Harare slashes plan approval fees

The Harare City Council has decided to reduce its building plans and inspection fees in response to public complaints about the high United States dollar-denominated charges that were introduced in June the previous year.

In an official statement, Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango explained that the fee reduction aims to stimulate infrastructural development in the city. The new fee structure aligns with the levels specified in the November 2022 Schedule 25A of Fees and Charges for the Building Inspectorate.

For instance, architect fees for high-density residential areas were initially raised to US$343 for the primary residence and US$505 for a single-story house in low-density neighborhoods. Under the updated schedule, fees for the primary residence in low-density areas have been revised to US$150, and for a single-story in low-density, it's now US$200. Furthermore, approval fees for a commercial single-story, which used to be US$773, have been reduced to US$250.

This fee reduction has been welcomed by various stakeholders. Harare Residents Trust director Precious Shumba expressed support for the move, emphasizing the importance of affordable plan approval to encourage compliance with regulations and standards. According to Shumba, affordable services promote order and allow the council to better control and monitor infrastructural development.

Marvelous Khumalo, chairperson of the Harare Metropolitan Residents Forum, believes that this fee reduction will promote infrastructural development, motivate property developers to follow city by-laws, and potentially reduce the number of properties constructed without city approval. This, in turn, could lead to higher standards and increased revenue for the city council.