| Apply for the residence of a religious office-bearer | Apply for the residence of a religious office-bearer | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/City%20Connect%20Header%20Image.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <div class="ExternalClassE6C82EDFC36D44328C6AA0755DFDC10C"><p>If you believe that your property should be regarded as a place of public worship, or you want to apply for the residence of the office-bearer (priest, pastor, minister, etc.) of your branch/church building, follow the process below. </p></div> | <h2 class="sectHeading">Place of public worship</h2><p>We do not charge rates on a property registered in the name of, and used primarily as a place of public worship by a religious community. However, you need to prove to us that your property meets the necesssary requirements before it is regarded as such.</p><h4>Requirements:</h4><p>A place of public worship is defined as:
<br>
<em>Property used primarily for the purposes of congregation, excluding a structure that is primarily used for educational instruction in which secular or religious education is the primary instructive medium: provided that the property is:</em></p><ol><li>
<em>(a) Registered in the name of the religious community; [or] </em></li><li>
<em>(b) Registered in the name of a trust established for the sole benefit of a religious community; or </em></li><li>
<em>(c) Subject to a land tenure right.”</em></li></ol><p>If you believe that your property meets the requirements, submit the necessary documents via email to
<a href="mailto:BIVR@capetown.gov.za">BIVR@capetown.gov.za</a>. </p>
<span>
<div class="lrg-icon-content bordered"><div class="lrg-icon lrg-check"><p>
<b>Documents required (whichever is applicable to you):</b></p><ol><li>Documentation as proof that the property is subject to a land tenure right; or</li><li>The Trust Deed, as proof that the property is registered in the name of a trust established for the sole benefit of a religious community.</li></ol></div></div></span>
<h2 class="sectHeading">The residence of the office- bearer</h2><p>We do not charge rates for the official residence occupied by the primary office-bearer for a place of public worship - provided that the Place of Worship as well as the residential property meet the necessary requirements.</p><p>In terms of the
<a href="https://www.gov.za/documents/local-government-municipal-property-rates-act-0" target="_blank">Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>, a place of public worship may own more than one residential property, but only the one residential property - which is occupied by the primary officiating officer - will not be levied a rate. </p><p>We have interpreted this to mean that a religious community may have only one residential property
<strong>per branch/church building,</strong> and the branch/church building needs to be recognised by our Valuations Department as a place of public worship. </p><p>Any other property owned by the religious organisation will be rated according to the use of the property as set out in the
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Rates%20Policy.pdf" target="_blank">Rates Policy</a>. </p><div class="lrg-icon-content bordered"><div class="lrg-icon lrg-check"><p>
<b>The following criteria is applicable to the residence of the office-bearer:</b></p><ul><li>The religious community must be
<strong>the registered owner of the property </strong>being<strong> </strong>used as a place of public worship, <strong>AND</strong> the residential property for the primary office-bearer.</li><li>The property must be used for residential purposes and occupied by the office-bearer as his/her primary place of residence.</li></ul></div></div><h4> How to apply:</h4><p>
<strong>Step 1: </strong>
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/Application_for_residence_of_office_bearer.pdf" target="_blank">Download and complete the application form</a> </p><p>
<strong>Step 2:</strong> Submit, together with any supporting documents, to <a href="mailto:BIVR@capetown.gov.za">BIVR@capetown.gov.za</a>. </p><p> For more information, read our
<a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/GeneralAndSupplementaryValuationsFAQs.pdf" target="_blank">General and Supplementary Valuations FAQs</a>.</p><h2 class="sectHeading">Contact us</h2><p>For more information, contact:</p><h4>
<a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Departments/Valuations%20Department">Valuations Department</a></h4><p>
<em> Telephone:<br><a>086 010 3089</a><br><br> Email:<br><a href="mailto:valuations@capetown.gov.za">valuations@capetown.gov.za</a></em> </p> | | GP0|#4dc91736-61d9-4220-8c7d-6509a9a7e4c4;L0|#04dc91736-61d9-4220-8c7d-6509a9a7e4c4|Organisations;GTSet|#a7cfb90d-44ad-4426-98ce-565f79932396;GPP|#8654e611-7eaa-4a32-9efa-47748ee5797d;GPP|#54dbab3a-0b2f-4602-8af5-3d651c59a5f4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | We do not charge rates on a property used primarily as a place of public worship that meets the requirements. | 0 |
