SANS10400-Building Regulations South Africa SANS10400 are the Building regulations in South Africa, and both international and national standards, are fundamental to successful building and construction projects, both big and small.
City of Cape Town Planning Departments Now Accept Plans On a Memory Stick
After at least two years of development the City of Cape Town has implemented and introduced its new DAMS (Development Application Management System).
This new Development Application Management System allows all new development applications to be made and processed through the new DAMS and ensures that the process is visible and transparent every step of the way.
The system came into effect on April 1 2014. Here are a few of the things that will be available using DAMS:
• A memory stick can be used with data for electronic submissions;
• Data will be passed through the various departments electronically;
• When comments are made on documents these are sent back and any new comments are received electronically;
• The interface that is being used is the same as for all other SAP applications;
• All 8 of the district offices have been standardized with the same system;
• The system will allow immediate access to find out where any application is in the process;
• This will allow one single running customer record for all interactions and transactions;
• The counters are now simplified, streamlined and improved;
• A business partner number will be allocated to each customer and this number will stay with the customer throughout their dealings with the City;
• EFT payments are now fully integrated with their system.
They did have what they called a “dead period” from the March 14 until March 31 while they made their changeover. During this time no submissions were made and only limited services were available at their counters.
The Western Cape is organized into 30 municipalities; and these are divided into five rural districts (Cape Winelands, Central Karoo, Eden, Overberg and West Coast) and one metropolitan district, the City of Cape Town, which is, in turn divided into six districts.
How DAMS Affects Architects, Designers and Home Owners
DAMS is now up and running, but how does it affect you if you are an architect, designer or property owner who is planning to build?
We chatted to one of the City’s town planners who explained that everything except pre-submission meetings would now be digital.
For the time being those submitting plans are currently asked to supply them on USV (a memory stick) as well as in the form of a paper copy. If only paper copies are supplied, the relevant City Council’s planning department scans these in.
She said that later, when the second phase of this development kicks in, the entire process will be digitalized.
This leads to the question that if the City of Cape Town can do this then why can’t the municipalities in the rest of the Western Cape, and indeed in the rest of South Africa do the same?
***UPDATE: We submitted plans for approval at the end of 2019 to the Overstrand Municipality and we had to have them printed out for submission.
Correction: Cape Town is doing it, not the entire Western Cape.
Thanks Hennie, I have corrected the post and added to it.
Hi what are the regulations on raising a pitch on a flat roof. Do i need to submit new plans or is that considered minor building work.
Subject:
Building plan approval Timeline
Message:
HI,
Thank you for a very informative site.
Could you kindly help me by telling me whether it is published anywhere that council must either approve or reject your building application within 30 days for buildings smaller than 500sqm and 60 days for buildings larger than 500sqm?
Thank you kindly.
Felix
Hi Felix, You do not say what part of the country you are in. In Cape Town they do say this on their website and I quote here:
How long does a building plan take to be approved?
In terms of the National Building Regulations and Building Standard Act, the City has 30 days to approve or refuse a building plan application for buildings smaller than 500m2 and 60 days for buildings larger than 500m2.
The link to the page is: https://www.capetown.gov.za/en/planningandbuilding/Functions/Pages/BuildingDevelopment.aspx
I am not sure about the rest of SA but I hope this helps.
Any change to the roof eg. pitch, height, length and type of covering will all need plans. The only thing that you can do is replace existing covering with the same material as maintenance work.
Hello, I am very interested to hear about Building Plans in Cape Town being submitted on Memory sticks. I suppose it has to be in a PDF format. What is the turnover time for approval of a house plan, and what do you charge per meter for Scutiny?
Here in JHB they charge R17.00/Sq.M. and take 6 weeks for a plan
Pretoria Charge R7.00.
Jhb also sometimes insist on copies of the approved plans for an existing building when you submit alteration plans.
You would need to contact the City of Cape Town for this information.
I inherited my parent’s house.. will I be able to have a carport erected before having the property transfered to.
I’m living in Cape Town.
I’m not sure Peter, but I would imagine if you can prove your inheritance it should be necessary.