About the planning by-law

The Municipal Planning By-law gives effect to the municipal planning function allocated to municipalities in terms of Part B of Schedule 4 of the Constitution. It also gives effect to certain requirements set in the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) and the Western Cape Land Use Planning Act (LUPA) – both of which came into operation on 1 July 2015.

Council-approved Municipal Planning By-law and amendments:

Read or download the Municipal Planning By-law 2015.
Read or download the Municipal Planning Amendment By-law 2016.
Read or download the Municipal Planning Second Amendment By-law 2016.
Read or download the Municipal Planning Amendment By-law 2017.
Read or download the Municipal Planning Amendment By-law, 2019.
Read or download the Municipal Planning Amendment By-law 2022.

City of Cape Town Municipal Planning Amendment By-law, 2025

The City of Cape Town Municipal Planning Amendment By-law, 2025 was approved by Council on 26 June 2025. See proclamation for details of effective rollout.

Read or download the Municipal Planning Amendment By-law 2025.   

2025 Consolidated Municipal Planning By-law document (available soon)

Read or download the 2025 Consolidated Municipal Planning By-law document containing all amendments.

Additional information on the Municipal Planning Amendment By-law, 2025

Read or download additional information on the Municipal Planning Amendment By-law, 2025.

Prescriptions and determinations

The following prescriptions and determinations have been made by the City Manager in terms of the City of Cape Town Municipal Planning By-Law:

• Implementation of the Municipal Planning By-law 2015: Determinations and setting of time periods / prescriptions
• Pre-application Requirements 15 January 2025: Determination of applications that will require a pre-application consultation
• Categories of contraventions to which section 130(2) and (3) of the City of Cape Town Municipal Planning By-Law (MPBL) do not apply
  
• Prescription in terms of Section 122f(3) Of the City of Cape Town Municipal Planning By-Law (MPBL)

Development Management Scheme (DMS)

The City of Cape Town's Development Management Scheme (DMS) is a schedule to the Municipal Planning By-Law and specifies the City’s zoning regulations. It is titled, Schedule 3 and begins at page 76.

The following overlays form part of the DMS:

City of Cape Town Overlay Zones Designation Notice
Designated Overlays (English)
Designated Overlays (Afrikaans)
Exemption From Heritage Protection of Overlay Zones
Designation of Bo-kaap to have a Heritage Protection Overlay Zoning

Municipal Planning Tribunal

The Municipal Planning Tribunal decides all designated categories of land use and development applications in Cape Town. It consists of 25 members, 9 of which are not City officials. External members are appointed for five years.

Document downloads

• 1. 2015 Circular 3: Operational Guideline 1: Assessing MSDF Consistency and Deviating from its Provisions in Site-specific Circumstances Notice

     30/06/2015, Notice - 2.6 MB

  2. Categories of Contraventions Exempt From Sections 130(2) and (3) of the MPBL Guidelines

     05/02/2024, Guideline,Regulation - 2.2 MB

  3. Consolidated Municipal Planning Amendment By-law (2025)

     30/09/2025, By-law amendment - 1.7 MB

  4. Heritage Protection Overlay Zoning in Bo-Kaap Designation Notice

     12/04/2019, Notice - 356.3 KB

  5. Illegal Stormwater Connections Notice - Hout Bay

     14/12/2020, Notice - 115.7 KB

  6. Implementation of the Municipal Planning By-law 2015: Prescriptions and Determinations Guideline

     15/06/2018, Guideline - 327.8 KB

  7. Municipal Planning Amendment By-law 2019 Guideline

     13/12/2019, Guideline - 1.3 MB

  8. Municipal Planning By-law 2015

     01/03/2015, By-law - 4.2 MB

  9. Municipal Planning By-law and the Municipal Planning Tribunal Questions and Answers

     09/07/2026, FAQs - 198.3 KB

  10. Municipal Planning Designated Overlays Map (Afrikaans)

      01/11/2012, Map - 13.7 MB

  11. Municipal Planning Designated Overlays Map (English)

      01/11/2012, Map - 13.7 MB

  12. Overlay Zones Designation Notice

      22/06/2015, Notice - 318 KB

  13. Pre-application Consultation Requirements Guideline:

      15/01/2025, Guideline,Regulation - 443.3 KB

  14. Pre-application Consultation Requirements Guideline: 6 September 2021

      06/09/2021, Guideline,Regulation - 241.4 KB

  15. The New Heritage Protection Overlay Zone Information Notice

      01/10/2016, Notice - 374 KB