House maximun depth

koeksGHT

koeksGHT

Dealer
Joined
Aug 5, 2011
Messages
11,857
Reaction score
232
Location
Gangsters Paradise
As per title, how deep can one legally go. Could you build a basement 3 stories deep? Obviously nothing to do with mineral rights etc just curious.

If I wanted a bunker 10 stories deep?
 
koeksGHT said:
As per title, how deep can one legally go. Could you build a basement 3 stories deep? Obviously nothing to do with mineral rights etc just curious.

If I wanted a bunker 10 stories deep?
Click to expand...

If indeed a bunker, you don't want people to know about it, so legality shouldn't matter.
 
supersunbird said:
If indeed a bunker, you don't want people to know about it, so legality shouldn't matter.
Click to expand...

+1, if you do it right nobody ever has to know how deep you've gone. It's difficult to hide illegal extensions on a property that spread horizontally and upwards, but I can't see how anyone is going to know about your 3 stories hidden underground.
 
I think generally the limitation is really just cost of doing the work and the engineering required, not so much a legal issue as such.
 
If i remember correctly the same rights that apply to your property above ground applies below, depending on the zoning and what City you in.
 
SauRoNZA said:
I think generally the limitation is really just cost of doing the work and the engineering required, not so much a legal issue as such.
Click to expand...

The factor before legal would ever be an issue, more curious.

jdido87 said:
If i remember correctly the same rights that apply to your property above ground applies below, depending on the zoning and what City you in.
Click to expand...

What I assumed, 15m above/below. Yet office blocks go down 3 stories and more for parking(Business rights although)
 
This is from the Tshwane town planning which states the following:

http://www.tshwane.gov.za/sites/Departments/City-Planning-and-Development/Previous%20Schemes/Tshwane%20Town-Planning%20Scheme%202008.pdf

No dwelling-unit in Use Zones “Residential 1”, "Residential 2", "Agricultural" and
"Undetermined" shall exceed 10,0 m in height above natural ground level and such
dwelling-unit shall not contain more than 2 storeys one above the other as indicated in
Diagram 4 below and such height shall include the basement
Click to expand...

height1.JPG
 
Last edited:
Come to think of it the regulations around Windows per room size etc should override any other deeper concern about how deep you can go.

So as per the picture above I would imagine at least one side would need to be open to ground level.

But it begs an interesting question as my folks had a wine cellar in their old house that was completely enclosed.

No windows and just a little door, but a wood floor on top so it did breathe somewhat. I wonder if that would be legal under current regulations.
 
@SauRoNZA I was looking at the regulations and it seems that the subpart within the town planning guide allows for you to make certain applications in terms of what you want to do.

For example, building a basement, consideration in terms of the water table, runoff, ground composition, and many other things.

You will probably need to get various stakeholders involved as a normal construction company / architect won't do.
 
blowdart18 said:
@SauRoNZA I was looking at the regulations and it seems that the subpart within the town planning guide allows for you to make certain applications in terms of what you want to do.

For example, building a basement, consideration in terms of the water table, runoff, ground composition, and many other things.

You will probably need to get various stakeholders involved as a normal construction company / architect won't do.
Click to expand...

Yeah that's why I initially figured the costs of engineering and actual work would be the biggest issue, so you are quite right on the stakeholders.

I know someone who dug out a basement under their existing house in Sea Point to turn it into a guest house and such.

Can't remember the figures exactly but I do recall it being something like three times the cost of building the same thing above ground elsewhere.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X