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Development Planning, Environment & Management

The Development Planning, Environment & Management Unit has offices at various locations across the city, and comprises the Branches listed below:

Development Planning

This department is charged with the medium to short term strategic planning of the Central Operational Entity areas, its functions include :

providing the central role in the preparation of the Council's Integrated Development Plan
similarly the subsequent Annual Reports
assessing status quo and community needs in the City leading in the first instance to a framework plan, land use policy and ultimately the local development plan which includes the city's spatial guide plan, a community/public participation plan, an environment plan and the land use management system.

The Planning Information Office

The Planning Information Office provides continual maintenance and capturing of zoning and land use data on the GIS for all properties within the Metropolitan region providing information to the general public and other internal departments.

Framework Planning

The Framework Planning Branch is involved with a range of projects that revolve around the restructuring and transformation of the urban form.

The Branch is involved with the following IDP projects:

The identification and strategic assessment of land use/economic development zones in and adjacent to the primary nodes and high priority transport routes.
Research towards the development of a more appropriate and flexible land use management system.
Warwick junction and environs upgrade and development.
Urban Core Extension Area Project.

Environment

The Branch aims to contribute toward quality of life for all by ensuring environmentally sustainable development in the Durban Metropolitan Area. This will be achieved by developing and implementing an appropriate environmental management system through Durban's Local Agenda 21 Programme. Environment currently have their own website.

Development Management
This Department consists of five Branches:

Development Applications & Approvals
The Development Applications and Approvals Branch is responsible for the processing of Building Plan Applications. The thrust of this Branch is towards the scrutiny and assessment of these applications in a reliable and efficient manner in order to promote and facilitate development of the built environment.

Building Inspectorate

The Building Inspectorate Branch is responsible for monitoring Building Development to protect the interests of all Property Owners and Government Agencies against undesirable contraventions of existing legislation and acceptable norms in the interests of maintaining a safe and healthy environment of the residents of Durban.

Land Use Management

The Land Use Management Branch comprises of the Subdivisions Division, the Consent Use Division, the Rezoning Division, and the Appeals and Enforcement Division. Collectively the Branch is responsible for the processing of town planning development applications and the monitoring of development in compliance with statutory procedures. It seeks to achieve co-ordinated and harmonious development by promoting health, safety, order, amenity, convenience and general welfare, as well as efficiency and economy and the improvement of communications.
Enforcement & Prosecutions

The Enforcement and Prosecutions Branch is responsible for monitoring compliance with legislation in the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment of the residents of Durban.

Advertising & Signage

The Advertising and Signage Branch is responsible for the processing of Advertising and Signage Applications. All scrutiny and assesment of these applications are undertaking by the officials of this branch in a reliable and efficient manner in order to promote and facilitate development of the built envirnment.

Development Facilitation Department
The Development Facilitation Department's most important role is to facilitate economic development in order to make it easier for communities and individuals to access or else package resources needed for their projects.

As part of its functions the DFD engages in research to provide communities, individuals and the Central Local Councils with direction on economic strategy, areas of economic opportunities and assistance in navigating the institutions and organizations involved in development.

The DFD liaises with investors, developers, consultants, other government departments, communities and other civil society organizations concerning specific projects. The DFD also manages a range of projects which it has initiated in terms of tourism, economic development, small business development, revitalising the Durban Central Business District, project packaging and Beachfront development.

The DFD consists of six branches, namely Economic development, Special Projects, Tourism, Informal Trade and Small Business Opportunities, Youth Affairs and Land Transactions which are all actively involved in the economic development of the city.

Town Planning Regulations

The Town Planning Regulations were first adopted in 18 November 1974. These regulations apply to the Central Operational Entity of Unicity Durban as shown on Plan No. 1849.380C as amended from time to time, except for such other areas as the Council may from time to time determine.

This online version of the town planning regulations provides an easy to use facility to determine regulations pertaining to the town planning scheme and controls of the Central Operation Entity of Unicity Durban.

This service is provided as up to date as possible, however the Web version of the Town Planning Regulations, Zoning and Land Use is provided solely for reference and the convenience of having the information in a computer readable format. The provisions and maps may not be the official version as enacted into law. The accuracy of any specific provision cannot be assured, and you are urged to consult the Development and Planning Unit for the current and official version of both the text and maps.