Advice for an owner-builder
While many property owners are fully capable of managing a building project or building development, the application and approval process of land use applications and building plans, as well as the actual business of building is strictly regulated.
Factors to consider
We strongly recommend working with accredited practitioners rather than trying to do it alone; here are some reasons why:
- If your building is older than 60 years or a Provincial Heritage Site, the City cannot process your application without a
Record of Decision from Heritage Western Cape.
- Land use and buildings have to be considerate of complex social and environmental criteria and approval of plans can only be given if all criteria are taken into account appropriately and according to the law.
- Only a
SACAP registered professional can draw building plans. Even if you know how to prepare plans, the updated
South African National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act (2008) states clearly that anyone drawing plans needs to be registered according to a recognised professional act, such as the
Architectural Professions Act, 2000, the
Engineering Profession Act, 2000, the
Natural Scientific Professions Act, 2003, or any other relevant Act.
- Your land use and planning applications to the City can be rejected if you have not submitted all the required documentation that refers to your build – again, unless you have experience, you could delay your plans considerably by even the smallest omission.
- Accredited practitioners are familiar with the requirements for submission and can prevent delays caused by omission of documentation.
- An experienced builder or project manager can keep your project within budget and will know how to manage the project’s financial status by helping you make the correct choices.
- A new dwelling unit must be registered with the
NHBRC and can only be built by a builder who is also registered with the
NHBRC.
Please note
The City’s building inspectors conduct 3 compulsory inspections during construction to verify that the building work is carried out as per the approved plan. These inspections happen at trench, sewer and completion stage
If you are certain you want to proceed alone, then we recommend consulting first with your
local Development Management District offices.
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