Apply In-Person:

1. To Apply for Approval of a Building Plan, the applicant has to approach the respective district municipality offices link

   Note: The applicant can click on the map to explore municipalities by province, or search for any municipality, town, person, etc. using the search function.

2. An application form will be provided to the applicant by the concerned officer.
3. The applicant has to fill in all the necessary details in the application form. (Incomplete applications are not accepted)
4. Make sure that the applicant has attached all the necessary documents that are mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page.
5. The applicant has to attach the photocopies of the required documents along with the application form while submitting.
6. Submit all the documents with the completed form to the concerned officer.
7. The applicant has to pay the prescribed fee as requested by the authority.
8. After receiving the application, the concerned authority will check the submitted application and document set. If all are in place, the application will be accepted.
9. An acknowledgment receipt will be provided. Please save it for future reference.
10. Then the application will be processed further. All the updates on the application status will be sent via SMS to the applicant’s mobile number.
11. Building plans generally take up to three months to be approved, depending on the municipality. Sometimes, it can take six months to a year before being approved or referred.

• Completed application form signed by property owner and competent person who is registered as an architectural professional with SACAP.
• A SACAP Compliance Certificate - to be completed by your architectural professional.
• A copy of identity document.
• A copy of the title deed to the property or deed of transfer.
• A survey diagram registered with the office of the Surveyor General clearly indicating the property dimensions and boundaries.
• A copy of the previously approved drawings from your municipality, if applicable.
• Receipt of payment of the scrutiny fee.
• Structural engineering drawings

Municipalities of South Africa
Private Bag X12, Vredenburg 7380
Telephone: (022) 701 7000
Fax: (022) 715 1518
Email: mun@sbm.gov.za
Website: link
Address and Contact Link
List of Municipalities in South Africa Link

Note: The applicant can click on the map to explore municipalities by province, or search for any municipality, town, person, etc. using the search function.

• Any person who intends to Apply for Approval of a Building Plan is eligible to make this application.

• The applicant has to pay the prescribed fee as per the authority’s request.

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• Building plans generally take up to three months to be approved, depending on the municipality. Sometimes, it can take six months to a year before being approved or referred.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

• Applicants must complete the application form before submitting it. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Applicants must provide genuine information while applying for this procedure.

• Name
• Address
• Contact address
• Land details
• Signature
• Contact
• Email ID

• Building Plan Approval means the statutory approval or sanction on the plans / drawings of a building by the competent local authority, which is required as a pre-condition to initiate construction work of the said building.

• Building plan ensures that building complies with building laws. Once the building plan is approved, the builder should commence construction work within two years and there should be no deviation from the sanctioned plan.

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

Place some external links which might help.

• If the owner starts construction without a approved plan, the new owner could be liable for a fine imposed by the municipality for owning a dwelling that does not comply with the approved building plans or may have to demolish parts of the dwelling that are not approved in order to ensure compliance.”