Town Planning and Land Use Law

Grounded in history. Growing with the future.

Guiding Development with Confidence

At Stadler & Swart Attorneys Inc., our experts in town planning and land use law are here to help property owners, developers, and investors unlock the full potential of their properties. With years of experience in guiding clients through planning approvals and land use applications, we combine deep legal expertise with a practical understanding of local municipal processes. Our goal is simple: to help you achieve your development vision while avoiding unnecessary risks and delays.

Our Land Use and Town Planning Services

We offer a wide range of town planning and land use services tailored to support property owners and developers throughout the Garden Route, Western Cape, and beyond:

Title Deed Review:
Assessing property title deeds to identify restrictions that could affect development.
Development Potential:
Determining possibilities such as adding a second dwelling or expanding existing rights.
Zoning and Rezoning:
Identifying zoning classifications and advising on rezoning opportunities.
Planning Approvals:
Guiding you through application processes, interpreting approvals, and clarifying conditions.
Strategic Assessments:
Evaluating property potential from both a legal and spatial perspective, including alignment with a municipality’s Spatial Development Framework and Urban Edge, as well as availability of bulk services.
Application Support:
Advising developers on how best to approach the application process to minimize delays.
Objection Handling:
Addressing objections and reviewing comments from authorities with detailed, legally sound responses.
Approval Interpretation:
Helping clients understand approvals and the implications of conditions imposed.
Appeals:
Providing strategic guidance on internal appeals against approvals or conditions to reduce risks of delays.

Why Work With Stadler & Swart

Navigating the complexities of town planning and land use law can feel overwhelming, especially when projects are subject to multiple layers of authority oversight. Our team has extensive experience identifying key issues, responding effectively to objections, and planning strategically to keep developments on track.
By combining legal expertise with a practical, forward-looking approach, we ensure that our clients are not only compliant but also well-positioned for successful property development.

Your Partner in Development Success

Whether you are exploring the potential of a single property or planning a large-scale development, our town planning attorneys in George and Cape Town are ready to provide clear, strategic advice. From zoning and rezoning to appeals and approvals, we work with you every step of the way to turn possibilities into reality.


Contact us today to speak with our town planning law team and move your project forward with confidence.

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