Comment on proposed amendments to Municipal Planning By-law
03 July 2026
The City is proposing new provisions to the Municipal Planning By-law that regulates development and land use in Cape Town. These provisions give surrounding owners the right to request copies and get access to approved building plans, and in so doing, promote transparency in the built environment. Others who may have an interest in building work in their neighbourhood will be able to view approved building plans on request. The closing date for comments is on 17 July 2026.
The Municipal Planning By-law regulates development and land use in Cape Town. The City is proposing minor amendments and new provisions to the revised by-law that was approved by Council in June 2025.
‘It often happens that we hear residents say they were unaware that their neighbour had a building plan approved, or, that they did not know what the building plan entailed or allowed. The proposed provisions address these issues and will improve transparency.
‘In addition to the requirement to place a notice once a building plan has been approved, the provisions give surrounding owners the right to access or request an approved building plan, and the City’s reasons for approving this building plan. Other parties who may not be surrounding owners will also be able to view these approved plans. The rights of holders of approved building plans are also protected as their private information may not be shared or distributed unless it is for a lawful purpose.
‘I call on residents and interested parties to make use of the opportunity to comment on these proposed additions and to submit their comments by 17 July,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
Summary of proposed new provisions:
Notice of approved building plans
The proposed provisions give impacted and affected parties notice that a building plan has been approved – firstly, through a notice on the City’s website; and secondly by the applicant who must display a notice on site
These notices must be displayed within seven days after the building plan has been approved and must remain published for at least 44 days
The notice must identify the land unit, the building plan number and approval date, as well as how to request access to the approved building plan and the reasons for approval
The notice must provide instructions for how to submit a third-party complaint
Access to approved building plans
The proposed provisions allow a surrounding owner to submit a written request to the City, within 44 days, to inspect the approved building plan and the reasons for approval at the City’s offices during office hours, or
To request electronic copies of the approved building plan and the reasons for the approval
The City must provide the information within seven days, and must attempt to redact any personal information as defined in the Protection of Personal Information Act
Any person who obtains the information must treat this as private and confidential and may not distribute it to any third party except for a lawful purpose such as to obtain legal or professional advice, or use it in legal proceedings
After 44 days a surrounding owner or any other person may request to inspect, but not copy, any approved building plan and the reasons for approval at the City’s offices during office hours
For the full set of proposed amendments go to www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay. An explanatory document to guide comments is also available.
Comments and recommendations can be submitted as follows:
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
