Planning by-law
The City of Cape Town Municipal Planning By-law, 2015 (MPBL) came into operation on 1 July 2015. This by-law replaces the Land Use Planning Ordinance, No. 15 of 1985. All land use and planning applications are made in terms of the By-law, as of 1 July 2015.
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.
Read or download the Municipal Planning Amendment By-law 2025 and additional information on the Municipal Planning Amendment By-law, 2025.
City of Cape Town Municipal Planning Amendment By-law, 2026
The City of Cape Town Municipal Planning Amendment By-law, 2026 was approved by Council on 20 August 2026. See proclamation for details of effective rollout.
Read or download the Municipal Planning Amendment By-law 2026.
2026 Consolidated Municipal Planning By-law document
Read or download the 2026 Consolidated Municipal Planning By-law document containing all amendments.
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.
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