Why would I need a copy of old building plans?

Copies of previously approved plans are essential for several reasons: planning renovations or additions, verifying the legality of existing structures, resolving property disputes, or for due diligence when buying a property. They serve as the official record of what the council has approved for your site.

Is the council guaranteed to have my plans?

While municipalities are required to keep records, the reality is that older plans can sometimes be misfiled, damaged, or lost over the decades. We conduct a thorough search of the archives, but the existence and condition of the plans are dependent on the council's historical record-keeping.

How long does it take to retrieve plans?

The timeframe can vary greatly depending on the specific municipality and the age of the plans. It can range from a few weeks to several months. Our team's familiarity with the archive systems helps to expedite this process as much as possible.

Obtain Approved Building Plans | Council Archives Gauteng

Retrieving Historical Plans from Council Archives

Whether you are planning an alteration, selling your property, or trying to resolve a legal query, having a copy of the council-approved building plans is essential. These documents are the official record of what has been legally constructed on your property. However, accessing these records from vast and often complex municipal archives can be a challenging and slow-moving task.

At Building Compliance Agency, we take the frustration out of this process. Our experienced runners are familiar with the archival systems of the City of Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni. We handle the entire retrieval process, from submitting the formal application and paying the search fees to locating and digitizing the plans for your convenience.

Our Plan Retrieval Service:

Application Lodgement: We submit the official application to access property records on your behalf.
Archive Navigation: Our team physically searches the municipal archives to locate your files.
Document Verification: We ensure the plans we find correspond to the correct property and approval dates.
High-Quality Scanning: Once found, we provide high-resolution digital copies of the approved plans.

Planning a renovation?

Once you have your plans, our experts handle the new Building Plan Submissions.

Learn More About Building Plan Submissions

When Do You Need This?

Planning Renovations: To provide your architect with the as-built base plans before undertaking a new building plan submission.
Selling a Property: To prove to buyers that all structures are legal and approved.
Resolving Disputes: To confirm boundary lines and building restrictions.

Find Your Plans

Frequently Asked Questions

Get a Quote for Obtain Approved Plans

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Prices for our services vary depending on the specific municipality and the complexity of the application. Please provide us with some details about your project, and we will get back to you with a comprehensive quote.

hello@buildingcompliance.co.za

+27 68 614 6624

Service Areas

We primarily operate within the following municipal areas:

City of Johannesburg
City of Tshwane (Pretoria)
City of Ekurhuleni