Every building and development and how land or a property is used in Cape Town must comply with the City’s Municipal Planning By-law, Development Management Scheme, and National Building Regulations.
We know that the journey to find information and to apply for zoning changes or building plan approval can be confusing, or overwhelming and that many residents are unsure about when they need to submit an application for assessment.
We are now introducing a new BOT to assist residents with generic questions about the development management process. Although the BOT cannot assist with detailed questions about a user’s specific application as yet, this first step in helping out with generic information will go a long way to help residents navigate the way.
In answering the questions posed, the BOT will also provide you with sources and references, guidelines, any applicable booklets or documents, and further guidance on how to get more detailed answers to a question you may have. We recommend that you use these documents to doublecheck the information at your own time.
The BOT is designed to answer generic questions:
- Not sure whether you are allowed to run a business from home?
- Want to build a braai, but not sure if you need approval from the City?
- Want to know how to submit a building plan or planning application to the City?
- How to get existing building plans for your home?
- Need help understanding the spatial policies impacting your neighbourhood?
- Wondering how to get involved in commenting on applications?
Ask the Development Management BOT for assistance. The BOT will give you general guidance, and contact details for where to get detailed information.
‘We are excited to introduce our Development Management BOT to residents and anybody else who has questions about building or developing in Cape Town. The Municipal Planning By-law is complex, and lay persons find it difficult to understand the jargon, and challenging to get answers about land use, what is allowed and what not, and where to go or whom to contact for assistance.
‘We have created the BOT to help, and to give general guidance. I encourage the public to try out the BOT. There is a short tutorial too for those who need help on how to use the BOT and how to phrase your questions. Go see for yourself. And remember, this is a work in progress. The BOT is still young, and will develop and improve over time,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
The BOT has been developed by the City’s Data Science Department in cooperation with the Development Management Department.
Link to the BOT: https://bot.capetown.gov.za
