Directorate information
Planning for sustainable communities
Departmental Overview
The Department of Physical Planning is responsible for spatial planning in Zambia. Spatial planning is guided by the Urban and Regional Planning Act No. 3 of 2015 of the Laws of Zambia. It concerns the allocation of land to different uses to achieve maximum efficiency in land utilisation and accessibility to services. The Act provides procedures and guidelines for zoning and development of land, planning permission, protection and use of the environment, and the design of the urban environment. It guides and controls development to help ensure that the right type of building goes in the right place. The Department oversees the operations of Provincial and Local Planning Authorities. Issues and disputes arising from Planning Authorities are referred to the Provincial Planning Appeals Tribunal, which hears planning-related disputes.
Departmental Vision
To attain an orderly, co-ordinated, sustainable land-use development of human settlements and balanced regional development.
Departmental Objective
To promote orderly, co-ordinated and sustainable development of human settlements.