City of Cape Town Link

Legal trading and business premises

<div class="ExternalClassFABD88E6CC044EE98F91BF143E782EB3"><p>If you are trading on a formal property, your business licence will only be granted if the erf/plot you are trading on has been zoned for the type of trade you are conducting. Read more about our zoning scheme in the <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/work%20and%20business/Planning-portal/Regulations-and-legislations/The-city-of-cape-towns-development-management-scheme">City of Cape Town's Development Management Scheme. </a></p></div>

<h2 class="sectHeading">Licensing and certification</h2><p> <strong>If you operate one of the following businesses, you will need a permit or licence to operate in Cape Town:</strong></p><ul><li>Sellers or suppliers of meals of any sort, whether formal or informal</li><li>Health facilities (turkish baths, saunas or health baths) massage or infra-red treatment</li><li>Escort services</li><li>Mechanical, electrical apparatuses or devices (games) 3 or more.</li><li>Snooker or billiard tables</li><li>A cinema or theatre</li><li>Adult shopping</li><li>Night clubs or discotheques</li></ul><p> <b>For fixed commercial sites and businesses</b>, <strong>before your business licence application will be granted, you will need the following documentation:</strong></p><ul><li>Land use clearance certificate</li><li>Copy of ID document/passport of owner</li><li>Copy of the ID document/passport of managing director of company or main member of CC</li><li>Population and clearance certificate from fire prevention officer</li><li> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Licences-and-permits/Business-and-trade/Apply-for-a-certificate-of-acceptability">Certificate of acceptability</a></li><li>Copy of approved building plan of the interior layout of the premises</li></ul><div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic"> <i class="info citycard"></i></div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p><a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Licences-and-permits/Business-and-trade/Apply-for-a-business-licence">Apply for a business licence in Cape Town. </a></p></div></div><p>If you need more insights into how to manage your commercial property, please visit our <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Work%20and%20business/Commercial-properties">commercial properties section. </a></p><h2 class="sectHeading">Compliant business environments and buildings</h2><p>Many business-related alterations and additions to buildings must comply with certain specifications in their layout and/or construction.</p><p> <strong>We have a series of handy guidelines to assist you with the application and compliance process for the following kinds of businesses and commercial environments:</strong> </p><ul><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Guidelines-Artificial_Ventilation_Requirements.pdf" target="_blank">Artificial ventilation requirements</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Creches%20-%20Application%20Procedure%20and%20Standards.pdf" target="_blank">Creches - application procedure and standards</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/General_-_Facilities_for_the_Disabled_-_Guidelines_105200504638_245.pdf" target="_blank">Facilities for the disabled</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/General_-_Healthy_Disposal_of_Household_Waste_-_Guidelines_105200505938_245.pdf" target="_blank">Healthy disposal of household waste</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/General%20-%20Guidelines%20for%20Horse%20Stables.pdf" target="_blank">Horse stables</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/General%20-%20Guidelines%20-%20Informal%20Hairdressers%20and%20Barbers.pdf" target="_blank">Informal hairdressers and barbers</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/General%20-%20Guidelines%20for%20Informal%20Hawker%20Structures.pdf" target="_blank">Informal hawking and trading structures</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/List%20of%20Notifiable%20Medical%20Conditions%20-%20CDC.pdf" target="_blank">List of notifiable medical conditions</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Table%20of%20Air%20Requirements%20for%20Different%20Occupancy%20Classification.pdf" target="_blank">Mechanical air requirements for different occupancy classifications</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Table%20-%20Occupancy%20Classification%2c%20Population%20Figures%20and%20Sanitary%20Facility%20Requirements.pdf" target="_blank">Occupancy classification, population and sanitary facilities - SABS Code 0400 of 1990 – table</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/General%20-%20Guidelines%20for%20Operating%20an%20Informal%20Food%20Vending%20Business.pdf" target="_blank">Operating an informal food hawking or vending business</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/General%20-%20Guidelines%20for%20Refuse%20Storage%20Areas.pdf" target="_blank">Refuse storage areas</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Requirements-New_Smoking_Legislation_Sept_09.pdf" target="_blank">Requirements - new smoking legislation</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Specifications%20-%20Septic%20Tanks%2c%20Soakaways%20and%20Conservancy%20Tanks_new.pdf" target="_blank">Septic tanks, soakaways and conservancy tanks</a> </li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/General%20-%20Guidelines%20and%20Requirements%20for%20Smoking%20Rooms%20and%20Areas.pdf" target="_blank">Smoking rooms and areas</a></li></ul>

You can only trade on a formal property if the use of the property matches our zoning laws.