Questions answered.

HB Drawing Desk is based in Vredenburg on the Cape West Coast. We regularly draw plans in Vredenburg, Saldanha, Langebaan, Paternoster, St Helena Bay, Jacobsbaai, Velddrif, Dwarskersbos, Laaiplek, Hopefield, Malmesbury, and surrounding areas. We also prepare building plans for clients anywhere in South Africa, with all consultations and document exchange handled by email, phone, or video call.

Yes. We work with municipalities across South Africa. Every council has its own submission requirements, zoning scheme, and forms, so we research the local requirements for your property before we start and prepare the plans accordingly.

We prepare new house plans, additions and alterations, granny flats and second dwellings, garages and carports, and as-built (existing building) plans for unapproved structures. We also handle municipal submissions, building line relaxations and departures, and plan amendments.

In most cases, yes. The National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act (Act 103 of 1977) requires municipal approval before building work starts. Minor works are sometimes exempt, but only your local municipality can confirm this for your project. Building without approval can lead to fines, stop-work orders, and problems when selling your property.

The usual steps are: (1) an initial consultation and site information gathering; (2) a measured survey or review of the title deed and zoning; (3) concept sketches for your approval; (4) the full set of municipal submission drawings; (5) submission to the municipality along with the required forms and engineer's details; (6) responding to any municipal or other departmental comments; and (7) receiving the approved plans, after which construction can begin.

Drawing time depends on the size and complexity of the project. As a guide, our standard turnaround is 10 working days for the first concept design and a further 10 working days to prepare the submission drawings. Municipal approval is a separate process and runs on the municipality's own timeline.

Our fees are based on the size and complexity of your building. We charge a fixed base fee plus a rate per square metre that decreases as the building gets larger, and the fee is paid in stages as the project progresses. Municipal submission fees, engineer's fees, land survey fees, and any specialist reports are not included and are paid separately. Contact us with your property details for a free, written quotation.

Please send us the property address or erf number, a copy of the title deed or the municipal account (for the erf details), any existing plans or a site plan, a short description of what you want to build, and your budget range. If you have photos of the site or reference images of styles you like, these help a great deal.

A building line is the distance from your property boundary within which you may not normally build. The distances are set by the local zoning scheme and can differ for each property. If your design needs to encroach on a building line, we can prepare and submit an application for a building line relaxation, which often requires the consent of affected neighbours and a motivation to the municipality.

Yes. If your house or structure was built without approved plans, we measure and draw it as it stands and submit it to the municipality for approval. This is commonly needed when selling a property, applying for a bond, or regularising alterations. Note that the municipality may require changes before approval if the building does not comply with regulations or zoning.

This depends on your property's zoning and the municipality's by-laws, which may limit the size, number of dwellings, and building lines, and may require special consent or a departure. We check the zoning rules for your property first and advise you on what is possible before you commit to the design.

Most building plans need a structural engineer's design or certification, and some also need an energy efficiency assessment (SANS 10400-XA), a fire engineer, or a geotechnical report. We coordinate with engineers and other professionals, and can recommend people we work with in your area.

If your property is in a residential estate or controlled development, you will usually need to get approval from the homeowners' association (HOA) and its design review architect before submitting plans to the municipality. We are experienced in preparing drawings that meet estate design guidelines, and we can respond to design review comments on your behalf.

Buildings and structures older than 60 years are protected under the National Heritage Resources Act, and some areas and historic villages on the West Coast have additional heritage controls. If this applies, approval from the relevant heritage authority may be needed before the municipality can approve your plans.

Yes. We prepare the full submission, complete the municipal forms, submit the application, follow up with the municipality, and deal with any comments. You do not need to go through the process on your own.

For projects in Vredenburg and the surrounding West Coast area, we usually visit the site for measurements and photos. For projects further away, we can work from a land survey, existing plans, photographs, and measurements provided by you or a local surveyor, and arrange a site visit when it is needed.

Yes. We prepare 3D views of your design so you can see how the building will look before construction, and we can prepare high quality renderings for an additional fee.

Send us an email or call us with your property details and a short description of your project. We will respond with the next steps and a quotation. Start a conversation