Appeal a building decision
Every property within the boundaries of the City of Cape Town has a specific zoning. This is determined by the City’s land use management system and the Development Management Scheme (“DMS”) which forms part of the City’s Municipal Planning By-Law, which you can find at the bottom of this page.
Understanding refusals
As a quick guide, an application may be refused where the proposed building:
- fails to comply with the National Building Regulations and other legal standards and requirements;
- will spoil the appearance of the area or be unsightly or objectionable;
- will cause neighbouring or adjoining property values to drop;
- will directly or indirectly endanger life or property;
- will not promote health and hygiene, or will cause a nuisance to neighbours; or
- will be prone to flooding.
If your building plan application has been refused, the plans may require an amendment or correction to address the City’s reasons for refusal. If you submit the amended plan within one year following the original decision, you will not be charged any additional application fees.
Submit an appeal
Section 62 of the
Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 allows you to appeal to the City Manager within 21 days of being notified of the refusal. The City of Cape Town’s own appeals committee will review the decision within a reasonable time.
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