Tshwane Town Planning Scheme-Easy & New
The Town Planning Scheme for the Tshwane Region 2008
Make the right decisions
We have included these Tshwane Town Planning Scheme Regulations to assist you with accessing the correct information so that you can make the right decisions when it comes to planning any construction, building, and renovation or the purchase of property with developments in mind.
This Tshwane Town Planning Scheme applies to all properties within the municipal boundaries of the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality and is established in terms of section 18 of the Town planning and Townships Ordinance, 1986.
Parts 1 to 8
Part 1 contains general information, including the date when the zoning scheme and Town Planning Scheme became operative and the areas that were consolidated into the new scheme.
Part 2 Refers to Streets, Buildings, and Building Restriction Areas and covers Closed Streets and prohibition of access. Building Lines in the New Townships and on Subdivisions and Canopies in front of Building Lines. Land for street widening is addressed and Building Restriction Areas of the Town Planning Scheme (Table A).
Part 3 “Use of Buildings and Land” specifies what land and buildings in the various areas are to be used for. Permission from the Municipality and other Consent is dealt with in this part.
Part 4 deals with Town Planning Scheme General Conditions applicable to all properties as well as Detrimental Soil Conditions. The Conditions applicable to Residential Type 1, 2, 3, and 4 Erven are listed separately as well as Conditions applicable to a Public Garage. The important rules for Floor Area Ratios (FAR), Height of Buildings, and Coverage is pointed out.
Part 5 Parking and Loading Facilities sizes and limits are covered in the Town Planning Scheme.
Part 6 “Amenity in and of the Environment and Appearance of Buildings” refers to the Aesthetic Considerations with regards to Site Development Plan and Landscape Development Plan.
Part 7 Are Town Planning Scheme General Conditions.
Part 8 Gives all the Town Planning Scheme Schedules under 22 chapters.
Finally, there is a list of tables that are referred to in the various chapters and a list of Annexures for the Town Planning Scheme.
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Brief History of Pretoria now Tshwane
Pretoria, now known as Tshwane, is one of South Africa’s most historically significant cities. Its history is a tapestry of colonialism, conflict, and transformation, reflecting the broader narrative of the country’s evolution from pre-colonial times to the present day.
The region that would later become Pretoria/Tshwane has a deep history that predates European colonization by centuries. The indigenous Khoi-San people were the earliest known inhabitants, followed by Bantu-speaking tribes, including the Ndebele and Tswana. The Tswana-speaking people, from whom the city’s modern name is derived, settled in the area in the 1600s. The city’s name, Tshwane, is believed to have been derived from the Tswana word “Tshwana,” meaning “we are the same.”
European exploration of the region began in the early 19th century when the Dutch Boers, seeking new grazing lands for their livestock, established the settlement of Marthinus Pretorius in 1855. The town was named after Andries Pretorius, a prominent Boer leader. This marked the start of Pretoria’s development as a European settlement.
In 1860, the British Empire annexed the Transvaal region, which included Pretoria. This sparked tensions between the British and the Boers, leading to the First Boer War in 1880-1881. The war ended with the signing of the Pretoria Convention in 1881, which granted the Transvaal limited self-government. However, the region remained under British influence.
Pretoria became the administrative capital of the newly formed Union of South Africa in 1910. This consolidation of British colonies and Boer republics marked the beginning of the modern South African nation. The city continued to grow and develop during the 20th century, becoming an important center of government and commerce.
One of the most significant events in Pretoria’s history was the construction of the Union Buildings, designed by the renowned architect Sir Herbert Baker. These majestic buildings were completed in 1913 and became the official seat of the South African government. The Union Buildings are an iconic symbol of the country’s political heritage and have played host to many historical events, including the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s first democratically elected president in 1994.
Throughout the 20th century, Pretoria remained a symbol of apartheid, the government policy that enforced racial segregation and discrimination. The city was home to key government institutions that supported apartheid, and it played a significant role in shaping the country’s racially divided landscape.
However, with the end of apartheid in the early 1990s and the subsequent transition to democracy, the city underwent a process of transformation. In 2000, the local government officially changed the city’s name to Tshwane, a move aimed at recognizing its African heritage and moving away from its colonial and apartheid-era associations. The name change was not without controversy, as it sparked debates about historical identity and cultural heritage.
Today, Tshwane is a diverse and vibrant city that reflects South Africa’s multiculturalism and its ongoing journey towards reconciliation and unity. It remains an essential hub of government, education, and culture, with a rich history that continues to shape its identity in the post-apartheid era. From its humble beginnings as a Dutch Boer settlement to its role as the capital city of a democratic South Africa, Tshwane’s history is a testament to the complex and evolving narrative of the nation itself.
Hi , I want to build a Pergola that is attached to the house with bolts and nuts in a sectional title in Centurion. Do I need to submit plans , what is the rules ?
My house was built around 1990. There is a brick wall around the property. Property is insured. Assessor came to inspect and value property to determine the rate for insurance. No exceptions were recorded. Part of the boundary wall has now collapsed. Brick wall is single layer brick, 1.8m high. Insurance now rejects the claim. According to them the wall should be a double layer. Please assist with the building regulations applicable at the time of the erection of the wall.
Hi
I have storeroom and 1 outside room which was not declared to the local council. The structure was built with the same material of the house. May you please advise on how can I approach or notify the council about this new structure.
Hi Yunus, The only municipality that I know of that has online tracking of plan approval is in the Western Cape. In Joburg you will have to phone or go in personally. Maybe this will come in line with the Cape with the DA now in charge.
Hi Penny,
We are a practice based in South of Joburg.
I need to follow the progress of a submitted plan on line….. if you have such a facility or link!! The Plan was submitted on 23/03/2016.The Stand is in Eldoraigne…. stand 4560 x67 (480m2)
In order save me a trip to Pretoria, may I please ask you to direct me to the correct channels on line to check on the progress of the submitted plan….
Thanking you in advance.
Yunus Mayet
What your neighbour has done is totally illegal. Please read this article for further information and/or obtain a copy of SANS 10400-R, Stormwater Disposal from the SABS. It’s only about eight pages long.
Hi Penny,i live in one of a leafy suburbs in Pretoria, when I purchased the house, found that my back-opposite neighbor has dig a hole on a concrete slabs wall fence to let the storm water into my yard and that has let one of my big tree in the yard to fall and the hole passage towards the street.I have tried to close the hole on the wall and I later find out that he opened it again.What must I do ?
Only from the local authority
Hi Penny,
I would like to run a small business from my home in Claremont Pretoria. Where can I find out if my house is zoned for business as the previous tenants ran a business from here.
Thank you,
Johan
Yes Lassie you do need plans … and if your title deed restricts you to one dwelling you won’t be allowed to build a flat. It isn’t floor area that determines this, and I doubt that simply having a second oven would constitute a second dwelling. But clearly if there is a kitchen, bathroom and living room/bedroom etc – and a separate entrance it would become a second dwelling. Allowable floor area is determined by the Council zoning scheme.
Hi Penny, thank you for a remarkable website. I live in the Tshwane area in a house that does have existing and legit building plans. I would like to convert the servant quaters to a single-room flat with one bathroom and small kitchen. The floor area will not be extended, only some inside walls will be changed and a window enlarged.
1. Do I need new building plans for this?
2. My title deed restrict my property to only one dwelling. What factors of my new flat will constitute me to apply for a second dwelling for my property? Some people say it is the moment you add a kitchen, others say the floor area determines it, while others mentioned that it is when you ad an oven? I cannot get a concrete rule for this in the Tshwane town planning scheme either.
Thanks
Lassie
Employ a competent person to draw plans for you. They will submit them to council and follow through the process. Then find a registered builder to do the job.
Basically you need an agrement certificate. This is covered in Part A of the regulation:
Agrément certificate
certificate that confirms fitness-for-purpose of a non-standardised product, material or component or the acceptability of the related non-standardised design and the conditions pertaining thereto (or both) issued by the Board of Agrément South Africa (which falls under the Department of Public Works)
You have a problem and it isn’t just rezoning. First and foremost you are going to have to have as-built plans drawn up and hope that the council will pass them.
Report your neighbour to the council and to the police.
I leave in Pretoria and my neighbour started building outside rooms last year. She has no plans and the property is not zoned for business. She just recently started building more rooms. Her tenants through bottles of beer in front of my yard. This will definitely reduce the value of my house. How do I stop all this.
Hi Penny
i have already build 3 rooms in my yard in my township to get extra imcome without notifying the municipality how do i go about by asking the mucipality to rezone my ERF and get the approval from them
Helo n thanks for the great answers. I want some company to build me a container home in pretoria including some more container lodges and houses in mpumalanga. What’s paperwork is needed. Is it the company building for me or me who can find all the paperwork needed. Thanks
I live in Centurion, in a full title house (not an estate) and want to extend two rooms with a meter outwards (essentially the outside walls and obviously the foundation), what’s the typical process I should follow.
Thanks in advance.
Only the local authority can answer this question.
There are none – though there may be SANS. Contact the SABS for further info if you want standards regarding shade netting. Most structures built using it are classified as minor building work.
How about contacting the local authority. This has nothing to do with the NBR. Good luck with your venture
HI,
Where do i get the regulations concerning building structures using net shading?
We believe that the council should be held responsible. Since you don’t have plans, if the buyers want plans, add the cost to the price of the house, or share it by agreement.
No it is not correct at all. What he appears to be saying is that a temporary structure is fine – which, if you read the link, you will find it is not. However, a carport is regarded as minor building work. The link will explain the full story – e.g. you don’t need plans if it is within the dimensions given – you simply have to notify the local authority that you are doing the building work.
Hi Penny
I Live in a Retirement Village
I Want to erect a carport attached to house I know you have to submit plans to Tshwane but
a Contractor informed me the following:
If the square tubing or lip channels which is used to build the carport is joined with bold and nuts and also joined to house with bold and nuts so that the carport can be removed again, it is not necessary to submit plans to Tshwane
Is that correct?
Smith
We would like to start a home business. It will be stimulation classes for children and toddlers accompanied by their parents. We would like to add signage to assist to get the people to notice it. What are the bylaws stating using your property and also signage? Cannot find much on Tshwane’s website.
Hi
We have bought a house more than 10 years ago,i have sold the house recently and there ate no building plans as it burnt in the Munitoria fire.No we have to pay to get plans drawn up.
Can you give me advice?
Hi there can anyone please assist me with the following.
we live in Valhala Centurion, and would like to build a granny flat ( double story ) is that permissible???
All you can do is report them to the local authority.
How do I stop people from building structures without proper documentation?
Contact the Tshwane local authority
Subject:
Building plans for flat
Message:
Good day,
I want to build a 2 b/room flat for my mother-in-law. Just want to enquire if there is a limit in size for the flat. I live in Pretoria.
Thank you
Tracey, in terms of the Building Regulations (the law), you must have a competent person draw up the plans AND submit them. You cannot do this if you are not qualified and registered with the South African Institute of Architects.
You will also have to get the relevant forms from the Tshwane council.
Hi,
Thanks for all the info, this makes a lot more sense than trying the Tshwane web page.
I need to urgently build a granny flat for my destitute pensioner parents to live in. It will be a small one bedroom, 1 bathroom, living room and kitchen.
They lost their home and all else, and my dad is very ill with diabetes and 90% blind. I need to get this done as soon as possible.
I have the plans ready, but now I need to find the correct documents to submit with the plans. I heard it is not just the plans that gets submitted but a whole bunch of forms. I tried getting them, but seem to hit a brick wall every time. I have so many different forms now, I do not know what is correct and what not. Could you please give me an idea of what needs to be send in and where to find it. Or if you know of anyone who will do this approval process for a fee, I am also willing to go that route. Whatever is the quickest.
Thank you so much.
Louise, the National Building Regulations cover ALL buildings, including “Wendy Houses”. Here is a link to the Tshwane Town Planning regs that may have additional specifications. The complex itself may also have its own set of rules.
Subject:
Wendy Houses
Message:
Hi
I am looking for the regulations required for the erecting of a Wendy House in a sectional title complex in Tshwane
Please can you assist
thank you
Louise
If you are in the City of Cape Town – which of course includes much more than just Cape Town itself – your neighbour can build right up the boundary without your permission, but will of course need plans. You can download the City’s zoning scheme here. This also gives maximum height regulations. If you are somewhere else in the country, they will probably need your permission if building outside of standard building lines. In all instances they will need plans approved by council. There is legislation designed to protect consumers – see this link to the PAJA. But to avoid costly litigation, if possible you should find out what they are planning to build and object before building starts.
The stand in front (north) of us has been subdivided and the subdivisions are approx 650 sq m. If the owner decides to erect a double storey house, does he need to get my permission first or can he just start building. Also, is there any way he can build within the building line without my permission?
Thank you
Nico, that sounds a bit strange. If they have really “cancelled” the pool plan, then it means it won’t be on the plan, in which case you will need to submit a plan. But why not try and resubmit the original plan and mark the pool as the second phase of building? You can’t do it yourself – you will need a competent person to do it for you. That person would be able to advise what is best.
Hi
I build my house last year in Centurion with approved plans from the Munic. when i wanted to move in the inspectors said i cannot due to the fact that the pool that was on the approved plans are not completed. as a result they cancelled the pool on the plans and i got the occupational certificate. i am however ready to start building the pool. Do i need to submit another plan for the pool before i can start with it?
Hi Joana, Stormwater is one thing but washing water is not allowed. Give him a letter telling him that he damaged the wall without your permission and that the water from the carwash must be channeled away from your property or he must wash his cars in a different place on his property where the water can flow away in another direction. If he ignores this or refuses to do this then you can approach your local building inspector and ask him to give your neighbour notice to stop doing this.
Hi Penny. Thanks for the information on walls & fences. I live in centurion and my neighbor broke a few bricks on two sides on my wall separating us. He is basically using my wall as his boundary ( face brick wall). When I asked him why he broke my wall he told me it’s because he doesn’t have any other way of getting water from rain out of his yard. This he did not talk to me at all, he simply just broke it. I understand the law that on the high level era discharging storm water on the low level erf but is he Llowed to just brake my wall? Also it’s not only storm or rain water but all wart from his yard like when he washes his cars come through to my yard. Please advice? Thanks, Joana
Lala if you click on the lefthand tab at the top of our website (Building Regulations Introduction) and look at the drop down menu you will see two documents that might be of help:
Municipality Contact
Tshwane Town Planning Scheme 2008
Download them and see.
Alternatively phone telephone enquiries and ask for the Tshwane town council or municipal office number – and phone them.
Hi there
Thanks for this excellent website. We’ve recently bought a property in Pretoria & plan to erect 1.8m walls (street facing) & a gate. I cannot find the contact details of the town planning office or whomever it is we need to contact in order to get written permission. Do you perhaps have these details? The Tshwane municipal website is of no help.
Carla parking is regulated by the local authority. Contact them to find out.
We want to build some student accommodation in Hatfield, what is the required parking spaces per
unit/person living in the building?
Dawie it is normally about 60%, but it depends on zoning and your local authority bylaws. You will need to contact them.
Hi,
I’m about to buy a land in Centurion Pretoria, the land size is 450 square metre,
I junt want to know what is the maximum percentage of this land that I can build a house?
Thank you.