Land Use Management

Land Use Management

The Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, 2013 (SPLUMA) aims:

• to provide a framework for spatial planning and land use management in the Republic;
• to specify the relationship between the spatial planning and the land use management system and other kinds of planning;
• to provide for the inclusive, developmental, equitable and efficient spatial planning at the different spheres of government;
• to provide a framework for the monitoring, coordination and review of the spatial planning and land use management system;
• to provide a framework for policies, principles, norms and standards for spatial development planning and land use management;
• to address past spatial and regulatory imbalances;
• to promote greater consistency and uniformity in the application procedures and decision-making by authorities responsible for land use decisions and development applications;
• to provide for the establishment, functions and operations of Municipal Planning Tribunals;
• to provide for the facilitation and enforcement of land use and development measures; and
• to provide for matters connected therewith.

What is Land Use Management

Land Use Management is the system of legal requirements and regulations that apply to land in order to achieve desirable and harmonious development of the built environment that reflect and are a translation of the overall vision of the Municipality as expressed in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and the Spatial Development Framework (SDF).

Every property in the Municipal Area has a set of regulations to control development. These regulations are determined by the zoning of the property. Property zoning is set out in the applicable Town Planning Scheme, which determines such aspects as possible land use with development parameters such as  floor area, coverage, building lines, parking provisions etc. Addition to the zoning regulations, development is also controlled by conditions of title. These conditions are set out in the Title Deed of each property, and can restrict the way in which a property may be developed.

The Land Use Management Department has the responsibility of receiving, processing and making recommendations or decisions on land development applications within the provisions of the legislation regulating land development i.e the Bitou Municipality By Law on Municipal Land Use Planning, 2015. This Department has a legal obligation to control and regulate land uses and to prosecute illegal land uses through the appropriate planning legislation.

This Department also provides comment on a variety of applications received by other departments within the Municipality requiring land development planning  input.​

Officials in this department work towards guiding new development that adhere to the Planning Principles of Spatial Land Use Management which include inter alia Spatial Justice, Spatial Sustianability, Spatial Efficiency, Spatial Resilience and Good administration .

Zoning Schemes

Kurland Infill