Who decides
For land in Johannesburg, agricultural-land subdivision falls under the planning powers of City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng. As a metropolitan municipality it has no district council above it.
| Municipality | City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (metropolitan) |
|---|---|
| Province | Gauteng |
| Land-use scheme | City of Johannesburg Land Use Scheme, 2018 (as amended 2025), 2018 as amended 2025 |
Local requirements
The aim of agricultural-land subdivision is to subdivision of agricultural land, including national agricultural approvals. Common situations in Gauteng towns such as Johannesburg include: you want to divide a farm between family members.
Areas covered by City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality include Johannesburg, Midrand, Randburg, Roodepoort, Sandton, Soweto.
City of Johannesburg applies the City of Johannesburg Land Use Scheme, 2018 (as amended 2025), while applications are processed under the City of Johannesburg Municipal Planning By-law (reviewed and promulgated on 3 April 2024) and SPLUMA (2013). Depending on the category of application, the decision is taken by an authorised official or the Municipal Planning Tribunal, with appeals to the City's appeal authority. Fees, required documents and timeframes are set by City of Johannesburg and change from time to time, so they are confirmed for each matter.
When you may need it
- You want to divide a farm between family members
- Part of a farm is to be sold or used for a non-agricultural purpose
The broad process
- Feasibility and status review
- Agricultural and municipal applications
- Survey and registration once approved
Documents commonly required
- Copy of the title deed (later stage, not at enquiry)
- Surveyor-General diagram or general plan
- Zoning certificate or current land-use information
- Power of attorney and owner consent where applicable
- Agricultural potential information where requested
What affects cost
- Professional planning fees for preparation and motivation
- Municipal application fees set by the relevant municipality
- Advertising and notice costs where public participation is required
- Specialist reports (for example traffic, engineering services or environmental)
- Agricultural specialist and survey fees
Professional fees, municipal application fees, advertising and specialist costs are quoted separately for each matter. Timeframes depend on completeness, objections, specialist work and municipal processing.
Questions
Which municipality handles agricultural-land subdivision in Johannesburg?
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng is the planning authority for Johannesburg, Midrand, Randburg, Roodepoort, Sandton, Soweto. The exact property location should still be confirmed, as municipal boundaries do not always follow town names.
Is there a district municipality involved in Johannesburg?
No. City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality and handles its own planning applications.
What should I check before starting with agricultural-land subdivision in Johannesburg?
Useful starting points are: Copy of the title deed (later stage, not at enquiry); Surveyor-General diagram or general plan; Zoning certificate or current land-use information. Title deed conditions, servitudes and previous approvals should also be checked.
Sources
- City of Johannesburg Municipal Planning By-law (reviewed, promulgated 3 April 2024) (as of 2026-10-21)
- City of Johannesburg Land Use Scheme, 2018 (as amended 2025) (as of 2026-10-21)