How to get building plan approval in South Africa?
What you have to do to get the permit and where to start.
At Procompare, we have been tracking prices and seasonal trends for many years. Based on our proprietary data of historical project costs (acquired from thousands of our Pros) and other cost data from various respectable sources, we have put together a 2025 house planning cost guide, where we have gathered all the necessary information for you to make the best possible decision.
Architect fee — per hour
Most architects will work for either an hourly rate or for a fixed fee based on a percentage of the construction costs. Typical fees range from 5% to 15% of construction costs for new construction, and from 15% to 20% for remodelling. Often it is difficult to estimate the cost of construction. The alternative is to charge per hour. According to SACAP a Registered Professional Architect with more than ten years’ experience, can charge roughly R1 800 per hour. For an architect, expect to pay between R900/hour and R1900/hour.
Get quotesDraftsperson — per hour fee
A draftsperson creates blueprints for designing new homes and additions to existing ones. He prepares architectural plans and technical drawings. A draftsperson can charge by the hour or by the square metre (see below). A set of plans for a typical 3-bedroom house takes at least 10 hours to complete. The size and the complexity of the project will also have an impact on the price. Hiring a draftsperson to do a simple house plan is still cheaper than having an architect do it—they can charge up to twice as much. Draftsperson costs range between R600/hour and R1100/hour with an average of R900/hour.
Get quotesStructural engineer
A structural engineer is an engineer who specialises in the structure of buildings. They determine the strength and durability of a building. They are a key professional in the construction process. The cost to hire a structural engineer typically runs from R50,000 to R500,000, averaging at R310,000.
Get quotesQuantity surveyor
Quantity surveyors are responsible for managing all financial aspects of your construction project, both in terms of cost for material and labour. Before the start of construction, a Quantity Surveyor provides a detailed breakdown of the cots on the basis of architectural plans. Based on this report, the builder can can tender a quote. On average, quantity surveyors charge between R300/m2 and R400/m2.
Get quotesEstate compliance and Municipal preparation of a plan
Procure a qualified architect or draughtsmen in order to prepare the plans for Municipal approval. While the preparation an submission of required documents in itself is fairly easy, dealing with the different departments involved, complying with all their requirements and negotiating the approval is the more difficult and very time consuming part. On average, expect to be charged between R6300 and R10,000 for an estate compliance and Municipal preparation of a plan.
Get quotesApproval of house plan — submission fee
The submission fee is the price you will pay for submitting your documents to the council. The average cost of a submission fee for approval of house plan is R3800, or typically between R1300 and R6300.
Get quotesApproval of house plan by yourself — price
Once the building plans for your new home or renovations have been drawn up, you will need to submit them for approval. You can do this yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. Approval of house plan by yourself costs range between R15/m2 and R25/m2 with an average of R20/m2.
Get quotesDesign inception and conceptualization
Service includes a location visit and a brief, providing a schedule of accommodation with an estimated budget. Service can be concluded in about 4 hours. The cost of design inception and conceptualization typically runs from R3100 to R5000, averaging at R3500.
Get quotesArchitects design fee (for a house)
The fee listed is for full architects design services. The average cost to hire None architects design fee (for a house) is R230,000, or typically between R190,000 and R340,000.
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