Your spouse is taking the lockdown hard; walking from one room to another and moving small things around. Opening and shutting cupboards. Noisily. And then one day says: “I have a plan! Let’s knock down the wall between this room and the garage. Think of all that space! We can build a carport on the other side.”

It sounds like a good idea and your first question will probably be: “Will we need plans for your plan?”

Unless the home renovation that you have in mind is defined as “minor building work”, you will need plans for whatever you construct on your property. Yes, even for a chicken coop or a carport. Consult a house renovation company – they will certainly be able to give you an indication of whether your carport will be regarded as “minor”.  

Within a sectional title or Board of Trustees, you require their approval as well.  To start with you must submit professional building plans from an architectural firm that is registered with the South African Council of Architectural Profession (SACAP).  Also enquire what or if there are any conditions restricting the use of land.   

Although minor building work do not require plans, you still must apply to and receive permission from your local authority’s building control officer. They will ensure that your building work will comply with the local regulations which most of us are completely ignorant of (such as distance from a boundary).

So, what is classified as minor building work?

Exterior:

• children’s playhouses, cycle sheds of no more than five square metres
• open-sided carports may not exceed 40 square metres
• chicken coops, aviaries no bigger than 20 square metres
• tool sheds, store rooms smaller than 10 square metres
• greenhouses that are not larger than 15 square metres
• freestanding walls (masonry, concrete, steel, wire or aluminum) not higher than 1,8m
• replacing a roof or part of a roof with the same roofing materials
• change rooms at your pool (do people still build those?) may not exceed 10 square metres

Interior house renovation:

• the conversion of a door into a window – or vice versa – without increasing the size of the opening
• making an opening into a wall that does not affect structural safety
• erecting or demolishing an internal wall that does not affect structural safety

Local authority regulations on Wendy Houses vary: usually it may not have a floor area of more than 15 square metres, a roof no more than 2.5 metres high and should generally be at least one metre away from a boundary.

And no, you cannot say you are building an aviary for your imported parrots and then build a 20 square metre cottage for your mother-in-law. The structure you erect may only be used for the purpose stated in your application to the municipality.

Confirm with your local authority whether you actually need a plan. If it is a NO, ask them to put it in writing or print out that e-mail reply and file it as reference that you have kept your constructing within the boundaries of the law.

And whatever you build, make sure to choose a reputable house renovation company. The process may seem daunting on the onslaught however, once all the red tape has been dealt with.  You are well on your way to realizing your spouse’s dream of a new spacious home and carport.