Your heritage site or building
Many Capetonians live in, or own, buildings that are protected by the National Heritage Resources Act, or reside in areas that are protected because of unique heritage characteristics. If you do, you may need heritage permission to make changes to your property.
Is my site or property a heritage resource?
To manage our heritage resources, the City of Cape Town implements
national heritage legislation, working closely with
Heritage Western Cape. We have also developed locally-protected heritage zones across the city.
A site or building can be protected in a number of ways. Here are some examples of heritage protection:
-
Buildings older than 60 years
The National Heritage Resources Act provides general protection for all buildings older than 60 years. A permit from
Heritage Western Cape is required for any alteration to a building older than 60 years. -
National and provincial heritage sites
Buildings and places may be formally protected under the
National Heritage Resources Act, either as National Heritage Sites (managed by the
South African Heritage Resources Agency) or Provincial Heritage Sites. All national monuments declared under the previous National Monuments Act are
Provincial Heritage Sites and are managed by
Heritage Western Cape. A permit in terms of S27 of the National Heritage Resources Act is required for any alterations to a heritage resource that is formally protected. -
Heritage Protection Overlay
The mechanism used by the City of Cape Town to manage and protect heritage, is the Heritage Protection Overlay zoning (HPO) scheme which forms part of the
Municipal Planning By-law and its
amendment. Alterations to properties in HPOs need to comply with the rules set out in the by-law.
Please consult Chapter 20 of the by-law.
You may also want to see the
New Heritage Protection Overlay Zoning (HPO) Notice.
You can check your property or area’s heritage status online. While not all heritage properties have been identified yet, if it has been identified you should find it on the viewer. Visit our
interactive map to find properties, identify streets and find out whether your property has been identified by the City as a heritage resource, is in a HPO, or in a proposed heritage area.
HPOs: building, renovation and maintenance guidelines
There are two types of provisions that must be considered before any alterations are done to a property in an HPO. Please see these two provisions from the by-law below.
General provisions:
Unless exempted, the following activities affecting a place or an area protected as a Heritage Protection Overlay zone require the approval of the City:
Any alteration, including any action affecting the structure, appearance or physical properties of a heritage place, whether by way of structural or other works, by painting, plastering or other decoration or any other means; any development, including any physical intervention, excavation, or action other than those caused by natural forces, which may in any way result in a change to the appearance or physical nature of a heritage place, or influence its stability and future well-being, including:
- any development, including any physical intervention, excavation, or action other than those caused by natural forces, which may in any way result in a change to the appearance or physical nature of a heritage place, or influence its stability and future well-being, including:
i) construction, alteration, demolition, removal or change of use of a heritage place or a structure at a heritage place;
ii) carrying out any works on or over or under a heritage place;
iii) subdivision or consolidation of land comprising a heritage place, including the structures or airspace of a heritage place;
iv) any change to the natural or existing condition or topography of land; and
v) Any permanent removal or destruction of trees, or removal of vegetation or topsoil; - any addition of any new structure;
- the partial demolition of a structure;
- any alteration to or removal of any historical landscape or any landscape feature, including boundary hedges and mature plantings; or addition or removal of or alteration to hard landscape surfaces, street furniture or signage; and
- any below-ground excavation.
Please note
The City may exempt a specific activity or schedule of activities in a geographic area which has been protected as a Heritage Protection Overlay zone from the requirements of sub-item.
A summary of specific provisions:
- The City may apply specific provisions to a heritage place or heritage area protected as a Heritage Protection Overlay zone, which may be in addition or alternative to the general provisions in item 162, provided it relates to land use and development rules and are recorded in a heritage management plan approved by Council in terms of this by-law.
- The City must consult the owner or owners of the heritage place or area before introducing specific provisions in respect of the place or area protected as a Heritage Protection Overlay zone.
Consult the
Municipal Planning By-law in our documents section below.
Consult with us
Your builder or architect should be well aware of protected heritage resources and the permit application process. Make sure they are doing the right thing!
If you are working alone, speak to an official at one of our Environmental and Heritage Management (EHM) district offices.
See our
EHM District Office Contact list and Map, or email us on
heritage@capetown.gov.za.
Heritage resources
Remember
Protecting our heritage is more than just about the law, it’s about preserving an inheritance of something special and important – whether this takes the form of an object, a building of historical importance, a special neighbourhood or area, or a place of memory.
Maintenance and care for heritage buildings
Download the
guidelines for caring for an old building. It is a guide for all those who want to properly maintain a historically important building, ensuring that its historical value and interest is retained and can remain an asset to the area.
The
Cape Town Heritage Trust’s website is an excellent source of information and support for anyone wanting to know how to care for their heritage building, object or property.
View our Heritage information and resources page for more useful heritage-related guides and tips.
If you are interested in heritage in general
The Environment and Heritage Resources Information Centre (EHRIC) is a digital resource centre that is accessible to the public.
The City set up the EHRIC to help researchers access to historic records. You can find historic documents, reports, publications, historic maps (some dating back to the 1600s), photographs, plans and photographic negatives. Because some of these documents are very old and delicate, they are only available in digital format.
EHRIC is open to the public but appointments must be made to visit. Contact the
Environmental Management Department.
Interactive city map
Take a tour through our
interactive map to find properties, identify streets and find out whether your property has been identified by the city as a heritage resource, is in a HPOZ or proposed heritage area.
Did you know?
A well-run city: The City is undertaking a heritage audit of all heritage sites within the metro. The heritage audit initially focusses largely on the built environment, but where known, archaeological and intangible heritage resources are also included. Email us at
heritage@capetown.gov.za if you have information about the heritage of your area, building or places in your community..
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