Johannesburg
Gauteng
Partial Digital
Turnaround30 business days
Top RiskMissing surveyor certificate
SANS OverlaySANS 204 energy efficiency; stormwater for sites >500m²
View Requirements
Portal: efiling.joburg.org.za
- SANS 10400-Na certificate
- SDP (A1 PDF)
- Surveyor certificate
- Title deed
- Zoning confirmation
- Service authority approvals
- EIA (if applicable)
Portal accepts digital uploads; wet ink signatures still required for some documents.
Cape Town
Western Cape
Full Digital
Turnaround30 days (60–90 heritage)
Top RiskLUPC not obtained before submission
SANS OverlaySANS 204 thermal; WSUD commercial; heritage overlay
View Requirements
Portal: capetown.gov.za/services/online
- Building plan application form (WBSD-001)
- SDP
- Surveyor General diagram
- Title deed
- Zoning certificate
- SANS 10400-Na
- LUPC confirmation
Fully digital process — no wet ink signatures, automated validation on upload.
Durban (eThekwini)
KwaZulu-Natal
Partial Digital
Turnaround45 days (60–90 flood)
Top RiskFlood line certificate not obtained
SANS OverlayFlood line compliance; tropical durability; humidity mitigation
View Requirements
Portal: durban.gov.za
- Building plan form
- SDP
- SANS 10400-Na
- Surveyor diagram
- Title deed
- Zoning confirmation
- Flood line determination
- Traffic impact assessment (large developments)
Online portal but not fully automated; manual intake review.
Port Elizabeth (NMB)
Eastern Cape
Partial Digital
Turnaround25 days (40 complex)
Top RiskGeotechnical report missing for large sites
SANS OverlaySeismic zone; coastal controls; geotech for sites >500m²
View Requirements
Portal: nelsonmandelabay.gov.za
- Building plan form
- SDP (1:500)
- SANS 10400-Na
- Surveyor diagram
- Title deed
- Zoning confirmation
- Structural engineer certificate
Online submission available; expedited 5-day processing at 2× fee.
Pretoria (Tshwane)
Gauteng
Partial Digital
Turnaround30 days (90+ rezoning)
Top RiskSANS 10400-XA energy calculations missing
SANS OverlaySANS 10400-XA energy mandatory; water restrictions; heritage overlay
View Requirements
Portal: tshwane.gov.za
- Building plan form
- SDP
- SANS 10400-Na
- Surveyor diagram
- Title deed
- Zoning confirmation
- Sewerage and water connection approvals
Hybrid: online intake with manual review; online status tracking.
Kouga (Jeffreys Bay)
Eastern Cape
Improving
Turnaround30–45 business days
Top RiskStormwater management plan missing
SANS OverlayStormwater By-law; coastal H4 soil; SSEG registration
View Requirements
Portal: gis.kouga.gov.za/ovvio
- Building plan form
- SDP
- SG diagram
- Title deed
- Zoning confirmation
- SANS 10400-Na
- Structural engineer cert
- Stormwater plan
- Fire safety cert
- Electrical/plumbing/mechanical permits
- Coverage and building line confirmation
- Proof of payment
Ovvio portal now live (GIS-integrated). Payment by bank transfer only (FNB 52540033504, ref: PDT + surname). Building Plan Amnesty active until Dec 15, 2026.