & Stormwater, Economic and Social Development and Integrated Human Settlement Services.

Our core functions are:

• Land Use Management (e.g. zoning and subdivisions etc.)
• Building Development Management (e.g. building plans etc.)
• Systems Integration (e.g. supporting systems and technology)

As part of these functions, the department facilitates and processes development applications (such as building plans and applications for rezoning and subdivision of land) and monitors their implementation. These functions are controlled and directed by various national and local laws, and are delivered through a network of decentralised district offices.

The department also assists with local environmental impact management and the implementation of forward spatial planning policies (long term development planning in line with statutory and local requirements).