The Local Government Authorities (Decoration of Buildings) Act

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.147
CHAPTER 293
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES
(DECORATION OF BUILDINGS) ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
Arrangement of Sections
Section Title
1. Short title and application.
2. Interpretation.
3. Authority may serve notice to redecorate.
4. Authority may serve notice to demolish.
5. Aggrieved person may appeal.
6. Authority may execute works on default.
7. Power to enter.
8. Occupier may recover from owner.
9. Authentication of notices.
10. Service of notices.
11. Authority may require information.
12. Obstruction.
13. Regulations.
14. Directions.

owner.
9. Authentication of notices.
10. Service of notices.
11. Authority may require information.
12. Obstruction.
13. Regulations.
14. Directions.

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.148
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. 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;
Short title and
application
Interpretation
Cap. 288
Cap.

t (District Authorities) Act;
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for local
government;
Short title and
application
Interpretation
Cap. 288
Cap.

287
CHAPTER 293
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES
(DECORATION OF BUILDINGS) ACT
An Act to empower Local Government Authorities to require the exterior
decoration of buildings, the demolition of dangerous or unsightly
temporary buildings and for related matters. [2nd February, 1968]
[GN. No. 55 of 1968]
Act No. 9 of 1968

ngs, the demolition of dangerous or unsightly
temporary buildings and for related matters. [2nd February, 1968]
[GN. No. 55 of 1968]
Act No. 9 of 1968

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.149
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.

part
of Mainland Tanzania, was a township declared under
the Township Ordinance or a minor settlement declared
under the Minor Settlements Ordinance.

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

-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

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.150
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).

or substantially
reconstructed; or
(d) three years have not elapsed since the building
was decorated pursuant to a notice served under
subsection (1).

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
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 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. 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
Authority may
serve notice to
demolish
Aggrieved person
may appeal

writing to the Minister
who may, after taking into account any written submissions
Authority may
serve notice to
demolish
Aggrieved person
may appeal

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.151
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
is unreasonable having regard to all relevant
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.

ing 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. 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
Authority may
execute works on
default

d by a notice served on him under section 3 or
section 4 and fails to execute the works or demolition specified
Authority may
execute works on
default

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.152
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.

hority until the amount of
such expenses is fully recovered, or otherwise, and upon such
direction being given, the owner shall be liable accordingly.

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. 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
Power to enter
Occupier may
recover from
owner

e and does execute any work pursuant to a
notice under section 3 or from whom the expenses of executing
Power to enter
Occupier may
recover from
owner

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.153
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. 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.

e 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. 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;
Authentication of
notices
Service of notices

t by registered post to the Permanent
Secretary of the Ministry responsible for the building
in question;
Authentication of
notices
Service of notices

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.154
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
(ii) 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.

s; or
(ii) 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.

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. 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. 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. Authority
may require
information
Obstruction
Regulations

is to be prescribed under this Act and generally to give
effect to the purposes of this Act. Authority
may require
information
Obstruction
Regulations

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.155
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES (DECORATION OF BUILDINGS) ACT [CAP. 293 R.E. 2023]
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.
Directions

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.