Local Government Law

Established in 1982. Focused on the Future.

Building on Trusted Relationships

At Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc., our expertise in property and development law naturally extends to the sphere of local government law. Over many years, we have built strong working relationships with municipal officials across the Garden Route and beyond. Today, we are proud to serve on the legal panels of the following municipalities:

  • George Municipality
  • Mossel Bay Municipality
  • Knysna Municipality
  • Hessequa Municipality
  • Prins Albert Municipality

These partnerships reflect not only our technical expertise but also the trust we have earned through consistent professionalism, integrity, and results.

Our Work with Municipalities

We provide ongoing advice and legal services to municipalities in relation to a wide range of issues under local government law. Our work supports the effective functioning of local government structures and ensures that decisions are sound, lawful, and defensible.
Our services include:

Advice on the liability of developers to pay development charges
Guidance on public tenders and procurement law
Advising on land use planning and development applications
Drafting and reviewing bylaws and municipal policies
Advising on financial management and asset control
Supporting integrated development planning and performance management
Legal guidance on municipal services and property rates
Assisting with internal appeal hearings, framing of land use decisions, drafting reasons for decisions, and setting conditions
Advising on compliance with building regulations

Experience That Delivers

Our longstanding involvement with municipalities gives us a unique perspective: we understand both the legal framework and the practical challenges local governments face. This allows us to provide advice that is not only technically accurate but also practical and workable in real-world governance.
By working closely with municipal officials, we help ensure that decision-making processes are transparent, compliant, and sustainable. For developers, estate agents, and property owners, this experience also enhances our ability to anticipate and navigate local government requirements efficiently.

Your Partner in Local Government Law

Whether drafting service agreements, bylaws, resolving disputes, or advising on procurement and land use, we approach each matter with the same commitment to excellence that has defined our firm since 1982. Our team of local government law specialists stands ready to provide clear, trusted guidance to municipalities and stakeholders across the Garden Route.

Contact us today to learn more about our work in local government law and how we can support your organisation or development project.

Experience you trust. Progress you can count on.

Why Developers Choose Stadler & Swart

At Stadler & Swart, we pride ourselves on:

Depth of specialist experience: André Swart has been practising as an attorney and conveyancer since 1992, holds an LLM specialising in planning and environmental law, and has decades of experience in property, planning, environmental and water law.

Proven track‑record in development matters: The firm’s history includes acting for prominent developers, large‑scale sectional‑title schemes and complex multi‑discipline projects.

Strategic, integrated advice: Not simply regulatory “check‑boxes” but advice targeted to your business objectives: unlocking development value, avoiding delays and aligning approvals, energy strategy and conveyancing.

Local knowledge and networks: Deep experience with municipalities, land‑use tribunals, environmental regulation and property transfers in the Garden Route, Cape Town and broader Western Cape.

Conveyancing: Our friendly team of conveyancing paralegals are seasoned professionals with years of experience. They are dedicated to guiding clients through every step of the process with clarity and care. Stadler & Swart Attorneys is also proudly represented on the conveyancing panels of major financial institutions, including ABSA Bank, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Investec, FNB, and SA Home Loans.

  • Stadler & Swart Inc have been our development attorneys over many years, and they have demonstrated their expertise not only in respect of property, land use and environmental law, but also in providing high quality conveyancing services. They attend to all our conveyancing needs at Paradise Coast which includes the drafting of all contracts. If you need to keep any property lawyer close to you, this is the firm to associate with.

    G A van Rensburg, Managing Director, Nuvest (Pty) Ltd

  • Stadler & Swart Inc and specifically Mr. André Swart represents the Devonbosch Development, Stellenbosch. In our experience, Mr. Swart and his team have demonstrated their complete professionalism and high competency in understanding our case and guiding us strategically through all the legal options available to us. Mr. Swart and his colleagues have always ensured their availability for consultation and we have provided the best possible level of service.

    Pieter van der Westhuizen, Development Manager, Devonbosch, Stellenbosch

  • Stadler & Swart Inc have been the development attorneys for the Groenkloof Retirement Village Group since the Group's inception in 2003. They have provided expert assistance in obtaining the development rights and environmental approvals and have executed excellent conveyancing services for our developments. Stadler & Swart Inc's contribution to a development such as ours has proven invaluable and we proudly associate with them.

    Jan Pienaar, Managing Director, Groenkloof Retirement Village Group

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys are a highly respected property law specialist firm and render land use and environmental law advice of an exceptional quality. I have worked with them over many years in respect of matters in the Garden Route as well as in the Stellenbosch area and they have consistently proven themselves experts in the fields they specialise in.

    Hendrik Kotze, Director, Werksmans Inc.

  • In my capacity as a practicing member of the Cape Bar, I have over the past 15 years been regularly briefed by Mr Andre Swart, as well as by certain of his associates, in a range of planning, environmental and general property matters. Many of these matters have been complex and demanding. I regard Mr Swart as being one of the most experienced and competent attorneys with whom I have worked over the past 35 years, in what are highly specialised fields in which he practices. I can think of few, if any, property lawyers better equipped than Mr Swart to render specialised legal services to property owners, property developers and others operating in this field, particularly where one is dealing with large developments requiring high planning, property and environmental expertise.

    Adv Sean Rosenberg SC

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc have advised our group of companies in a number of complex property matters. Their specialist knowledge and experience have been of huge value to us.

    Arno de Vos, Director, Cape Estates

  • I have worked with Andre Swart of Stadler & Swart Inc for several years and can attest professionalism, knowledge and experience, in particular in respect of matters relating to property, planning and environmental law.

    David Hertz, Chairman of Werksmans Attorneys

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc have advised our group of companies in a number of complex property matters. Their specialist knowledge and experience have been of huge value to us.

    Arno de Vos, Director, Cape Estates

  • Stadler & Swart Attorneys have advised the Atterbury Group of Companies over many years and their specialist knowledge and experience in the fields of property development and environmental law is invaluable. If you get involved in a complex or challenging property transaction, I would strongly recommend them.

    Louis van der Wast, Atterbury Group CEO