While many property owners are fully capable of managing a building project, the application and approval process of land use applications and building plans, as well as the actual business of building is strictly regulated.
We asked our pros when building plans are required and when they are not:
Building plans are required for:
- new homes
- any additions or alterations
- internal alterations, including walls being moved or added
- door or window changes (moving them or changing their size)
- if the use of a room has changed (e.g. making a garage into a flatlet)
- if you convert a carport into a garage
- closing an existing patio
- adding a mezzanine or loft
- material changes
Building plans are not required for:
- built-in braais without a chimney
- garden sheds less than 3m
- front gate
- replacing windows or doors (providing the frames are not changed.
- minor repairs to your home
- new appliances or fittings, or the change of position – a new toilet, for instance. Provided that the work does not include new or extended drainage or plumbing
Factors to consider:
It is strongly recommended to work with accredited practitioners rather than trying to do it alone. Professional builders know the rules and regulations and can save you a lot of money in the long run.
The City’s building inspectors conduct 3 compulsory inspections during construction to verify that the building work is carried out as per the approved plan.
Suzette Meyer is the lead author and content creator for Kandua.com, South Africa’s #1 marketplace for home services. She researches and writes the Kandua Advice articles, Cost Guides, and the Kandua Email Newsletter, drawing on the expertise of Kandua’s base of over 40 000 pros across more than 100 services, and the data gathered from the 100 000+ home service projects facilitated through the platform.
Home improvement can be daunting, and it is often difficult to find out if you are paying a fair price for your products and services. Suzette has made it her mission to help homeowners with advice on all aspects of home repair, maintenance and improvement, including how to choose the right handyman and how to make smart upgrades that improve your resale value or save costs.
