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Land use management applications and submissions

Land use management applications and submissions

Land use management applications are the first step in the formal planning and building process and are also necessary if you are intending to use a site or building for purposes other than what it has been originally zoned or built for. Here you can quickly access all necessary documentation and guidelines for your official land use management application.

Before you apply

To submit a land use or building plan application you must be registered on the e-services portal. Many of the applications listed below are now available as a service option on e-Services and will require registration. 

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Register for e-Services

Land use applications can be straightforward if the type of building or desired use of the land or site is in the appropriate zone. If not, however, you may have to go through a series of further applications and even appeals.

All prerequisite approvals, such as departures from the zoning scheme, must be approved before submitting a building plan. Any building plan submitted before the necessary prerequisite approvals risk being delayed while the land use application is in process.

Owing to this, we recommend that you first consult with the relevant District Planning Office, or see our Development Management Department page for contact information.

Our City Map and Zoning Viewer can help you before you begin your consultation.

Download our useful Guidelines:

dmi guideline series

This booklet is part of the Development Management Information (DMI) series which details the building and planning process for every development scenario. See our other booklets.

Land use management submission requirements

We have set and regulated submission requirements for land use management; please consult these as you compile your application:

Land use management submission requirements

Land use management application form

The City adopted the City of Cape Town Municipal Planning By-Law on 25 March 2015, which came into operation on 1 July 2015. 

This by-law replaces the Land Use Planning Ordinance, No 15 of 1985 in terms of enabling planning legislation. 

Download the Land Use Management Application Form made in terms of the Municipal Planning By-Law.

Municipal Land Use Notices

Land use applications that require public consultation and participation are advertised in our Have Your Say section.

Administrative penalty

If unauthorised structures or land use is identified on your property, an application to determine an administrative penalty must accompany a land use application.

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Apply for an administrative penalty

Appeal a land use decision

If you are not satisfied with the outcomes of your land use management application, you can appeal the decision.

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Appeal a land use decision

Conveyancer's certificate

Some land use applications need to be accompanied by a conveyance’s certificate (a certificate completed by an attorney after he or she has determined whether a property is subject to any title deed restrictions). Unless the conveyance’s certificate complies with this standard, it may not be accepted.

Download the Conveyancer's Certificate

Declaration in respect of notices of no objection

If you choose to undertake the advertising process for your land use application, you will be provided with the personal information of affected property owners for the purpose of serving notices of no objection - in terms of section 84 of the MPBL, 2015.

This personal information includes the name, physical address and email addresses of the owners of surrounding properties, as well as the property owners who sign letters of no objection. Once you have access to this personal information, you become the responsible party for it and will be required to sign a Declaration in respect of notices of no objection form to declare your acknowledgement of the duties imposed upon you, in terms of PoPIA.

By signing this form you acknowledge that you will:

  • not share the personal information of affected parties for any reason other than to inform and notify the affected party of the proposed application in terms of the MPBL, 2015
  • ensure the safety and security of the personal information supplied and obtained by locking away any hard copies of notices of no objection or disposing of them after such use in a way that complies with the provisions of PoPIA; and by ensuring that other people do not have access to electronic copies of notices (on any device)
  •  report any data breach to popia@capetown.gov.za immediately for onward reporting to the City’s Deputy Information Officer.

The Declaration in respect of notices of no objection form must be signed by the property owner, applicant or agent whenever notices of no objection are issued. The signed declarations are a requirement for record purposes.

Download the Declaration in Respect of Notices of No Objection Form

Declaration of residency

A home industry or working from home is permitted under the condition that the prospective operator resides permanently in the residence. On completing a voluntary declaration of residency, the prospective operator declares that they stay permanently on the property. This form can be downloaded here:

Download the Declaration of Residency

Determination of non-conforming use right

When you apply for the determination of the existence, nature, and extent of non-conforming land use, you must provide information to show that it is compliant. This form is submitted in addition to a general Land Use Application Form, in terms of section 42 (N) of the by-law.

Download the Determination of Non-confirming Use Right Application Form

Object to a land use application

We promote public participation on the land use applications we receive and invite you to comment on them.

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Comment on a land use application

Pre-application consultation record

Where the need for a pre-application consultation is required in determining the potential problems, requirements or decisions of an application prior to submission, a pre-submission consultation record is completed and placed on the application file.

Power of attorney

A power of attorney authorises a consultant or agent to act on behalf of the property owner when applying for development or other approval and forms part of the supporting documentation required for planning applications.

Notwithstanding a signed power of attorney, Planning Law requires that only an owner of land may apply and it, therefore, remains a requirement that the application form still be signed by the owner as well. Unless the power of attorney form complies with the legal standard, it may not be accepted.

Download the Power of attorney form

Request to confirm exemption of certain subdivisions and consolidations

You must be registered on e-Services to apply for an extention of validity.

Read the DAMS user manual for step-by-step assistance.

Section 67(1) of the by-law provides a list of exemptions relating to certain subdivisions and consolidations that do not require formal approval but still require information to confirm exemption status.

A request to confirm exemption of certain subdivisions and consolidations must be completed by the applicant to record the type of exemption against the related property.

The Model Land Use Planning and Development Conditions Handbook

The Model Land Use Planning and Development Conditions Handbook sets standard practice in the conditioning of development applications. The handbook is designed for easy reading and it will be reviewed and updated regularly to incorporate more effective conditions that may be developed in practice. Such updates include, but are not restricted to, accommodating changing circumstances, new case law and legal opinions impacting on the imposition of conditions or the outcome of appeals.

The Model Land Use Planning and Development Conditions Handbook

Sectional title consent form

If you are planning on developing or building on a sectional-title property, you will need to complete a sectional title consent form.

Download the Sectional Title consent form

Transfer certificate request

Where a land unit has been subdivided, no person may obtain transfer of the resultant land parcel unless all requirements in terms of Section 54(1) of the Cape Town Municipal Planning By-Law including the completion of a transfer certificate request have been met.

Transfer certificate request

Undertaking in respect of on-site notice display

A proposal or development may impact on abutting neighbours, the community or surrounding environment.

In terms of the Municipal Planning By-law the City must facilitate public consultation and participation by arranging advertising of your proposal to various potentially interested and affected parties before a decision is reached.

Determined by the nature and extent of the proposed development and its likely impact, such public consultation or advertising may require a notice erected on site. Where an on-site notice is required, applicants should complete an undertaking in respect of on-site notice display.

This form can be downloaded here: Undertaking in respect of on-site notice display form

Did you know?

An Inclusive City: We promote public participation and we invite you to comment on any City proposals or developments. Depending on the nature and extent of the proposed development, such public consultation could be a registered letter, a public notice in the local newspaper or an on-site notice inviting interested parties to view the proposal and make comment where necessary. #inclusivecity.

Zoning extract

Zoning is verified by means of an Official Zoning Extract. Find out how to apply for a copy of your property's zoning certificate by clicking on the link below and following the step-by-step process.

You must be registered on e-Services to request a zoning extract. 

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Apply for a zoning extract

Land-use management tariffs and rules

Our tariffs are set annually (applicable from 1 July to 30 June the following year) and applicants are required to pay these fees at the time of submission before their applications will be processed.

Please see our land use, planning and development tariffs overview page for more details.

Document downloads

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