Apply for the residence of a religious office-bearer

If you believe that your property should be regarded as a place of public worship, or you want to apply for the residence of the office-bearer (priest, pastor, minister, etc.) of your branch/church building, follow the process below.

Place of public worship

We do not charge rates on a property registered in the name of, and used primarily as a place of public worship by a religious community. However, you need to prove to us that your property meets the necessary requirements before it is regarded as such.

Requirements:

A place of public worship is defined as:
Property used primarily for the purposes of congregation, excluding a structure that is primarily used for educational instruction in which secular or religious education is the primary instructive medium: provided that the property is:

(a) Registered in the name of the religious community; [or]
(b) Registered in the name of a trust established for the sole benefit of a religious community; or
(c) Subject to a land tenure right.”

If you believe that your property meets the requirements, submit the necessary documents via email to BIVR@capetown.gov.za.

Documents required (whichever is applicable to you):

Legal documentation indicating that the property is subject to a land tenure right; or
The Trust Deed (not the Title Deed), as proof that the property is registered in the name of a trust established for the sole benefit of a religious community.

The residence of the office- bearer

We do not charge rates for the official residence registered in the name of a religious community and which is occupied by the primary office-bearer for a place of public worship - provided that the Place of public Worship as well as the residential property meet the necessary requirements.

In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004, a place of public worship may own more than one residential property, but only the one residential property - which is occupied by the primary officiating officer - will not be levied a rate.

We have interpreted this to mean that a religious community may have only one residential property per branch/church building, provided that the property needs to be recognised by our Valuations Department as a place of public worship.

Any other property owned by the religious organisation will be rated according to the use of the property as set out in the Rates Policy.

The following criteria is applicable to the residence of the office-bearer:

The property must be used as a place of public worship and recognised as such by our Valuations Department. This property (used as a place of public worship) must be registered in the name of the religious community;
The religious community must be the registered owner of the residential property.
The property must be used for residential purposes and occupied by the office-bearer as his/her primary place of residence.

How to apply:

Step 1: Download and complete the application form

Step 2: Submit, together with any supporting documents, to BIVR@capetown.gov.za.

For more information, read our General and Supplementary Valuations FAQs.

Contact us

For more information, contact:

Valuations Department

Telephone:
086 010 3089

Email:
valuations@capetown.gov.za

Document downloads

1. Application for the Residence of a Religious Office Bearer Form
  01/07/2020, Application form - 471.2 KB

Document downloads

1. Application for the Residence of a Religious Office Bearer Form
  
  01/07/2020, Application form - 460.2 KB

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