Building without approved plans is an offence under the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act. In practice, most unapproved work in Gauteng is an enclosed carport, a converted garage or a room at the back that an earlier owner added, and it surfaces when the house is sold or bonded.
How it gets fixed
- Measure and draw the building as it stands (as-built plans).
- Check the work against the building regulations and the zoning. Anything that does not comply is identified and the fix is drawn.
- Submit to the council as a submission for work already done. Some councils charge an additional fee for this.
- Where the work is over a building line or breaks the zoning, a town planner applies for the relaxation or consent first.
If the council has already written to you
A notice from building control has a deadline. Send it to us with photos and we will tell you what the notice asks for and how long the drawings take.