ARJMTS+1,200+ active users

From building plan to municipal approval.

Upload your plans once. Lauren checks them against SANS 10400, the municipal by-laws and the estate’s rules — so you fix problems before the council finds them.

Start a project →See how it works

A PlanApprove project at the findings step: the seven steps on the left, Larry’s correction pack on the right

01How it works

Three steps from drawings to approval.

Step 01

Upload your plans

Create a project and drop in the drawings, title deed and zoning certificate. The property details are read for you.

Step 02

Lauren checks them

Each sheet is checked against SANS 10400, the by-laws and zoning scheme, and the estate’s rules. You get a clear list of findings — and Larry redlines the fixes.

Step 03

Submit and track

The forms fill themselves. Plans go to the estate, come back stamped, and go on to the council — tracked in one place.

The full seven-step process is set out on the Services page.

02Benefits

Less back-and-forth. More approvals.

Fewer rejections

Find the problems before the council does.

A missing north point or a building-line breach is a quick fix today — and a six-week resubmission later.

Time

Nothing typed twice.

The statutory forms fill in from what was read on the drawings.

Estates

Estate approval online.

The committee reviews online and the approved set comes back stamped, with a certificate.

Visibility

Always know where it stands.

One record from first upload to council — for the architect, the owner and the estate.

Your practice

Reuse what you already have.

Registrations, insurance and standard details are kept once and attached to any project.

Coverage

450 estates · 203 municipalities

Municipal by-laws and estate rules loaded for Lauren — with more estates’ rules being added every week.

03Pricing

Simple pricing. Nothing hidden.

One subscription for architects and other subscribers. Pay per report, and add people as your practice grows.

Per report

R100/ report

Get started

Lauren’s compliance check on a project
Findings against SANS 10400, by-laws, zoning and estate rules
Pay only for the reports you run

Most popularSubscription

R799/ month

Start a project →

For architects and other subscribers
The seven-step submission, from property to council
Lauren reads every document and fills the forms
Estate and council submissions, tracked in one place
My Practice: reusable practice documents
One user included

Extra users

R99/ month

Add your team

Per additional user on your subscription
Same projects, same practice documents
Add or remove users at any time

Estates and municipalities: their portals cost them nothing. Find your estate or council.

04Testimonials

Loved by the people who use it.

★★★★★

“Lauren picked up three by-law issues before we submitted. The council round that used to cost us six weeks just didn’t happen.”

ArchitectPretoria

★★★★★

“Our committee reviews plans online now, and the stamped set goes straight back to the architect. No more couriered paper.”

Estate managerCenturion

★★★★★

“The forms fill themselves from the drawings. I check the figures instead of typing them out for every project.”

DraughtspersonMossel Bay

★★★★★

“For the first time I could see exactly where my plans were — at the estate, then at the council.”

HomeownerStellenbosch

05FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

What does PlanApprove check a plan against?

SANS 10400 (the National Building Regulations), the municipal by-laws and zoning scheme for the property, and — in a security estate — the estate’s own architectural rules. The list of estates and municipalities loaded so far is shown further down this page.

Who signs off the findings?

You do. Every review is a digitally assisted first pass: Lauren lists what needs attention, and the architect or professional of record confirms every finding before anything is submitted.

What does it cost?

Architects and other subscribers pay R799 per month, plus R100 per report. Extra users are R99 per month each. There is no cost to an estate or a municipality for its portal.

What counts as a report?

A report is the compliance check Lauren runs on a project’s drawings and documents, with its list of findings — charged at R100 each.

Which files can I upload?

Drawings and documents as PDF, DWG, DXF, JPG or PNG — including the title deed, zoning certificate and SG diagram.

Does estate approval replace council approval?

No. The estate approves first and the stamped plans then go to the municipality. PlanApprove tracks both steps on the same project.

Can I add people from my practice?

Yes. Your subscription includes one user; each extra user is R99 per month.

My estate or municipality is not online yet — can I still use PlanApprove?

Yes. Prepare and check the plans on PlanApprove and submit as usual. Estate committees and council officials can ask us to switch their portal on.

Something else? Ask Lauren or email info@planapprove.co.za.

06Checked against

The rules behind every check.

SANS 10400National Building Regulations — every part, from structure to fire and energy use.

Act 103 of 1977National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act.

SPLUMASpatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013 and the municipal land-use by-laws made under it.

Zoning schemesThe land-use scheme for the property — permitted use, coverage, building lines, height and parking.

Municipal by-lawsBuilding, land-use and related by-laws for 203 municipalities loaded so far.

Estate rulesArchitectural and design rules for 450 security estates.

Every municipality here has its by-laws loaded. Estates marked “Rules checked” have their rules loaded; those marked “Rules in progress” are being added. “Online” means it receives plans through PlanApprove today. Open the estate & council portals

The bodies that shape South Africa’s built environment

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Start your next submission on PlanApprove.

Create an account →Ask Lauren

Site

Sign in

From building plan to municipal approval.

Three steps from drawings to approval.

Upload your plans

Lauren checks them

Submit and track

Less back-and-forth. More approvals.

Find the problems before the council does.

Nothing typed twice.

Estate approval online.

Always know where it stands.

Reuse what you already have.

450 estates · 203 municipalities

Simple pricing. Nothing hidden.

Loved by the people who use it.

Frequently asked questions.

The rules behind every check.

Start your next submission on PlanApprove.