Who decides
For land in Port St Johns, building-line relaxations & departures falls under the planning powers of Port St Johns Local Municipality, Eastern Cape. It forms part of the OR Tambo District, but the district municipality is not assumed to decide these applications.
| Municipality | Port St Johns Local Municipality (local) |
|---|---|
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | OR Tambo |
Local requirements
Owners in Port St Johns usually look at building-line relaxations & departures when an existing structure was built over a line and needs to be regularised. The purpose is to relax building lines, coverage, height or other development parameters.
Areas covered by Port St Johns Local Municipality include Port St Johns. Neighbouring municipalities in the OR Tambo District, such as Ingquza Hill, King Sabata Dalindyebo, Kumkani Mhlontlo, Nyandeni, are separate planning authorities with their own by-laws and schemes, so the correct municipality must be confirmed from the property's location.
Whether the authorised official or the Municipal Planning Tribunal of Port St Johns Local Municipality decides depends on the category of application in its planning by-law, read with SPLUMA (2013) and the land use scheme. Appeals go to the municipality's appeal authority. Fees, documents and timeframes are set by Port St Johns Local Municipality and change from time to time, so they are confirmed for each matter.
When you may need it
- A planned extension encroaches into the side or rear building line
- An existing structure was built over a line and needs to be regularised
The broad process
- Assessment
- Neighbour consents
- Application
- Decision
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
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)
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 building-line relaxations & departures in Port St Johns?
Port St Johns Local Municipality in Eastern Cape is the planning authority for Port St Johns. The exact property location should still be confirmed, as municipal boundaries do not always follow town names.
Does the OR Tambo District Municipality decide building-line relaxations & departures applications?
Not by default. Under SPLUMA, local municipalities such as Port St Johns Local Municipality are their own planning authorities for most land-use applications.
What should I check before starting with building-line relaxations & departures in Port St Johns?
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.