While property ownership may lead you to believe you have complete freedom to make changes as you see fit, the reality is quite different. Did you know that you must have an approved building plan to make alterations to your home? According to South Africa's National Building Regulations (NBR), any structural modifications require approval from the city council before you can commence renovations. This is essential because unauthorised construction, such as adding backrooms, can lead to sewage management issues within your area, among other potential problems. When do you need permission from your local municipality for home extensions and renovations and when don’t you? This is one of the questions we hope to answer in this conversation.

City of Johannesburg (COJ) Building Control Officer Broderick Chiloane joins Nhlanhla Sehume for the conversation.