The Local Government Authorities (Decoration of Buildings) Act
This section gives the Act’s short title and states that it binds the Government of the United Republic.
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- Tanzania
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- Act or statute
- Citation
- The Local Government Authorities (Decoration of Buildings) Act
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- en
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Statute overview
About this statute
This section gives the Act’s short title and states that it binds the Government of the United Republic. This section defines key terms used in the Act, including authority, building, occupier, owner, council, district council, Minister, town council, and urban area. An authority may require an owner or occupier to redecorate a building’s exterior if the building is shabby and unsightly and harms neighbourhood amenities, but only subject to the Act and not in listed exception cases. An authority may serve a notice requiring demolition of a temporary building or structure, and removal of rubbish, if it is dangerous or seriously detrimental because it is ruinous or dilapidated. A person served with a notice under section 3 or 4 may appeal in writing to the Minister within 30 days, unless the Minister allows more time.
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Provisions of The Local Government Authorities (Decoration of Buildings) Act
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- 1 Verify source ↗
Short title and application
AI-assisted research summary: This section gives the Act’s short title and states that it binds the Government of the United Republic.
1.–(1) This Act may be cited as the Local Government Authorities (Decoration of Buildings) Act. (2) This Act shall bind the Government of the United Republic. Interpretation Cap. 288 Cap. 287 - 2 Verify source ↗
3. Authority may serve notice to redecorate
AI-assisted research summary: This section defines key terms used in the Act, including authority, building, occupier, owner, council, district council, Minister, town council, and urban area.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- “authorised officer” means, in relation to any authority, an officer of the authority authorised by it in writing, either generally or specially, to act in matters of any specified kind or in any specified matter; “authority” where the area is a city means the city council, where the area is a municipality means the municipal council, where the area is a township means the town council, and where the area is that of a district council means the district council; “building” includes a part of a building; “council” means a municipal or city council established under the Local Government (Urban Authorities) Act; “district council” means a district council established under the Local Government (District Authorities) Act; “Minister” means the Minister responsible for local government; 148 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES (DECORATION OF BUILDINGS) ACT [CAP. 293 R.E. 2023] “occupier” means any person- (a) in actual occupation of a building; or (b) entitled to occupy a building under a grant by the owner, and where the same building is occupied by several members of one family, means the reputed head of such family; “owner” in relation to a building means the holder of a government lease or a right of occupancy in respect of the land on which the building is constructed; “town council” means a town council established under the Local Government (Urban Authorities) Act; “urban area” means an area within the jurisdiction of a city, municipal or town council, and an area which, immediately before the establishment of a district council for any part of Mainland Tanzania, was a township declared under the Township Ordinance or a minor settlement declared under the Minor Settlements Ordinance. - 3 Verify source ↗
Authority may serve notice to redecorate
AI-assisted research summary: An authority may require an owner or occupier to redecorate a building’s exterior if the building is shabby and unsightly and harms neighbourhood amenities, but only subject to the Act and not in listed exception cases.
3.–(1) Where it appears to an authority that a building in an urban area within its jurisdiction is in need of exterior decoration to the extent that its appearance is shabby and unsightly and is seriously detrimental to the amenities of the neighbourhood, the authority may, subject to this Act, serve a notice in the prescribed form upon the owner or occupier of that building requiring that the exterior of the building be decorated to a reasonable standard. (2) A notice served under subsection (1) shall specify the nature of the work required to be performed and the time within which the work so specified shall be completed. (3) An authority shall not be empowered to serve a notice under subsection (1) where- (a) the building is in an area which has been declared to be a re-development area under section 35 of the Land Acquisition Act; Cap. 288 R.L. Cap. 101 R.L. Cap. 102 Authority may serve notice to redecorate Cap. 118 149 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES (DECORATION OF BUILDINGS) ACT [CAP. 293 R.E. 2023] (b) the building is in such a state of disrepair or decay that it would not be consistent with prudent estate management to repair it; (c) the lease or right of occupancy of the land on which the building stands will expire within three years and the Commissioner for Lands has certified in writing that he will not renew such lease or right of occupancy or has certified that he will renew such lease only upon the building being demolished or substantially reconstructed; or (d) three years have not elapsed since the building was decorated pursuant to a notice served under subsection (1). Authority may serve notice to demolish - 4 Verify source ↗
Authority may serve notice to demolish
AI-assisted research summary: An authority may serve a notice requiring demolition of a temporary building or structure, and removal of rubbish, if it is dangerous or seriously detrimental because it is ruinous or dilapidated.
4.–(1) Where it appears to an authority that any temporary building or structure in an urban area within its jurisdiction- (a) is in such condition as to be dangerous to persons in the building or nearby; or (b) is by reason of its ruinous or dilapidated condition the to the amenities of seriously detrimental neighbourhood, the authority may, subject to this Act, serve a notice in the prescribed form upon the owner or occupier of the building or structure requiring that it be demolished and any rubbish resulting from the demolition be removed. (2) For the purposes of this section, a temporary building or structure is one which is movable or is reasonably likely to be temporary in nature by reason of the lack of durability of the materials with which it is constructed or the manner in which it is constructed. Aggrieved person may appeal - 5 Verify source ↗
Aggrieved person may appeal
AI-assisted research summary: A person served with a notice under section 3 or 4 may appeal in writing to the Minister within 30 days, unless the Minister allows more time.
5.–(1) A person aggrieved by the service on him of a notice under section 3 or section 4 may within thirty days of the said service on him, or within such longer period as the Minister may allow, appeal against the notice in writing to the Minister who may, after taking into account any written submissions 150 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES (DECORATION OF BUILDINGS) ACT [CAP. 293 R.E. 2023] which the authority and the appellant may make, cancel or vary any such notice, and the decision of the Minister shall be final and may not be challenged in any court. (2) An appeal under subsection (1) shall lie on any of the following grounds that- (a) the notice is not justified by the terms of section 3 or section 4, as the case may be; (b) the work or demolition required to be performed to all relevant is unreasonable having regard circumstances; (c) the time within which the work or demolition is to be completed is not reasonably sufficient for the purpose; (d) the person upon whom the notice is served does not have, and is unable to borrow or otherwise raise, sufficient resources to enable the work or demolition to be performed; or (e) the notice might lawfully have been served on the occupier of the building in question instead of on the owner, or on the owner instead of the occupier, and that it would have been equitable for it to have been so served. (3) Where the grounds upon which an appeal under this section is brought include a ground specified in paragraph (e) of subsection (2), the appellant shall serve a copy of his appeal on the other person referred to and that person shall have the right to make submissions to the Minister in relation to that appeal and the Minister shall take such submissions into account before determining the appeal. (4) In exercising his powers under this section the Minister shall have regard as between an owner and an occupier to the terms and conditions, whether contractual or statutory, of the tenancy and to the nature of the work required. Authority may execute works on default - 6 Verify source ↗
Authority may execute works on default
AI-assisted research summary: If someone ignores a notice to do the required works or demolition, the authority may do the work itself and recover its reasonable costs. In some cases, the Minister may direct that the costs be recovered from the owner.
6.–(1) Subject to the right of appeal conferred by section 5, if a person is required by a notice served on him under section 3 or section 4 and fails to execute the works or demolition specified 151 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES (DECORATION OF BUILDINGS) ACT [CAP. 293 R.E. 2023] in the notice within the time thereby limited, the authority may execute the works or cause them to be executed and recover from that person the expenses reasonably incurred by it in so doing. (2) Where a notice has been served upon an occupier who, had he executed the works pursuant to the notice under section 3 would have been entitled under section 8 to recover from the owner the necessary expenses incurred by him in executing the work, the Minister may, on the application of the occupier, and after giving the owner an opportunity of being heard direct that the expenses incurred by the authority be recovered from the owner, either by requiring the occupier to pay to the owner any rents payable to the authority until the amount of such expenses is fully recovered, or otherwise, and upon such direction being given, the owner shall be liable accordingly. - 7 Verify source ↗
Power to enter
AI-assisted research summary: An authorised officer may enter premises at reasonable hours for an inspection purpose, and may bring necessary assistants; for some premises, 24 hours’ notice to the occupier is required before entry is demanded as of right.
7.–(1) Subject to this section, any authorised officer of an authority shall, on producing, if so required, a duly authenticated document showing his authority, have a right to enter any premises at all reasonable hours for the purpose of ascertaining whether circumstances exist which would authorise the authority to issue a notice or execute or cause to be executed any work or demolition under this Act. (2) The admission to any premises not being a factory, workshop or workplace shall not be demanded as of right unless twenty four hours notice of intended entry has been given to the occupier. (3) An authorised officer entering any premises by virtue of this section may take with him such other persons as may be necessary to effect the purpose of the visit. Power to enter Occupier may recover from owner - 8 Verify source ↗
Occupier may recover from owner
AI-assisted research summary: An occupier who does the required work under a section 3 notice may recover the necessary expenses from the owner, and may also set those expenses off against rent or other liabilities, subject to tenancy terms.
8. Subject to any liability imposed on the occupier by the terms and conditions, whether contractual or statutory, of the tenancy whereunder he holds the building, an occupier who is required to execute and does execute any work pursuant to a notice under section 3 or from whom the expenses of executing 152 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES (DECORATION OF BUILDINGS) ACT [CAP. 293 R.E. 2023] the work are recovered by the authority, may recover from the owner the necessary expenses incurred by him in executing the work or the expenses recovered from him, as the case may be, and without prejudice to any other means of recovery, an occupier may set off the amount of such expenses against his liabilities to the owner for rent or otherwise under the tenancy. Authentication of notices - 9 Verify source ↗
Authentication of notices
AI-assisted research summary: Notices under sections 3 or 4 must be signed for the authority by the clerk or a written-authorised officer.
9.–(1) A notice served under section 3 or 4 shall be signed on behalf of the authority by- (a) the clerk of the authority; or (b) any officer of the authority authorised by it in writing to sign notices of that kind or, as the case may be, a particular notice. (2) A notice purporting to bear the signature of an officer expressed to hold an office by virtue of which he is under subsection (1) empowered to sign a notice or expressed to be duly authorised by the authority to sign such notice or the particular notice, shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed, until the contrary is proved, to have been duly given by the authority. Service of notices - 10 Verify source ↗
Service of notices
AI-assisted research summary: This section says a notice under the Act may be served in several ways, including personal delivery, registered post, or other specified methods for companies, government, and hard-to-locate occupants.
10. A notice under this Act may be served- (a) by delivering it personally to the person concerned; (b) by leaving it or sending it by registered post to the person concerned at his usual or last known place of residence; (c) in the case of a body corporate or a firm, by delivering it or sending it by registered post to the registered office or principal place of business of the body corporate or firm; (d) in the case of the Government, by delivering it or sending it by registered post to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry responsible for the building in question; 153 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES (DECORATION OF BUILDINGS) ACT [CAP. 293 R.E. 2023] (e) in the case of a notice to be served on the owner or occupier of any building if it is not practicable after reasonable enquiry to ascertain the name and address or the person on whom it should be served or if the premises are unoccupied- (i) by addressing it to the person concerned by the description of “owner” or “occupier” of the building (describing it) to which it relates and delivering it to some person in the building or on the premises on which the building stands; or if there is no such person apparent to whom it may be delivered, by affixing it, or a copy of it, to some conspicuous part of the building. (ii) - 11 Verify source ↗
Authority may require information
AI-assisted research summary: The authority may require certain people connected to a building to give written information about their interest in it and other interested persons.
11.–(1) For the purpose of enabling the authority to perform its functions under this Act, an authority may require the occupier of any building within its area, and any person who either directly or indirectly receives rent in respect of any building within its area, to state in writing the nature of his own interest therein and the names and addresses of all persons known to or believed by him to have an interest therein. (2) A person who having been required by an authority in pursuance of subsection (1) to give to the authority any information, fails to give such information or knowingly makes a false statement in respect thereof, commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand shillings. Authority may require information Obstruction - 12 Verify source ↗
Obstruction
AI-assisted research summary: A person who wilfully obstructs someone acting under this Act commits an offence and may be fined up to two hundred shillings for each day the obstruction continues.
12. A person who wilfully obstructs any person acting in the execution of this Act commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred shillings for each day during which the obstruction continues. Regulations - 13 Verify source ↗
Regulations
AI-assisted research summary: The Minister may make regulations under the Act to prescribe matters and to give effect to the Act’s purposes.
13. The Minister may make regulations prescribing anything which is to be prescribed under this Act and generally to give effect to the purposes of this Act. 154 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES (DECORATION OF BUILDINGS) ACT [CAP. 293 R.E. 2023] Directions - 14 Verify source ↗
Directions
AI-assisted research summary: The Minister may direct local government authorities on how to exercise their powers under this Act, but the directions must not conflict with the Act or regulations.
14. The Minister may give directions to local government authorities as to the manner in which local authorities shall exercise their power under this Act: Provided that, such direction shall not be inconsistent with any provision of this Act or any regulation made thereunder. 155 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.
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