Consent use
Guest house is a consent use in almost every Single Residential 1, Single Residential 2 and most General Residential zonings. Typical conditions: maximum number of guest rooms (often 6-10), parking ratio (1 bay per room), no separate kitchens per room and noise restrictions.
Tourism grading
The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa offers voluntary star grading. Useful for marketing and required by some corporate clients.
Business licence
Required where food and drink are served to non-residents. Issued by the municipal business licensing office.
Fire and health
Annual fire compliance certificate from the local fire brigade and certificate of acceptability from the municipal health department.
We lodge it for you
A guest house or second dwelling usually needs a consent use application, and sometimes the removal of a title deed condition as well. Landlodz prepares and lodges both. Book a free consult and a planner will confirm the route for your erf.
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
What is the difference between a guest house and bed and breakfast?+
Most schemes treat 'bed and breakfast' as up to 3 rooms (often a primary right or simpler consent) and 'guest house' as 4+ rooms (consent use).
Can I run a guest house on Single Residential 1?+
Yes, with consent use approval, in nearly every municipality.
How long does guest house approval take?+
4-6 months for the consent use; another 4-8 weeks for business licence and health certificates.
Keep reading
Read time- Guide 01
Airbnb Regulations in South Africa: What You Need to Know (2026)
South Africa's first national tourism Bill is changing Airbnb regulation in 2026. Here is what hosts need to know about zoning, body corporates, tax and the proposed 30-day cap.
9 min - Guide 02
Can I Run a Business From Home in South Africa?
Home businesses are a regulated land use in South Africa. Here is what you can do as of right, what needs consent, and what triggers rezoning.
8 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.