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Planning By-law

<span> <h2 class="sectHeading">About the planning by-law</h2></span> <p>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 <a href="https://www.gov.za/documents/spatial-planning-and-land-use-management-act" target="_blank">Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA)<i class="icon link-external"></i></a> and the Western Cape Land Use Planning Act (LUPA) – both of which came into operation on 1 July 2015.</p><h4>Council-approved Municipal Planning By-law and amendments:</h4><p>Read or download the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/City%20of%20Cape%20Town%20Municipal%20Planning%20By-law%202015.pdf" target="_blank">Municipal Planning By-law 2015</a>.<br>Read or download the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Municipal%20Planning%20Amendment%20By-law%202016.pdf" target="_blank">Municipal Planning Amendment By-law 2016</a>.<br>Read or download the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Municipal%20Planning%20Second%20Amendment%20By-law%202016.pdf" target="_blank">Municipal Planning Second Amendment By-law 2016</a>.<br>Read or download the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Municipal%20Planning%20Amendment%20By-law%202017.pdf" target="_blank">Municipal Planning Amendment By-law 2017</a>.<br>Read or download the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Municipal_Planning_Amendment_Bylaw_2019_English.pdf" target="_blank">Municipal Planning Amendment By-law, 2019</a>.<br></p><h4>City of Cape Town Municipal Planning Amendment By-law, 2022<br></h4><p>The City of Cape Town Municipal Planning Amendment By-law, 2022 was approved by Council on 27 October 2022 and came into effect on 4 November 2022.<br></p><p>Read or download the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Municipal_Planning_Amendment_Bylaw_2022.pdf" target="_blank">Municipal Planning Amendment By-law 2022</a>.<br></p><h4>2022 Consolidated Municipal Planning By-law document</h4><p>Read or download the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Consolidated_MPBL.pdf" target="_blank">2022 Consolidated Municipal Planning By-law document containing all amendments</a>.</p><h2 class="sectHeading">Prescriptions and determinations</h2><p> The following prescriptions and determinations have been made by the City Manager in terms of the City of Cape Town Municipal Planning By-Law:</p><ul><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Prescriptions%20and%20determinations.pdf" target="_blank">Implementation of the Municipal Planning By-law 2015: Determinations and setting of time periods / prescriptions</a></li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Pre-application%20consultation%20requirements.pdf" target="_blank">Pre-application Requirements 4 November 2021: Determination of applications that will require a pre-application consultation</a></li><li> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Categories_of_contraventions_not_applicable.pdf" target="_blank">Categories of contraventions to which section 130(2) and (3) of the City of Cape Town Municipal Planning By-Law (MPBL) do not apply</a><br></li></ul><h2 class="sectHeading">Development Management Scheme (DMS)</h2><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Work%20and%20business/Planning-portal/Regulations-and-legislations/The-city-of-cape-towns-development-management-scheme">The City of Cape Town's Development Management Scheme (DMS)</a> is a schedule to the <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Bylaws%20and%20policies/Consolidated_MPBL.pdf" target="_blank">Municipal Planning By-Law</a> and specifies the City’s zoning regulations. It is titled, Schedule 3 and begins at page 76. </p><h4>The following overlays form part of the DMS:</h4><p> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/City%20of%20Cape%20Town%20Overlay%20Zones%20Designation%20Notice%20%282%29.pdf" target="_blank">City of Cape Town Overlay Zones Designation Notice</a><br><a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Maps%20and%20statistics/Designated%20overlays%20%28English%29.pdf" target="_blank">Designated Overlays (English)</a><br><a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Maps%20and%20statistics/Designated%20overlays%20%28Afrikaans%29.pdf" target="_blank">Designated Overlays (Afrikaans)</a><br><a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/HPOZ_1_info_doc.pdf" target="_blank">Exemption From Heritage Protection of Overlay Zones</a><br><a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/Designation_of_Bo-Kaap_to_have_a_HPOZ.pdf" target="_blank">Designation of Bo-kaap to have a Heritage Protection Overlay Zoning</a></p><h4> Municipal Planning Tribunal</h4><p>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. See all members of our <a href="https://www.westerncape.gov.za/text/2015/June/provincial-gazette-extraordinary-7413-29-june-2015.pdf" target="_blank">Municipal Planning Tribunal<i class="icon link-external"></i></a>.</p>

As of 2015, all land use and planning applications are made in terms of The City of Cape Town Municipal Planning By-law.

2015 Circular 3: Operational Guideline 1: Assessing MSDF Consistency and Deviating from its Provisions in Site-specific Circumstances Notice	2578639	GP0\|#c3444de2-1204-414d-a436-593b4be81c13;L0\|#0c3444de2-1204-414d-a436-593b4be81c13\|Notice;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#3a03f9b9-d2e9-49b1-92e1-37b654747f82;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2015-06-29T22:00:00Z
Categories of Contraventions Exempt From Sections 130(2) and (3) of the MPBL Guidelines	2203821	GP0\|#63522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33;L0\|#063522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33\|Guideline;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#d8892104-ce90-493e-b813-93c488f4b1d3;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e;GP0\|#e814022c-2e45-4465-887b-b6cd814e158b;L0\|#0e814022c-2e45-4465-887b-b6cd814e158b\|Regulation	2024-02-04T22:00:00Z
Heritage Protection Overlay Zoning in Bo-Kaap Designation Notice	356331	GP0\|#c3444de2-1204-414d-a436-593b4be81c13;L0\|#0c3444de2-1204-414d-a436-593b4be81c13\|Notice;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#3a03f9b9-d2e9-49b1-92e1-37b654747f82;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2019-04-11T22:00:00Z
Illegal Stormwater Connections Notice - Hout Bay	115733	GP0\|#c3444de2-1204-414d-a436-593b4be81c13;L0\|#0c3444de2-1204-414d-a436-593b4be81c13\|Notice;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#3a03f9b9-d2e9-49b1-92e1-37b654747f82;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2020-12-13T22:00:00Z
Implementation of the Municipal Planning By-law 2015: Prescriptions and Determinations Guideline	327775	GP0\|#63522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33;L0\|#063522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33\|Guideline;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#d8892104-ce90-493e-b813-93c488f4b1d3;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2018-06-14T22:00:00Z
Municipal Planning Amendment By-law 2016	1329393	GP0\|#ef51c989-391a-435e-96a1-0535f4eab240;L0\|#0ef51c989-391a-435e-96a1-0535f4eab240\|By-law amendment;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2016-06-30T22:00:00Z
Municipal Planning Amendment By-law 2019 Guideline	1281137	GP0\|#63522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33;L0\|#063522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33\|Guideline;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#d8892104-ce90-493e-b813-93c488f4b1d3;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2019-12-12T22:00:00Z
Municipal Planning By-law 2015	4183516	GP0\|#d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284;L0\|#0d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284\|By-law;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2015-02-28T22:00:00Z
Municipal Planning By-law 2015: Including Amendments	1822503	GP0\|#d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284;L0\|#0d103d4c5-1de8-474e-9fc7-0f42143d9284\|By-law;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e;GP0\|#ef51c989-391a-435e-96a1-0535f4eab240;L0\|#0ef51c989-391a-435e-96a1-0535f4eab240\|By-law amendment	2017-05-29T22:00:00Z
Municipal Planning Designated Overlays Map (Afrikaans)	13687070	GP0\|#816346e9-401b-4120-ab33-f8b010e35cd1;L0\|#0816346e9-401b-4120-ab33-f8b010e35cd1\|Map;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#2ee73080-1b32-4320-889d-034e60d31b3a;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2012-10-31T22:00:00Z
Municipal Planning Designated Overlays Map (English)	13737054	GP0\|#816346e9-401b-4120-ab33-f8b010e35cd1;L0\|#0816346e9-401b-4120-ab33-f8b010e35cd1\|Map;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#2ee73080-1b32-4320-889d-034e60d31b3a;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2012-10-31T22:00:00Z
Municipal Planning Second Amendment By-law 2016	839152	GP0\|#ef51c989-391a-435e-96a1-0535f4eab240;L0\|#0ef51c989-391a-435e-96a1-0535f4eab240\|By-law amendment;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#2d2209ac-5bcc-4d2a-9da9-05fb21c94ea1;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2016-10-25T22:00:00Z
Overlay Zones Designation Notice	318006	GP0\|#c3444de2-1204-414d-a436-593b4be81c13;L0\|#0c3444de2-1204-414d-a436-593b4be81c13\|Notice;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#3a03f9b9-d2e9-49b1-92e1-37b654747f82;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2015-06-21T22:00:00Z
Pre-application Consultation Requirements Guideline:	542976	GP0\|#63522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33;L0\|#063522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33\|Guideline;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#d8892104-ce90-493e-b813-93c488f4b1d3;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e;GP0\|#e814022c-2e45-4465-887b-b6cd814e158b;L0\|#0e814022c-2e45-4465-887b-b6cd814e158b\|Regulation	2021-11-03T22:00:00Z
Pre-application Consultation Requirements Guideline: 6 September 2021	241411	GP0\|#63522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33;L0\|#063522a5c-a6fd-40ae-a313-2b363ab1ec33\|Guideline;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#d8892104-ce90-493e-b813-93c488f4b1d3;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e;GP0\|#e814022c-2e45-4465-887b-b6cd814e158b;L0\|#0e814022c-2e45-4465-887b-b6cd814e158b\|Regulation	2021-09-05T22:00:00Z
The New Heritage Protection Overlay Zone Information Notice	374013	GP0\|#c3444de2-1204-414d-a436-593b4be81c13;L0\|#0c3444de2-1204-414d-a436-593b4be81c13\|Notice;GTSet\|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP\|#3a03f9b9-d2e9-49b1-92e1-37b654747f82;GPP\|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e	2016-09-30T22:00:00Z