Non-negotiable: SACPLAN registration
The South African Council for Planners is the statutory regulator. Verify membership at sacplan.org.za before signing anything.
Municipal experience
A planner who has done five applications in your specific municipality in the last 12 months is worth more than a national firm with no local touch.
Application-type fit
A consent use specialist may not be the right fit for a complex mixed-use rezoning - and vice versa.
Seven questions to ask
How many applications of this exact type have you done in this municipality? What is your success rate? What conditions did the MPT impose in similar cases? Will you attend the tribunal? What is your fixed price? What happens if it's refused? Do I get a free initial consult?
Why Landlodz
Landlodz pairs every applicant with a SACPLAN-registered planner who covers their municipality, with fixed transparent pricing and a free initial consult.
Municipality-specific notes
Cape Town
City of Cape Town uses the Municipal Planning By-Law (MPBL, 2015) and the Development Management Scheme (DMS). Applications run through the eDevelopment Application Management System (eDAMS).
Johannesburg
City of Johannesburg operates under the Municipal Planning By-Law (2016) and the Joburg Town Planning Scheme. Applications lodge via the JoziPlan online portal.
Tshwane (Pretoria)
City of Tshwane uses the Tshwane Town-planning Scheme (2008) under the Land Use Management By-Law. The Spatial Planning division handles intake.
eThekwini (Durban)
eThekwini uses the eThekwini Town Planning Scheme administered under the KwaZulu-Natal Planning and Development Act and SPLUMA.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a town planner near me?+
Search SACPLAN's public register, ask your conveyancer or architect, or book a free Landlodz consult and we will match you with a planner who covers your municipality.
Keep reading
Read time- Guide 01
What Does a Town Planner Do in South Africa?
Town planners are SACPLAN-registered professionals who turn property development ideas into approved municipal applications.
6 min - Guide 02
How Much Does a Town Planner Cost in South Africa? (2026 Prices)
2026 town planner fee ranges by application type, plus how Landlodz's fixed-price model compares to traditional hourly billing.
7 min
Book a free consult. A SACPLAN-registered town planner confirms the route for your erf and sends you a fixed quote before you commit.