Laws of Tanzania ActiveThe Local Government (Urban Authorities) Act
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©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.617 CHAPTER 288 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION] Arrangement of Sections Section Title part i PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS 1. Short title. 2. Application. 3. Interpretation. 4. Minister to work for development of meaningful democratic local government in urban area. part ii URBAN AUTHORITY AREAS, ESTABLISHMENT AND VARIATION OF AREAS OF URBAN AUTHORITIES A - Establishment 5. Power to establish urban authority. 6. Content of establishment order. 7. Procedure for establishment of urban authority. 8. Procedure for establishing a city council in urban authority. 9. Certificate of establishment. 10. Contents and effect of certificate. 11. Variation of area of urban authority. 12. Disestablishment of villages. 13. Consequences of variation of area. 14. Urban authority to be body corporate and to be graded. 15. Existing urban authorities. B - Urban Wards 16. Division of area of urban authorities into wards. 17. Mitaa committees. 18. Division of village area into vitongoji. 19. Village council. 20. Establishment of ward committees. authorities into wards. 17. Mitaa committees. 18. Division of village area into vitongoji. 19. Village council. 20. Establishment of ward committees. 21. Ward Executive Officer. 21. Ward Executive Officer. ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 618 22. Functions of ward committees. 23. Procedure for implementation of development projects. 24. Ward committee rules. part iii COMPOSITION OF URBAN AUTHORITIES 25. Membership of urban authorities. 26. Procedure for appointment of Councillors by Minister. 27. Chairmen, Mayors, Vice-Chairmen, and Deputy Mayors. 28. Repealed. 29. Election of elected members. 30. Tenure of office of elected members. 31. Cessation of membership for disqualification. 32. Resignation and absence of members. 33. Repealed. 34. Decision of questions as to membership of council. 35. Freemen. part iv MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES A - Meetings of Urban Authorities 36. Frequency, place and time of meetings. 37. Notice of meetings. 38. Quorum at meetings. 39. Presiding in Council. 40. Decisions of urban councils. 41. Meetings to be held in public. 42. Minutes of meetings. 43. Minutes to be open for inspection. 44. Standing orders of urban authorities. 45. Disability for voting on account of interest in contracts. 46. s. 43. Minutes to be open for inspection. 44. Standing orders of urban authorities. 45. Disability for voting on account of interest in contracts. 46. Validity of acts and proceedings of district council and officers. 47. Invitation to non-members to attend meetings. 48. Adjournment of meetings. B - Committees of Urban Authorities 49. Standing committees. 50. Functions of standing committees. 51. Power to appoint occasional committees. etings. B - Committees of Urban Authorities 49. Standing committees. 50. Functions of standing committees. 51. Power to appoint occasional committees. ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.619 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 52. Co-option of non-members to committees. 53. Effect of vacancies on committees. 54. Sub-committees. 55. Joint committees. 56. Delegation of powers to Committee. 57. Proceedings of committees and sub-committees. 58. Admission of public to meetings of committees. 59. Reports by committee. 60. Establishment of service board. part v FUNCTIONS OF URBAN AUTHORITIES A - Functions 61. Duty to perform functions. 62. Objectives and functions of local government authorities. 63. Relations with central government. 64. Duties of urban authorities. 65. Regulations conferring specific functions. 66. Functions and duties under other written laws. 67. Liability of members. B - Powers in Relation to Functions 68. Powers of urban authorities. 69. Power to acquire land. 70. Power to let and mortgage land and charge. 71. Power to accept gifts. 72. Power to contract. 73. Power to insure. 74. Power to write-off arrears of revenue, cash and stores. 75. Power to charge fees. 76. to accept gifts. 72. Power to contract. 73. Power to insure. 74. Power to write-off arrears of revenue, cash and stores. 75. Power to charge fees. 76. Duties of Director in respect of offences. 77. Duty of persons to appear before Director. 78. Courts. C - Functions of the City Council Established Subject to Section 8 79. Functions of city council. ty of persons to appear before Director. 78. Courts. C - Functions of the City Council Established Subject to Section 8 79. Functions of city council. ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 620 D - Powers of Minister 80. Discharge of duty of Minister under section 4. 81. Power to enforce performance of functions. 82. Inquiries relating to performance of functions. 83. Power to transfer functions. 84. Expenses in respect of transferred functions. 85. Power to dissolve authority prematurely. 86. Power to dissolve councils in default. 87. Power to dissolve councils pending General Election. 88. Delegation of powers of Minister. 89. Supply of information. 90. Powers of Regional and District Commissioner. part vi LEGISLATIVE POWERS 91. Regulations. 92. Delegation of legislative authority. 93. Power of urban authorities to make by-laws. 94. Procedure where urban authority makes by-laws. 95. Power of Minister to make uniform by-laws. 96. Procedure where Minister makes uniform by-laws. 97. By-laws may impose special conditions. 98. By-laws regulating building in urban authorities. 99. Evidence of by-laws made by urban authorities. 100. . By-laws may impose special conditions. 98. By-laws regulating building in urban authorities. 99. Evidence of by-laws made by urban authorities. 100. Copy of by-laws to be deposited at offices of urban authorities. 101. Penalties for breach of by-laws. part vii PROVISIONS RELATING TO LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 102. Offences. 103. Powers of entry. 104. Powers of arrest. 105. Offence to obstruct. 106. Penalty for unqualified person sitting or voting. 107. General penalty. 108. Books to be prima facie evidence of sums due. 109. Contravention by company or partnership. 110. Notice of suits. 111. Limitation of suits against authorities. 112. Appearance in court. sums due. 109. Contravention by company or partnership. 110. Notice of suits. 111. Limitation of suits against authorities. 112. Appearance in court. ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.621 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 113. Mode of service on authority. 114. Appearance of authority in legal proceedings. 115. Trial of persons. 116. Preservation of jurisdiction of courts. 117. Appeals. 118. Description of property. 119. Burden of proof as to who occupier is. 120. Name of authority need not be proved. 121. Service of notice by authority. 122. Authentication and execution of documents. 123. Publication of notices. 124. Code of conduct. 125. Protection of assets and properties of Council. part viii MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 126. Repeals. 127. Savings. SCHEDULE es. 124. Code of conduct. 125. Protection of assets and properties of Council. part viii MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 126. Repeals. 127. Savings. SCHEDULE ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.622 PART I PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS 1. This Act may be cited as the Local Government (Urban Authorities) Act. 2. This Act shall apply to every urban authority established or deemed to have been established under this Act. 3.–(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- “appropriate authority” when used in relation to any act, appointment, dismissal, licence, permit, matter or other thing, means the person, committee or other body of persons permitted, required or in any other way made responsible by this Act for doing the act, making the appointment or issuing the dismissal, licence or the permit or doing that matter or thing; “area” when used in relation to any urban authority, means the area in which the authority is established, or Short title Application Interpretation Acts Nos. 4 of 1987 Sch. 8 of 1992 s. 17 6 of 1999 s. 39 4 of 2000 Sch. 4 of 2005 s. 32 13 of 2006 s. ished, or Short title Application Interpretation Acts Nos. 4 of 1987 Sch. 8 of 1992 s. 17 6 of 1999 s. 39 4 of 2000 Sch. 4 of 2005 s. 32 13 of 2006 s. 13 CHAPTER 288 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT An Act to establish urban authorities for the purposes of local government, to provide for the functions of those authorities and for related matters. [14th March, 1983] [GN. No. 35 of 1983] Acts Nos. 8 of 1982 4 of 1985 8 of 1985 13 of 1986 4 of 1987 8 of 1992 4 of 1993 15 of 1993 11 of 1994 15 of 1994 18 of 1997 6 of 1999 14 of 1999 4 of 2000 15 of 2003 4 of 2005 13 of 2006 17 of 2009 7 of 2010 17 of 2010 3 of 2011 4 of 2019 1 of 2020 4 of 2021 5 of 2022 1997 6 of 1999 14 of 1999 4 of 2000 15 of 2003 4 of 2005 13 of 2006 17 of 2009 7 of 2010 17 of 2010 3 of 2011 4 of 2019 1 of 2020 4 of 2021 5 of 2022 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.623 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. erved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.623 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] empowered by or under this Act or any other written law to exercise jurisdiction in accordance with this Act; “Assembly” means the National Assembly of the United Republic established by the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977; “auditor” means the person or body of persons appointed by the appropriate authority pursuant to Head B of Part IV of the Local Government Finances Act, to audit the accounts of an urban authority, and includes a person duly authorised in that behalf by the auditor for the purposes of that Part of that Act; “authority” means an urban authority; “Chairman” when used in relation to- (a) an urban authority, means the Chairman of that authority, and in the case of a city or a municipality, the Mayor of the city or the municipality, as the case may be; (b) any committee or other body of persons, means the Chairman of that committee or that other body of persons, and includes the Vice-Chairman or the Deputy-Mayor of the urban authority, the committee or of the other body of persons, or any other person acting in the absence of the Chairman and the Vice- Chairman or the Deputy-Mayor, when he exercises the functions or discharges the duties of the office of Chairman or Mayor, as Chairman or Mayor, as the case may be, pursuant to this Act; “city council” means a council established or deemed to have been established under this Act within the area of a city, and includes a city council established under section 5 subject to section 8 of this Act; “Commission” means the Public Service Commission established by section 11 of the Public Service Act; “committee”, when used in relation to- (a) an urban authority, means a committee established or appointed by that urban authority under this Act; Cap. “committee”, when used in relation to- (a) an urban authority, means a committee established or appointed by that urban authority under this Act; Cap. 2 Cap. 290 Cap. 298 2 Cap. 290 Cap. 298 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 624 (b) a ward committee, means that committee; (c) a sub-committee, means a sub-committee appointed by a committee; (d) any other committee, means that other committee; “Council” means, when used in relation to- (a) a town, the town council; (b) the municipality, the municipal council; and (c) the city, the city council and includes the city council established under section 5 subject to section 8 of this Act; “court” means any court of competent jurisdiction which has jurisdiction over any part within the area of the authority, and includes a ward tribunal established under the Ward Tribunal Act; “Director” means, when used in relation to- (a) a town, the Town Director; (b) the municipal, the Municipal Director; and (c) the city, the City Director. ector” means, when used in relation to- (a) a town, the Town Director; (b) the municipal, the Municipal Director; and (c) the city, the City Director. “District Authorities Act” means the Local Government (District Authorities) Act; “district authority” means a district council, a township authority or a village council; “District Commissioner”, when used in relation to- (a) a district, means the District Commissioner for the district concerned; (b) any urban authority, means the District Commissioner for the district in which that urban authority is established; “former Act” means the Urban Councils (Interim Provisions) Act; “functions” includes powers and duties; “improvements” in relation to land means all work, other than building or work in connection with buildings, done on, in or under the land, and materials used on that work, by the expenditure of capital or labour in so far as the effect of that work or materials used is to increase Cap. 206 Cap. 287 Act No. 11 of 1978 rk, by the expenditure of capital or labour in so far as the effect of that work or materials used is to increase Cap. 206 Cap. 287 Act No. 11 of 1978 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.625 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. erved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.625 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] the value of the land; but does not include machinery, whether fixed to the soil or not, or work, or materials used on it, done by the Government or by an urban authority or other public body unless the work has been paid for wholly or in part by the owner or occupier of the land, and effected by that payment; save that the payment of rates and taxes shall not be deemed to be a payment for the purposes of this definition; “interest in land” includes interest in any building erected on the land; “joint committee” means a committee appointed jointly by two or more urban authorities or between an urban authority and a district authority pursuant to section 55; “land” includes any interest in land and any easement or right in, to or over land; “local government authority” means a district authority or an urban authority; “member” means all members of the local government authority as specified under section 25; “Minister” means the Minister responsible for local government; “mtaa” means a part or a division of a ward and includes a part or a division of a township situated within an area under the jurisdiction of an urban authority; “municipality” means an area over which a municipal council is established or deemed to have been established under this Act; “occupier” means any person- (a) in actual occupation of land or buildings; or (b) entitled to occupy land or buildings by virtue of a grant by their owner, and where the same land or buildings are occupied by several members of one family, means the person reputed to be head of that family; “political party” means a political party registered under any written law relating to the registration of political parties; “Regional Commissioner”, in relation to- ” means a political party registered under any written law relating to the registration of political parties; “Regional Commissioner”, in relation to- ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 626 (a) a region, the Regional Commissioner for the region concerned; (b) any urban authority, the Regional Commissioner for the region within which the urban authority is situated; “Scheme” means the Public Service Scheme formulated pursuant to section 8 of the Public Service Act; “Service” means the unified service of all employing authorities, otherwise known as the Public Service, the establishment of which is provided for by the Scheme; “service board” means the service board established under section 60; “solicitor” means any person qualified in law, employed by a local government authority, to discharge legal functions and includes an advocate engaged to represent a local government authority in court or tribunal; “town” means an area over which a town council is established or deemed to have been established under this Act; “urban authority” means a town council, a municipal council and a city council; “waterworks” includes streams, springs, weirs, wells, boreholes, dams, pumping stations, reservoirs, tanks, sluices, machinery, buildings, land and all other works and things necessary for taking, impounding, discharging, storing, treating and filtering water. uices, machinery, buildings, land and all other works and things necessary for taking, impounding, discharging, storing, treating and filtering water. (2) Where it is provided in this Act that any power may be exercised subject to the provisions of this Act, the provisions shall be read and construed as providing, in relation to any urban authority, or to all authorities, that the power may be exercised subject to those provisions of this Act which apply to that authority, or to all the urban authorities. 4.–(1) It shall be the duty of the Minister in relation to areas of urban authorities, subject to this Act, to work towards- (a) the promotion of local government; (b) the evolution, progressive development and perpetuation of local government institutions geared and devoted to the pursuance of meaningful involvement Cap. 298 Minister to work for development of meaningful democratic local government in urban area Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 40 ce of meaningful involvement Cap. 298 Minister to work for development of meaningful democratic local government in urban area Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 40 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.627 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] of and participation, by the people, in the making and implementation of decisions on matters affecting or connected with their livelihood and well-being at all local levels within urban authorities; and (c) securing the effective execution by urban authorities, subject to his guidance, control and direction, of the national policy on local government. (2) In discharging the duty imposed on him by this section, the Minister shall be guided, subject to this Act, by the need to evolve, and to foster, sound principles of, participatory democracy as enshrined in the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977 and elaborated upon by or in other written laws of the United Republic. racy as enshrined in the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977 and elaborated upon by or in other written laws of the United Republic. (3) The Minister shall- (a) ensure the availability and adequate supply of personnel trained, skilled or qualified for work in various sections or aspects of local government so as to secure the growth and development of an effective and efficient system of the local government; (b) endeavour to ensure that the local government authorities are strong and effective institutions that are more and more autonomous in managing their own affairs and that they operate in a more transparent and democratic manner; (c) ensure that local government authorities are accountable to the people and are generally so facilitated to improve their capacities towards being stronger and effective in delivering services to the people; and (d) endeavour to ensure that there is available adequate financial and other resources for various sectors or aspects of local government so as to ensure the effective and efficient development of the local government system. (4) The Minister shall, in exercising the powers and discharging the functions under this Act, be guided and bound by the need to promote decentralisation and devolution of Cap. 2 ercising the powers and discharging the functions under this Act, be guided and bound by the need to promote decentralisation and devolution of Cap. 2 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 628 functions, powers and services from the central government to the local government system and within the local government system from higher levels to lower levels of urban authorities. PART II URBAN AUTHORITY AREAS, ESTABLISHMENT AND VARIATION OF AREAS OF URBAN AUTHORITIES A - Establishment 5.–(1) Subject to sections 7 and 8 and to other provisions of this Part, the Minister may, by Order published in the Gazette, establish in any area of Mainland Tanzania an appropriate urban authority or authorities. (2) In exercising the power conferred by subsection (1), the Minister shall comply with the national policy on the development of urban areas and may, subject to this Act, establish such number and types of urban authorities in such area or areas as he may deem necessary, expedient or desirable for the purposes of establishing, promoting, developing and maintaining an effective and efficient system of local government. expedient or desirable for the purposes of establishing, promoting, developing and maintaining an effective and efficient system of local government. (3) Where the purpose sought to be achieved by the order under subsection (1) is only to confer on an existing municipality the status of a city, that order shall be made by the President; and where, in respect of an existing village, the purpose is to confer upon it the status of a township council and where in respect of an existing township council the purpose is to confer upon it the status of a town council and where in respect of an existing town council, the purpose is to confer upon it the status of a municipal council the order to be made under subsection (1) shall confer the authority the new status, and shall determine the name by which that urban area and authority shall be known, and the order shall be deemed to have established the new urban authority. Power to establish urban authority Acts Nos. 6 of 1999 s. 41 13 of 2006 s. 14 d the order shall be deemed to have established the new urban authority. Power to establish urban authority Acts Nos. 6 of 1999 s. 41 13 of 2006 s. 14 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.629 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (4) The urban area of- (a) a town council shall be known as a town; (b) a municipal council shall be known as a municipality; (c) a city council shall be known as a city, and shall be of such characteristics as to size, area, jurisdiction, functions or other description as may be specified in the order establishing it. 6. Every order made under section 5 shall- (a) specify the name or names of the urban area or areas in which and the date or dates on which an urban authority or authorities shall be established; (b) define the area in which the urban authority shall be established and over which it shall exercise jurisdiction; and (c) prescribe the device and official seal of the urban authority, and may, in any appropriate case, include any ancillary matters such as the apportionment of assets, the continuance of by-laws and the effect on existing urban authorities of the establishment of the new urban authority or authorities. ent of assets, the continuance of by-laws and the effect on existing urban authorities of the establishment of the new urban authority or authorities. 7.–(1) An urban authority shall not be established except in accordance with the procedure prescribed by this Act. (2) Where it is intended to establish an urban authority in respect of any area or areas, the Minister shall, at least two months before making an establishment order under section 5, by notice published in the Gazette, and in any national newspaper or any newspaper circulating in the area or areas in which it is intended to establish the urban authority, give notice of the intention, indicating the general direction of the boundaries, and such other matters as he deems necessary, and call upon all interested authorities or persons affected, to lodge with him in writing any objections or other representations in such manner and within such time as may be prescribed. Content of establishment order Procedure for establishment of urban authority Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 42 anner and within such time as may be prescribed. Content of establishment order Procedure for establishment of urban authority Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 42 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 630 (3) Where, upon the expiration of the notice, no objection or other representations are received from any authority or person, the Minister shall proceed to make and publish in the Gazette the order under section 5. (4) Where any objections or other representations are lodged in writing with the Minister pursuant to the notice given under subsection (2), the Minister shall cause to be delivered an acknowledgement to the authority or person lodging the objection or other representations concerned, and shall take into account the objections or representations in determining whether or not to establish the urban authority or determining the area of the urban authority to be established. (5) As soon as possible after making the order under section 5, the Minister shall lay before the National Assembly a copy of the notice issued under subsection (2), together with a copy of the order subsequently made under section 5. ay before the National Assembly a copy of the notice issued under subsection (2), together with a copy of the order subsequently made under section 5. 8.–(1) Where it is intended to establish a city council in respect of an area or areas of urban authority or authorities, the Minister shall, by a two months notice published in the Gazette, give notice of intention indicating its composition and jurisdiction and such other matters as the Minister may deem necessary, and call upon interested persons to lodge with him in writing any objections within such time as may be prescribed in the notice. (2) Where upon the expiration of the notice, no objections are received from any person, the Minister shall proceed to make and publish in the Gazette the establishment order under section 5. (3) Where objections are lodged with the Minister pursuant to the notice given under subsection (1), the Minister may take into account the objections and may, after consultation with the President, determine whether or not to establish a city council. (4) The Minister shall, as soon as practicable after making the order under section 5, lay before the National Assembly a copy of the notice issued under subsection (1) together with a copy of the order subsequently made under section 5. [s. before the National Assembly a copy of the notice issued under subsection (1) together with a copy of the order subsequently made under section 5. [s. 7A] Procedure for establishing a city council in urban authority Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 43 7A] Procedure for establishing a city council in urban authority Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 43 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.631 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 9.–(1) As soon as possible after the order made under section 5 and the notice issued under section 7 and 8 in respect of any urban authority have been tabled before the Assembly, and in any case not later than the date specified in the establishment order as its date of commencement, the Clerk of the National Assembly shall furnish to the urban council or councils established or to be established, or whose boundaries are varied or are to be varied, as the case may be, a certificate under his hand containing the particulars prescribed by section 10. (2) Every certificate of establishment shall be in quintuplicate, and the Clerk of the National Assembly shall retain a copy and send the three remaining copies one each to the Minister, the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury and the Regional Commissioner responsible for the region in which the urban authority in question is established. [s. manent Secretary to the Treasury and the Regional Commissioner responsible for the region in which the urban authority in question is established. [s. 8] 10.–(1) A certificate of establishment furnished under section 9 shall specify- (a) the name of the urban authority being established; (b) the total number of members; (c) the number of elected members and appointed members; (d) the place where the principal office of the authority shall be situated; (e) such other particulars as the Minister may determine. (2) A certificate of establishment furnished under section 9 shall- (a) provide final authority for the establishment or the variation of the boundaries of an urban authority; (b) be the statutory instrument signifying the delegation by the Assembly of legislative power to the urban authority in respect of its area of jurisdiction; and (c) be conclusive evidence, in any proceeding, of the establishment of the urban authority concerned. Certificate of establishment Contents and effect of certificate ve evidence, in any proceeding, of the establishment of the urban authority concerned. Certificate of establishment Contents and effect of certificate ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 632 (3) Upon the issue of a certificate of establishment and the commencement of an order made under section 5 in respect of any area, whether or not the order is in respect of an existing urban authority, any reference in any written law, contract or other instrument or document to the local government authority in whose area an urban authority is established by the order shall be construed as a reference to the name of the urban authority as established by the order. (4) Upon the issue of a certificate of establishment under section 9, where the area of the new authority was the area of a district authority, the district authority shall cease to exist and the affairs and operations of all persons and bodies of persons within that area shall be under the jurisdiction of the new authority, whose composition and operations shall be governed by this Act. [s. of persons within that area shall be under the jurisdiction of the new authority, whose composition and operations shall be governed by this Act. [s. 9] 11.–(1) The Minister may, where he deems it necessary or expedient for the promotion of efficient and effective local government in urban areas, and after consultation with the urban authority and other local government authorities concerned, by order published in the Gazette, vary the boundaries of the area of any urban authority. (2) The area of an urban authority may be varied under this section where- (a) a new local government authority is to be established in the area or part of the area of an existing urban authority; (b) an area of the urban authority is to be transferred from the jurisdiction of one urban authority to that of another; (c) it is intended to amalgamate or regroup an urban authority and any other local government authority. (3) An order shall not be made under this section to vary the area of an urban authority except in accordance with the procedure prescribed by section 7. Variation of area of urban authority Act No. 4 of 1985 Sch. rea of an urban authority except in accordance with the procedure prescribed by section 7. Variation of area of urban authority Act No. 4 of 1985 Sch. ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.633 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (4) Where in the exercise of the powers conferred on the Minister under subsection (1), the Minister varies the boundaries of an urban area so as to include an area which is a village or an Ujamaa Village registered under the Villages and Ujamaa Village (Registration, Designation and Administration) Act or under the Local Government (District Authorities) Act, that village or Ujamaa Village, as the case may be, shall continue to exist until the Minister cancels its registration. [s. 10] 12.–(1) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, and subject to this section, cancel the registration of any village or ujamaa village established or deemed to have been established within the area of an urban authority. ection, cancel the registration of any village or ujamaa village established or deemed to have been established within the area of an urban authority. (2) The power conferred by subsection (1) may be exercised by the Minister where- (a) he is directed so to do by the President; (b) he receives a resolution of the urban authority concerned, supported by Regional Consultative Committee, petitioning him so to do; (c) in his opinion, the public interest so demands. (3) Where an urban authority or a Regional Consultative Committee proposes to petition the Minister to exercise the power conferred by subsection (1), it shall first cause a notice of its intention to be appropriately published for notification of the residents of the village concerned, allowing them one full month to make any representations to it on the subject, and the decision of the urban authority and the Committee shall be lodged with the Assistant Registrar of villages who shall forward them to the Registrar for appropriate consideration and decision by the Minister. [s. 10A] 13. Where the boundaries of an urban authority area is varied in consequence of an order made under section 11, the Minister shall, in the order providing for the variation or in a Act No. 21 of 1975 Cap. 287 Disestablishment of villages Act No. 13 of 1986 Sch. Consequences of variation of area providing for the variation or in a Act No. 21 of 1975 Cap. 287 Disestablishment of villages Act No. 13 of 1986 Sch. Consequences of variation of area ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 634 subsequent order, to which the provisions of section 7 shall apply, make provision for- (a) the apportionment of the franchise, property, incomes, debts and expenses and of all rights, interests, obligations and liabilities arising under contract in relation to the area or areas transferred as between the urban authority from which the area or areas are transferred and that to which it or they are transferred as a result of the variation in the boundaries; (b) the preservation, continuation or modification of rights of persons in the area or areas transferred arising from the operation in relation to them of the by-laws subsisting in the jurisdiction of the urban or district authority from which the area or areas are transferred; and (c) the application of by-laws of the former urban or district authority or authorities to the new authority established through the amalgamation of two or more authorities. [s. aws of the former urban or district authority or authorities to the new authority established through the amalgamation of two or more authorities. [s. 11] 14.–(1) Every urban authority established or deemed to have been established under this Part, and in respect of which there is in existence a certificate of establishment furnished under section 9, shall, with effect from the date of commencement of the establishment order, be a body corporate, and shall- (a) have perpetual succession and an official seal; (b) in its corporate name be capable of suing or being sued; (c) subject to this Act, be capable of holding and purchasing, or acquiring in any other way, and disposing of any movable or immovable property. (2) The Minister shall, for the purposes of the proper administration of the affairs of local government, categorise urban authorities into grades based on the size of the area, the population and the level of social and economic development within the urban authority in question. Urban authority to be body corporate and to be graded ulation and the level of social and economic development within the urban authority in question. Urban authority to be body corporate and to be graded ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.635 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (3) Where the Minister grades an urban authority, he shall cause a notice to that effect to be published in the Gazette, but the Minister may, in the order made under section 5 establishing the authority, in addition to the particulars required to be incorporated in the order, designate the grade of the urban authority being established. (4) The grading of any urban authority shall not affect its status as a body corporate, and it shall discharge its functions and exercise its powers under this Act notwithstanding its grade. [s. 12] 15.–(1) Every urban council which was established or deemed to have been established under the former Act, and which is in existence immediately before the commencement of this Act, shall continue to be established, but shall be known as, and be deemed to be, an urban authority established under this Act. commencement of this Act, shall continue to be established, but shall be known as, and be deemed to be, an urban authority established under this Act. (2) Where, in establishing any urban or other local government authority, the boundaries of an existing urban council, which is deemed to be an urban authority, are affected, the provisions of section 11 shall be invoked by the Minister only for the purposes of varying the area of that authority, and it shall not be necessary for the Minister to comply with section 7. [s. 13] B - Urban Wards 16.–(1) The Minister may, after consultation with the President, by notice published in the Gazette, divide the area of jurisdiction of an urban authority into such number of wards, for the purposes of this Act, as may be deemed necessary or desirable. (2) The Minister may, after consultation with the urban authority concerned, vary the boundaries of any ward or increase or reduce the number of wards within the area of the authority. Existing urban authorities Division of area of urban authorities into wards Acts Nos. 8 of 1992 s. 18 18 of 1997 Sch. 6 of 1999 s. 44 14 of 1999 Sch. 17 of 2009 s. 10 17 of 2010 s. 37 on of area of urban authorities into wards Acts Nos. 8 of 1992 s. 18 18 of 1997 Sch. 6 of 1999 s. 44 14 of 1999 Sch. 17 of 2009 s. 10 17 of 2010 s. 37 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 636 (3) The area of the ward shall be divided into mitaa or village consisting of a number of households which the urban authority may determine. (4) Every mtaa or village shall have a Chairman who shall be elected by all adult members of the mtaa or Village in accordance to the regulations made by the Minister. (5) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, postpone the election of the Chairman of a mtaa under subsection (4). (6) Every mtaa shall hold meeting at least once in every two months and shall, after the meeting, submit the minutes of the meeting to the Ward Development Committee. (7) The Registrar of Villages shall have powers to approve or disapprove any mtaa established by an urban authority. (8) The Registrar of Villages shall, at least once in every calendar year, cause a notice to be published in the Gazette containing a list of every mtaa approved by him after the last publication, specifying location of every such mtaa. [s. to be published in the Gazette containing a list of every mtaa approved by him after the last publication, specifying location of every such mtaa. [s. 14] 17.–(1) There shall be established a mtaa committee in each mtaa, which shall be composed of not more than six members elected from amongst residents of the mtaa. (2) The functions of the mtaa committee established under subsection (1) shall be- (a) to implement councils’ policies; (b) to advise the council on matters relating to development plans and activities of the mtaa; (c) to advise the ward development committee on matters relating to peace and security in the mtaa; (d) to keep proper record of residents of the mtaa; and (e) to do such other things as may be conferred upon it by the ward development committee. (3) There is established in each mtaa, a mtaa Executive Office which shall be headed by a mtaa Executive Officer to be appointed by the urban authority. Mitaa committees Acts Nos. 6 of 1999 s. 45 14 of 1999 Sch. 13 of 2006 s. 15 17 of 2009 s. 11 Executive Officer to be appointed by the urban authority. Mitaa committees Acts Nos. 6 of 1999 s. 45 14 of 1999 Sch. 13 of 2006 s. 15 17 of 2009 s. 11 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.637 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (4) The mtaa Executive Officer appointed under subsection (3) shall perform functions as the Secretary to the mtaa committee and such other functions as may be specified in his letter of appointment or other government directives. [s. 14A] 18.–(1) The area of the village established in the urban area shall be divided into not more than five vitongoji consisting of such number of households or of such geographical area as may be determined by the village council and approved by the urban authority. (2) Every kitongoji shall have a chairman who shall be elected by all adult members of the kitongoji. (3) A chairman of kitongoji elected under subsection (2) shall hold office for a term of five years from the date of his election. [s. 14B] 19.–(1) There shall be established a village council for every village in the urban area. a term of five years from the date of his election. [s. 14B] 19.–(1) There shall be established a village council for every village in the urban area. (2) Every village council established under subsection (1) shall consist of not less than fifteen but not more than twenty- five members elected as follows: (a) the chairman to be elected in accordance with the regulations made by the Minister; (b) the chairman of all the vitongoji within the village; (c) such other members to be elected in accordance with regulations made by the Minister of whom not less than one third of the total number of all the members of the village council shall be women; and (d) the village executive officer who shall be the secretary to the village council. (3) The election of the village council shall be conducted according to procedures prescribed in regulations made by the Minister. (4) After the expiry of five years from the date when the village council was elected under subsection (3), the Director Division of village area into vitongoji Acts Nos. 14 of 1999 Sch. 17 of 2009 s. 12 Village council Acts Nos. 14 of 1999 Sch. 17 of 2009 s. 13 Director Division of village area into vitongoji Acts Nos. 14 of 1999 Sch. 17 of 2009 s. 12 Village council Acts Nos. 14 of 1999 Sch. 17 of 2009 s. 13 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 638 of an urban council in which the village is situated, or any other person appointed by the Director to be the assistant returning officer, shall, in the manner prescribed by the Minister in the regulations, issue a public notice with the intention to conduct election. [s. 14C] 20.–(1) There shall be established in respect of each ward within an urban authority a ward development committee. ntion to conduct election. [s. 14C] 20.–(1) There shall be established in respect of each ward within an urban authority a ward development committee. (2) Every ward development committee shall consist of- (a) a Chairman who shall be a member representing the ward in the urban authority and in his absence, members shall elect a presiding chairman from amongst Chairmen of the mitaa; (b) Chairmen of the mitaa within the ward; (c) Councillors of urban authorities who are resident in the ward; (d) Chairmen of village councils within the ward; (e) a person who is a member of urban authority by virtue of section 25(1)(c), (2)(c) and (3)(c) of this Act, and who is ordinarily resident in the ward; and (f) other invited persons as may be determined by the committee but shall have no right to vote. (3) There shall be a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman, both of whom shall be elected by the members from amongst themselves. (4) There shall be a Ward Executive Officer who shall be the Secretary to the ward development committee. [s. 15] 21.–(1) There is hereby established for each Ward an Office of the Ward Executive Officer. (2) The functions of the Ward Executive Officer shall include to- (a) represent and assist the Director in overseeing the implementation of development activities in the ward; Establishment of ward committees Acts Nos. ) represent and assist the Director in overseeing the implementation of development activities in the ward; Establishment of ward committees Acts Nos. 8 of 1992 s. 19 15 of 1994 s. 5 6 of 1999 s. 46 Ward Executive Officer Act No. 13 of 2006 s. 16 8 of 1992 s. 19 15 of 1994 s. 5 6 of 1999 s. 46 Ward Executive Officer Act No. 13 of 2006 s. 16 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.639 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. erved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.639 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (b) prepare action plans in respect of all duties and functions conferred upon him and submit them to the Director; (c) supervise the village executive officers in the performance of their functions; (d) participate and advise in the preparation of development plans in the ward; (e) coordinate action plans and implementation reports for village executive officers within the ward and submit such plan to the Director; (f) attend, advise and provide reports in respect of implementation of activities within the ward; (g) enforce all by-laws in the ward; (h) promote the establishment and development of cooperative enterprises and activities within the ward; (i) supervise and coordinate the implementation of projects and programmes of the ward; (j) supervise the mtaa executive officers in the performance of their functions; (k) plan and coordinate the activities of, and rendering assistance and advice to the residents of the ward; (l) formulate and submit to the village councils or the urban councils of proposals for the making of by-laws in relation to the affairs of the ward; (m) monitor revenue collection; (n) initiate and promote participatory development in the ward; (o) manage disaster in the ward; (p) promote gender issues in the ward; and (q) perform such other functions as may be directed by the Director. ward; (o) manage disaster in the ward; (p) promote gender issues in the ward; and (q) perform such other functions as may be directed by the Director. (3) The Secretary of the Ward Development Committee shall record the proceedings of the meeting and shall submit the minutes to the Ward Development Committee and the Director. [s. 15A] opment Committee shall record the proceedings of the meeting and shall submit the minutes to the Ward Development Committee and the Director. [s. 15A] ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 640 22.–(1) Every ward committee shall have such functions as are conferred upon it by this Act or any other written law, and, in addition, it shall be the function of a ward committee to- (a) do all such lawful acts and things as are necessary or expedient for the implementation of decisions and policies of the urban authority, or for the economic and social development of the ward; (b) promote the establishment and development of co- operative enterprises and activities within the ward; (c) initiate or formulate and undertake any task, venture or enterprise designed to ensure the welfare and well being of the residents of the ward; (d) plan and co-ordinate the activities of, and render assistance and advice to the residents of the ward engaged in any activity or industry of any kind; (e) formulate, and submit to the urban authority, proposals for the making of by-laws in relation to affairs of the ward; and (f) monitor and co-ordinate the activities of “mitaa” within the ward. ty, proposals for the making of by-laws in relation to affairs of the ward; and (f) monitor and co-ordinate the activities of “mitaa” within the ward. (2) A ward committee may do all such acts and things as may appear to it to be necessary, convenient or desirable for or in connection with the carrying out of its functions or incidental or conducive to their proper performance. (3) A ward committee may establish subcommittees and delegate to such subcommittees any of its functions. (4) The council may, for the purpose of co-ordinating the functions or projects amongst different wards, establish joint ward committees. (5) The joint ward committees established under subsection (4) shall each consist of such members as may be determined by the council. (6) Funds and resources of ward committees shall consist of any sum as may be determined and appropriated by the council for the purposes of ward committees. [s. 21] Functions of ward committees Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 47 as may be determined and appropriated by the council for the purposes of ward committees. [s. 21] Functions of ward committees Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 47 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.641 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 23. Subject to this Act and to any general or specific directions of the urban authority in that behalf, a ward committee may, in enforcing the implementation of any development project within the ward, adopt such procedure or procedures as will appear to it to be best suited for or conducive to the speedy and correct realisation of the purposes sought to be achieved by the project. [s. 22] 24.–(1) The proceedings of a ward committee shall, subject to this Act, be regulated in accordance with any directions given in that behalf by the urban authority concerned, subject to the provisions of this Act. (2) The validity of any act or decision taken at any meeting of a ward committee shall not be affected by any vacancy in its membership or any defect in the appointment of any of the persons attending the meeting. [s. ard committee shall not be affected by any vacancy in its membership or any defect in the appointment of any of the persons attending the meeting. [s. 23] PART III COMPOSITION OF URBAN AUTHORITIES 25.–(1) Every town council shall consist of- (a) one member elected from each of the wards within the town; (b) the Member of Parliament representing the constituency within which the town is situated; (c) women members who are qualified to be elected to the Council, being not less than one third of all the members referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and this paragraph to be proposed by the political parties represented in the Council in such numbers of those parties elected to the Council and who the electoral authority shall declare to have been elected into the Council; (d) not more than three other members appointed by the Minister from among the residents of the town. Procedure for implementation of development projects Ward committee rules Membership of urban authorities Acts Nos. 8 of 1992 s. 20 4 of 1993 s. 5 11 of 1994 s. 24 6 of 1999 s. 48 4 of 2000 Sch. 13 of 2006 s. 17 mittee rules Membership of urban authorities Acts Nos. 8 of 1992 s. 20 4 of 1993 s. 5 11 of 1994 s. 24 6 of 1999 s. 48 4 of 2000 Sch. 13 of 2006 s. 17 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 642 (2) Every municipal council shall consist of- (a) one member elected from each of the wards within the municipality; (b) the Member of Parliament representing the constituency within which the municipality is situated; (c) women members who are qualified to be elected to the Council, being not less than one third of all the members referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and this paragraph to be proposed by the political parties represented in the Council in such numbers as shall be proportional to the number of those parties elected to the Council and who the electoral authority shall declare to have been elected into the Council; (d) any Member of Parliament appointed by the President shall be a member to a council which that Member of Parliament ordinarily resides: Provided that, where Members of Parliament appointed by the President are more than three, the Minister shall, by an order published in the Gazette, direct that the rest of the Members of Parliament in excess of the three to become Members of the Council in which that Member of Parliament reside; (e) not more than three members to be appointed by the Minister whose appointment shall have regard to specific groups including persons with specific expertise, marginalised and disadvantage groups; and (f) not more than three other members appointed by the Minister from among the residents of the municipality. arginalised and disadvantage groups; and (f) not more than three other members appointed by the Minister from among the residents of the municipality. (3) Every city council shall consist of- (a) members elected one each from the wards within the city; (b) the Member of Parliament representing the constituency within which the city is situated, or Members of Parliament representing constituencies within the area of the city council; (c) women members who are qualified to be elected to the Council, being not less than one third of all the members ithin the area of the city council; (c) women members who are qualified to be elected to the Council, being not less than one third of all the members ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.643 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and this paragraph to be proposed by the political parties represented in the Council in such numbers as shall be proportional to the number of the members of those parties elected to the Council and who the electoral authority shall declare to have been elected into the Council; (d) any other Member of Parliament whose nomination originated from organs of political parties within the area of jurisdiction of the Council; (e) any Member of Parliament appointed by the President shall be a member to a Council in which that Member of Parliament ordinarily resides: Provided that, where Members of Parliament appointed by the President are more than three, the Minister shall, by order published in the Gazette, direct that the rest of the Members of Parliament in excess of three to become members of the neighbouring council as if they were ordinarily residents in those councils. of the Members of Parliament in excess of three to become members of the neighbouring council as if they were ordinarily residents in those councils. (f) not more than three members to be appointed by the Minister; and (g) not more than three other members appointed by the Minister from among the residents of the city council. (4) A city council established subject to section 8 shall consist of the following members: (a) a Mayor elected by Councillors of the urban authorities within the area of the City Council from amongst elected Councillors; (b) a Deputy Mayor elected by Councillors of the City Council from amongst elected Councillors except that where the Mayor is from one urban authority, the Deputy Mayor shall be from a different urban authority; (c) five Members of Parliament at least one from each urban authority, and at least one of whom shall be a woman, each elected from amongst themselves by Members of Parliament from and resident in the city; ban authority, and at least one of whom shall be a woman, each elected from amongst themselves by Members of Parliament from and resident in the city; ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 644 (d) three Councillors from each of the urban authorities and at least one of whom shall be a woman; (e) the Mayor of each urban authority within the City Council. (5) The Mayor elected under subsection (4) shall hold office for a period of five years and may be eligible for re-election. (6) A Deputy Mayor shall hold office for a period of one year and may be eligible for re-election to that office. (7) The City Director shall be the secretary at all meetings of the city council but shall have no right to vote. (8) The Director of each urban authority shall be the secretary to that authority, but shall not vote at any meeting. (9) Subject to the provisions of any other law, the Electoral Commission may provide the procedure to be followed by political parties in the nomination and election of names of members under subsections (1)(c), (2)(c) and (3)(c). [s. 24] 26.–(1) The appointment made under section 25(3)(f) shall be as the Minister may prescribe in the regulations. ions (1)(c), (2)(c) and (3)(c). [s. 24] 26.–(1) The appointment made under section 25(3)(f) shall be as the Minister may prescribe in the regulations. (2) The appointment made by the Minister under section 25(3)(f) shall have regard to the proportionality of the number of members of those parties elected to the Council. [s. 19A] 27.–(1) There shall be a Chairman and the Vice-Chairman for each town council. (2) There shall be a Mayor and a Deputy-Mayor for each municipal council and each city council. (3) The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of a township council and town council, the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor of the Municipal Council or city council as the case may be, shall each be elected by members from amongst the members of each of the respective Urban Authorities. (4) The Chairman and the Mayor shall, unless one sooner resigns or otherwise ceases to be a member, hold office for Procedure for appointment of Councillors by Minister Act No. 13 of 2006 s. 18 Chairmen, Mayors, Vice- Chairmen, and Deputy Mayors Acts Nos. 8 of 1985 Sch. 8 of 1992 s. 21 4 of 2000 Sch. 13 of 2006 s. 19 Act No. 13 of 2006 s. 18 Chairmen, Mayors, Vice- Chairmen, and Deputy Mayors Acts Nos. 8 of 1985 Sch. 8 of 1992 s. 21 4 of 2000 Sch. 13 of 2006 s. 19 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.645 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] a term of five years or such shorter period as the Council may, by resolution determine; and the Vice-Chairman and a Deputy Mayor shall hold office for one year or such term, as the Council shall determine. (5) Where for any reason, the ordinary term of office of a Mayor, or a Deputy Mayor is altered, the term of office of the Chairman of the Committees shall correspond to that of the Mayor, Chairman as the case may be in accordance with the resolution of the Council and members thereby shall be proportional to the members representing each political party in the Council. (6) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (4), the Council may, by resolution supported by two thirds of the members, remove the Chairman or Mayor from office: Provided that, a Chairman or a Mayor who has been so removed may appeal to the Minister only on issues of procedure relating to such removal. [s. 25] 28. [Repealed by Act No. 8 of 1992, s. 22]. [s. en so removed may appeal to the Minister only on issues of procedure relating to such removal. [s. 25] 28. [Repealed by Act No. 8 of 1992, s. 22]. [s. 26] 29.–(1) All elected members of an urban authority shall be elected at elections conducted for that purposes in accordance with the provisions of the law relating to the election of members of local government authorities. (2) Ordinary elections of elected members shall be held prior to the date of retirement of incumbent members, and elected members shall not assume their offices until after the incumbent members have retired. [s. 27] 30.–(1) The term of office of a member of an urban authority shall be five years, and all members shall retire on the fifth anniversary of the date on which they assumed their offices; and if not re-elected, their places shall be filled by newly elected members who shall come in office on that day. Repealed Election of elected members Tenure of office of elected members Act No. 8 of 1985 Sch. elected members who shall come in office on that day. Repealed Election of elected members Tenure of office of elected members Act No. 8 of 1985 Sch. ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 646 (2) Where a member is elected in a by-election, he shall hold office only for the remainder of the term of office of his predecessor, but shall be eligible for re-election. [s. 28] 31. Where a person is elected a member of an urban authority and, subsequently circumstances occur in relation to him such that if he were not yet elected he would thereby have been disqualified from standing as a candidate for election as a member, he shall be disqualified and the electoral authority shall declare his seat on the district council to be vacant, and thence cause elections to be held to fill the vacancy. [s. 29] 32.–(1) Any elected member may resign his seat on the authority by giving written notice of his resignation to the Chairman. fill the vacancy. [s. 29] 32.–(1) Any elected member may resign his seat on the authority by giving written notice of his resignation to the Chairman. (2) An urban authority may grant leave of absence from its meetings, not exceeding ten months, to any member who desires to proceed to a destination outside the United Republic, and during the period of absence of that member the urban authority may co-opt a person to discharge the duties of the absent member, subject to subsection (3). (3) Where an elected member is for any reason absent from the United Republic for a period exceeding ten months his seat on the urban authority shall be deemed to be vacant. (4) A person co-opted to discharge the functions of the office of a member shall, during the period for which he is co-opted, have and exercise the same rights and powers in all respects as the member of whose office he is discharging its functions. (5) Where any member of an urban authority- (a) without leave of absence or the prior written consent of the Chairman, absents himself from three consecutive ordinary meetings of an urban authority; or (b) without leave of absence or the prior written approval of the Chairman of a committee absents himself from Cessation of membership for disqualification Resignation and absence of members r written approval of the Chairman of a committee absents himself from Cessation of membership for disqualification Resignation and absence of members ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.647 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] three consecutive meetings of any committee to which he has been appointed by the urban authority, he shall be liable to be discontinued in his office as a member of the urban authority. [s. 30] 33. [Repealed by Act No. 7 of 2010, s. 43] [s. 31] 34.–(1) All questions arising as to whether a person has been lawfully elected a member or not, or the right of any person to be or remain a member of an urban authority, shall be determined by a court of a Resident Magistrate upon the application of or election petition presented by any one or more of the following persons: (a) a person who lawfully voted or had right to vote at the election to which the application or election petition relates; (b) a person claiming to have had a right to be nominated or elected at an election; (c) a person claiming to have been a candidate at the election; (d) a person claiming to have a right to be or remain a member of an urban authority; (e) the Attorney General. have been a candidate at the election; (d) a person claiming to have a right to be or remain a member of an urban authority; (e) the Attorney General. (2) The presentation and trial of petitions and applications in pursuance of this section shall be governed by the provisions of the law relating to the trial of petitions and applications arising from elections in local government authorities. [s. 32] 35.–(1) Subject to this section, an urban authority may- (a) admit to the status of honorary freeman of the authority persons of distinction, and persons who have rendered eminent services to the urban authority or to the United Republic; Repealed Decision of questions as to membership of council Freemen ho have rendered eminent services to the urban authority or to the United Republic; Repealed Decision of questions as to membership of council Freemen ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 648 (b) where it considers that a person admitted to the status of honorary freeman of the authority has subsequently ceased to be worthy of the status, annul the admission of the person to that status. (2) The power of admitting or annulling the admission of a person to the status of honorary freeman of an urban authority shall not be exercised except by resolution of the urban authority supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting, and the power of annulling the admission of a person to the status of honorary freeman of an urban authority shall not be exercised unless the authority has afforded to that person an opportunity to be heard or to make written representations on his behalf. y shall not be exercised unless the authority has afforded to that person an opportunity to be heard or to make written representations on his behalf. (3) The Director shall keep a list to be styled as the honorary freemen’s roll, in which shall be inscribed the names of all persons admitted to the status of honorary freeman of the authority and from which shall be removed the name of any person whose admission to that status is annulled. (4) Every person who, before the commencement of this Act, was an honorary freeman of an urban council established or deemed to have been established under the former Act, and deemed to be an urban authority established under this Act, shall be deemed to have been admitted to the status of freeman of that authority under this Act. [s. 33] PART IV MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES A - Meetings of Urban Authorities 36.–(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), an urban authority shall hold an ordinary meeting for the transaction of its business at least once in every three months at places, dates and at such times as it may decide. (2) The first ordinary meeting of an urban authority newly established, or deemed to have been established, under this Frequency, place and time of meetings e first ordinary meeting of an urban authority newly established, or deemed to have been established, under this Frequency, place and time of meetings ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.649 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] Act shall be held at a place, on a day and time as the Director may appoint. (3) The Chairman may convene a special meeting within twenty-one days or such lesser period as may be prescribed by the standing orders of the urban authority, after he receives a written request to that effect signed by not less than one-third of all the members and stating clearly the purposes for which the special meeting is requested to be convened. [s. 34] 37.–(1) The Director shall, not less than twenty-four hours before the time appointed for the holding of a meeting of an authority, notify every member in writing of the place, day and time of the meeting and of the business proposed to be transacted at the meeting. (2) Business shall not be transacted at a special meeting of an authority other than specified in the notice relating to it. [s. 35] 38. the meeting. (2) Business shall not be transacted at a special meeting of an authority other than specified in the notice relating to it. [s. 35] 38. One-half of all the members shall constitute a quorum at any ordinary meeting of an authority; and the quorum at a special meeting of an authority shall be two-thirds of all the members. [s. 36] 39. The meeting of an authority shall be presided over by- (a) the Chairman or the Mayor, as the case may be; (b) in the absence of the Chairman or the Mayor, the Vice-Chairman or the Deputy Mayor, as the case may be; or (c) in the absence of both the Chairman or the Mayor and the Vice-Chairman or the Deputy Mayor, or in the case of inability of both to preside, those present may elect one member from amongst their number to preside for the purpose of that meeting. [s. 37] Notice of meetings Quorum at meetings Presiding in Council ct one member from amongst their number to preside for the purpose of that meeting. [s. 37] Notice of meetings Quorum at meetings Presiding in Council ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 650 40. All questions proposed for decision at any meeting of an urban authority shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting and in the event of equality of votes the Chairman or other member presiding shall have a casting vote in addition to his deliberative vote. [s. 38] 41.–(1) Subject to subsection (2), every meeting of an urban authority shall be open to the public and the press. (2) The provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply to any committee, sub-committee, joint committee or to a committee of the whole urban authority. [s. 39] 42.–(1) The Secretary shall record and keep details of all business conducted or transacted at all meetings of an urban authority in books kept and maintained for that purpose, and the minutes of each meeting of the authority shall be read and confirmed, or be read, amended and confirmed, at the next meeting of the authority and signed by the person presiding at that meeting. all be read and confirmed, or be read, amended and confirmed, at the next meeting of the authority and signed by the person presiding at that meeting. (2) The names of all members of an urban authority present, and those of non-members invited to attend, at every meeting of the authority shall be recorded in the minutes. (3) Any minutes purporting to be signed by the person presiding at a meeting of any urban authority shall, in the absence of proof of error, be deemed to be a correct record of the meeting whose minutes they purport to be, the meeting shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held, and all persons present at the meeting shall be deemed to have been qualified to attend. [s. 40] 43. The minutes of the proceedings of an urban authority shall be open for inspection by members at reasonable times and by any member of the public at times and under arrangements as may be permitted by the Chairman, and any person may Decisions of urban councils Meetings to be held in public Minutes of meetings Minutes to be open for inspection ed by the Chairman, and any person may Decisions of urban councils Meetings to be held in public Minutes of meetings Minutes to be open for inspection ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.651 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] obtain an extract from the minutes upon payment of such fee as may be specified by the authority. [s. 41] 44.–(1) Subject to this Act, an urban authority may, with the prior approval of the Minister, make standing orders for the regulation of its proceedings and business, and in respect of matters to be referred and functions to be delegated to any committee of the authority, and subject to such approval, may vary, revoke, add to or amend those standing orders. (2) Provision may be made in standing orders made under this section for the payment of transport, attendance, responsibility and other allowances to members of any urban authority. [s. ng orders made under this section for the payment of transport, attendance, responsibility and other allowances to members of any urban authority. [s. 42] 45.–(1) Where a member or officer of an urban authority has any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in any contract, proposed contract or other matter, and is present at a meeting of the authority or its committee at which the contract, proposed contract or other matter is the subject of consideration he shall, as soon as practicable after the commencement of that meeting, disclose that fact and shall not take part in or be present at the consideration or discussion of, or vote on any question with respect to, the contract, proposed contract or that other matter subject to subsection (2). (2) This section shall not apply to an interest in a contract or other matter which a member of an urban authority may have as a rate payer or inhabitant of the area of jurisdiction of the authority, or to an interest in any matter relating to the terms on which the right to participate in any service, including the supply of goods is offered to members of the public. any matter relating to the terms on which the right to participate in any service, including the supply of goods is offered to members of the public. (3) Subject to this subsection and subsection (4), for the purposes of this section, a member shall be treated as having an indirect pecuniary interest in a contract or other matter, where- (a) he or his nominee is a member of a company or other body, or the holder of debentures in a company, with Standing orders of urban authorities Disability for voting on account of interest in contracts Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 49 f debentures in a company, with Standing orders of urban authorities Disability for voting on account of interest in contracts Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 49 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 652 which the contract is made or proposed to be made or which has a direct pecuniary interest in the other matter under consideration; or (b) if he is a partner or in the employment of a person with whom the contract is made or proposed to be under or who has a direct pecuniary interest in the other matter under consideration. (4) Subsection (3) shall not apply to membership of, or employment under, any other urban authority or any association of persons who provide any public utility as a public body and not for their own profit, and a member of a company or other body shall not by reason only of his membership, and a person holding debentures shall not by reason only of his holding debentures, be treated as being so interested if he has no beneficial interest in any shares or stock of that company or other body or in those debentures. tures, be treated as being so interested if he has no beneficial interest in any shares or stock of that company or other body or in those debentures. (5) In this section a direct or indirect interest of a spouse or any member of the family of a member of the urban authority shall, if known to that member of urban authority, be deemed to be a direct or indirect interest. (6) A general notice given in writing to the Director by a member of the authority to the effect that he, his spouse, or a member of his family has a direct or indirect interest in a contract, proposed contract or other matter and specifying the nature of the interest, shall, unless and until it is withdrawn, be deemed to be a sufficient disclosure of his interest in any matter relating to it which may be the subject of consideration after the date of the notice. (7) The Director shall cause to be recorded, in a book to be kept for that purpose, particulars of any disclosure made under subsection (1) and of any notice given under subsection (6), and that book shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times by any member. (8) A person who refuses or fails to comply with subsection (1) commits an offence and on conviction, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand shillings or to imprisonment to comply with subsection (1) commits an offence and on conviction, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand shillings or to imprisonment ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.653 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] for a term not exceeding six months or to both and shall, by virtue of the conviction and punishment, be disqualified from continuing to be a member of the authority, and shall be liable to account to the authority for any profit which may accrue to him from any such contract or matter; but a prosecution for an offence under this section shall not be instituted except with the prior consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (9) The Minister may, subject to such conditions as he may think fit to impose, remove any disability incurred under this section in any case where the number of members of urban authority so disabled at any one time would be so great a proportion of the whole as to impede the transaction of the business of the authority, or in any other case in which it appears to him it is in the interests of the inhabitants of the area of jurisdiction of the authority that the disability should be so removed. ich it appears to him it is in the interests of the inhabitants of the area of jurisdiction of the authority that the disability should be so removed. (10) In this section- (a) a member of the family of a member of an urban authority shall be deemed to include the father, mother, child, brother or sister and any person married to his father, mother, child, brother, or sister; (b) the term “Director” includes a person who is acting in that office. [s. 43] 46. The validity of any act or proceeding of an urban authority, its members or of any of its officers shall not be affected by any vacancy among the members of the council or by any defect in their election or appointment, or that of its officers. [s. 44] 47.–(1) The Chairman of an urban authority may, after consultation with the members, invite any person to attend and speak on any matter, or participate in any other way, at any meeting of the council, but any person so invited shall not be entitled to vote at that meeting. Validity of acts and proceedings of district council and officers Invitation to non-members to attend meetings ot be entitled to vote at that meeting. Validity of acts and proceedings of district council and officers Invitation to non-members to attend meetings ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 654 (2) All heads of departments of an urban authority may, when so required by the Director, attend all or any of the meetings of the authority, but a head of department shall not be entitled to vote at any of those meetings. [s. 45] 48.–(1) An urban authority may adjourn any of its meetings. (2) Where at any meeting of an authority a quorum is not present, the members present or, if there are no members present or, the Director shall adjourn the meeting and may appoint for the adjourned meeting such place, day and time as may be considered suitable. [s. 46] B - Committees of Urban Authorities 49.–(1) Any urban authority other than a city council shall establish a standing committees for- (a) finance and administration; (b) economic affairs, health, and education; and (c) urban planning and environment. ablish a standing committees for- (a) finance and administration; (b) economic affairs, health, and education; and (c) urban planning and environment. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the council may establish such other standing committees not exceeding three as may be necessary for the proper discharge of the functions of the council to local needs and priorities. (3) A city council established under section 8 shall establish such committees as may be determined by the Minister in the order establishing it. (4) Each standing committee, except the standing committee for finance and administration, shall consist of not more than one third of the members of the urban council. (5) The Minister may, by regulations published in the Gazette, prescribe the limit of the number of committees that may be established by an urban council and the annual cost of meetings of council, its committees and sub-committees. (6) Any committee established under this section may invite other persons who are not members of the council to provide Adjournment of meetings Standing committees Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 50 his section may invite other persons who are not members of the council to provide Adjournment of meetings Standing committees Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 50 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.655 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] expertise and other assistance, but such invited persons shall not have the right to vote. [s. 47] 50. Subject to section 49, provision shall be made in standing orders of an urban authority for the composition and functions of each standing committee. [s. 48] 51.–(1) An urban authority may establish such other standing or occasional committees as it may determine for the purposes of examining and reporting on any matter or of discharging any functions of the authority delegated to them under this Act, or generally, as it may deem necessary or desirable for the better performance of the functions and efficient management of the affairs and business of the authority. it may deem necessary or desirable for the better performance of the functions and efficient management of the affairs and business of the authority. (2) Any committee appointed under this section may include persons who are not members of the urban authority appointed by the authority or co-opted by the committee, and all persons appointed or co-opted by the authority shall, when performing the functions of a committee as members of that committee, have and exercise rights and powers in all respects in relation to the business of the committee as those exercised by members of the authority who are members of the committee in question. [s. 49] 52.–(1) Any committee of an urban authority may, subject to the prior approval of the authority, co-opt as members of the committee such number of persons who are not members of the authority as it may deem necessary for the efficient execution of any task undertaken by the committee. (2) Persons co-opted by any committee under this section shall have and exercise the same rights and powers in relation to the business of the committee as are conferred by this Act on members of the committee. [s. 50] Functions of standing committees Power to appoint occasional committees Co-option of non-members to committees ct on members of the committee. [s. 50] Functions of standing committees Power to appoint occasional committees Co-option of non-members to committees ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 656 53.–(1) Subject to section 57(3), where a vacancy occurs in any committee, joint committee or sub-committee, the committee in question may continue to act notwithstanding the vacancy or vacancies until that vacancy has or those vacancies have been filled by nomination, election or appointment, as the case may be. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as rendering it unnecessary at any meeting of a committee, joint committee or sub-committee for such quorum to be realised as may be provided for by or under this Act or in any standing orders made pursuant to this Act. (3) For the avoidance of doubt it is declared that a committee, joint committee or sub-committee shall not hold any proceedings at any time while the number of its members present is less than the quorum provided for in respect of it. [s. ommittee shall not hold any proceedings at any time while the number of its members present is less than the quorum provided for in respect of it. [s. 51] 54.–(1) Any committee or joint committee may appoint from amongst its members such sub-committee or sub-committees as it may deem expedient for the purposes of examining and reporting on any matter, but the committee shall not delegate any of its executive powers to any such sub-committee. (2) The number of members of a sub-committee and their term of office shall be such as may be fixed by the committee appointing it. (3) Subject to the standing orders of the urban authority, a sub-committee shall determine its own procedure. (4) A sub-committee shall not discharge any of the functions of an urban authority which have been delegated to the committee by which it appointed. [s. 52] 55.–(1) Subject to any general or specific directions given by the Minister in that behalf, an urban authority may concur with any one or more other urban authority or local government authorities, in appointing from among their respective members a joint committee of those authorities or of that Effect of vacancies on committees Sub-committees Joint committees rom among their respective members a joint committee of those authorities or of that Effect of vacancies on committees Sub-committees Joint committees ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.657 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] authority and local government authority or authorities for any purpose in which they are jointly interested, and may delegate to that committee, subject to such restrictions or conditions as they may deem fit to impose, any powers or functions of the authority relating to purposes for which the joint committee is formed except such matters as the urban authority is not empowered to delegate by this Act. (2) Subject to this Act, the composition of any joint committee appointed under this section, the term of office of its members and the area within which the committee is to perform its functions shall be determined by the authority or authorities and local government authorities appointing it. (3) A joint committee shall not incur any expenditure exceeding the amount allowed by the appointing authority. [s. ernment authorities appointing it. (3) A joint committee shall not incur any expenditure exceeding the amount allowed by the appointing authority. [s. 53] 56.–(1) Subject to subsection (2), and to any restrictions or conditions as it may deem fit to impose, an urban authority may delegate to a Committee the power to discharge any function on behalf of the authority. (2) An urban authority shall not delegate to any committee the power to- (a) make by-laws; (b) make and levy rates; (c) adopt estimates of revenue and expenditure of the authority; (d) impose fees and charges. (3) An urban authority may withdraw or alter any delegation to a committee, but such withdrawal or alteration shall not affect anything done in pursuance of any decisions lawfully taken by the committee. (4) Any function discharged or power exercised by a Committee in pursuance of the delegation made to it under this section shall be deemed to have been discharged or exercised by the urban council. [s. 54] Delegation of powers to Committee ion made to it under this section shall be deemed to have been discharged or exercised by the urban council. [s. 54] Delegation of powers to Committee ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 658 57.–(1) The proceedings of every committee, sub-committee or joint committee of a district council shall, subject to this Act, be regulated in accordance with standing orders of the authority, subject to the following provisions of this section. (2) Minutes of the proceedings of a meeting of a committee, joint committee or sub-committee shall include a record of the names of all members present and absent, and shall be drawn up and signed at the same or a subsequent meeting by the person presiding at that meeting, and any minutes so signed shall, in the absence of proof of error, be received in evidence without further proof. (3) The validity of any act or decision taken at any meeting of a committee, joint committee or sub-committee shall not be affected by any vacancy in its membership or any defect in the appointment of any of the persons attending the meeting. [s. 55] 58. ittee shall not be affected by any vacancy in its membership or any defect in the appointment of any of the persons attending the meeting. [s. 55] 58. The proceedings of a committee, joint committee or sub- committee shall not be open to members of the public and the press, except in pursuance of a resolution of the urban authority appointing it or in pursuance of resolutions to that effect of all the authorities or category of authorities concurring to appoint that committee. [s. 56] 59. Every committee, joint committee or sub-committee established or appointed under this Act shall, at one of the next two ordinary meetings of its appointing authority held after a meeting of the committee, joint committee or sub-committee, report its proceedings to that appointing authority for its consideration or, in the case of proceedings which relate to the discharge of functions delegated to the committee, for its information. [s. 57] 60.–(1) An urban authority may for the purpose of discharging its functions within its area, establish by instrument published in the Gazette such service boards as it may deem necessary. Proceedings of committees and sub-committees Admission of public to meetings of committees Reports by committee Establishment of service board Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 51 ommittees and sub-committees Admission of public to meetings of committees Reports by committee Establishment of service board Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 51 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.659 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (2) A service board established under subsection (1) shall be answerable to the urban authority and shall perform such duties and exercise such functions as may be specified in the instrument establishing it. [s. 58] PART V FUNCTIONS OF URBAN AUTHORITIES A - Functions 61.–(1) It shall be the duty of every urban authority to discharge the functions conferred upon it by this Act or by or under any other written law, and for that purpose, an urban authority may, within the limits of the functions so conferred, either by its own officers or by duly appointed agents, do all things and acts as are lawful and necessary for the performance of its duties. nferred, either by its own officers or by duly appointed agents, do all things and acts as are lawful and necessary for the performance of its duties. (2) Save where the contrary is expressly provided for or appears from the context of the function or duty to be permitted or intended, every function conferred upon an urban authority shall be exercised in respect of all persons within its area of jurisdiction or the category or description of persons within its area of jurisdiction as are concerned in relation to the function in question. [s. 59] 62.–(1) It shall be the responsibility of each urban authority as a local government authority, subject to this Act- (a) to maintain and facilitate the maintenance of peace, order and good governance within its area of jurisdiction; (b) to promote the social welfare and economic well-being of all persons within its area of jurisdiction; Duty to perform functions Objectives and functions of local government authorities Acts Nos. 6 of 1999 s. 52 5 of 2022 s. 85 its area of jurisdiction; Duty to perform functions Objectives and functions of local government authorities Acts Nos. 6 of 1999 s. 52 5 of 2022 s. 85 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 660 (c) subject to the national policy and plans for rural and urban development, to further the social and economic development of its area of jurisdiction; (d) to take necessary measures to protect and enhance the environment in order to promote sustainable development; (e) to give effect to the meaningful decentralisation in political, financial and administrative matters relating to the functions, powers, responsibilities and services of all levels of local government authorities; (f) to promote and ensure democratic participation in, and control of, decision-making by the people concerned; and (g) to establish and maintain reliable sources of revenue and other resources enabling local government authorities to perform their functions effectively and to enhance financial accountability of local government authorities, their members and employees. thorities to perform their functions effectively and to enhance financial accountability of local government authorities, their members and employees. (2) In the performance of their functions, local government authorities shall- (a) provide their services in an efficient and cost-effective manner and foster co-operation with civic groups and other persons or authorities; (b) accord due recognition to, and promote gender awareness. (3) This Act shall not be construed as prohibiting local government authorities from performing any function which is not the exclusive of the central government or of any other local government authority. (4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the Minister may by order published in the Gazette, specify for urban authorities any matters which are the exclusive responsibility of the central government and those of any other local government authority. (5) For the purposes of the better execution of its functions, whether done alone or in co-operation and in conjunction with any other local government authority or other relevant written law, a local government authority shall take all such measures as in its opinion are necessary, desirable, conducive or expedient- er relevant written law, a local government authority shall take all such measures as in its opinion are necessary, desirable, conducive or expedient- ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.661 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (a) for the suppression of crime, the maintenance of peace and good order and the protection of public and private property lawfully acquired; (b) for the regulation and improvement of agriculture, trade, commerce and industry; (c) for the furtherance and enhancement of the health, education, and the social, cultural and recreational life of the people; and (d) for the relief of poverty and distress, and for the assistance and amelioration of life for the young, the aged and the disabled or infirm. (6) Each urban authority shall establish a one-stop centre for co-coordinating, encouraging, promoting and facilitating business within its area of jurisdiction. (7) The Minister may make regulations for better implementation of the provisions of subsection (6). [s. ing business within its area of jurisdiction. (7) The Minister may make regulations for better implementation of the provisions of subsection (6). [s. 60] 63.–(1) In relation to the powers and functions of urban authorities conferred by this Act, the central government shall- (a) facilitate the exercise of those powers and the discharge of those functions in a manner that gives due recognition to the autonomy of local government authorities; (b) formulate a national policy and regulatory framework for the local government system in urban areas; (c) co-ordinate and monitor the performance of urban authorities for compliance with national policies, guidelines and standards; (d) have due regard to the need to recognise and enhance the role of local government authorities in the provision of services and supervision of development activities within their respective areas; (e) develop policies and provide for regulatory framework and ensure that the urban authorities leads other development agencies in their area of jurisdiction in the proper execution and implementation of those policies; Relations with central government Acts Nos. 6 of 1999 s. 53 13 of 2006 s. 20 4 of 2021 s. 19 he proper execution and implementation of those policies; Relations with central government Acts Nos. 6 of 1999 s. 53 13 of 2006 s. 20 4 of 2021 s. 19 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 662 (f) provide the necessary technical support to urban authorities for the development of respective sectors in their areas; (g) assist in work for the implementation of decisions and resolutions of the urban authorities which affect the development of their respective sectors; (h) provide and secure enabling environment for successful performance of the duties of the urban authority; (i) ensure compliance by all persons and urban authorities with appropriate government decisions guidelines in relating to the promotion of the local government system; and (j) do such acts and things as shall facilitate or secure the effective, efficient and lawful execution by the urban authorities of the statutory or incidental duties. and things as shall facilitate or secure the effective, efficient and lawful execution by the urban authorities of the statutory or incidental duties. (2) Where an agreement provides for special arrangement relating to the implementation of this provision, and the said arrangement has been approved by the Cabinet, the application of the provisions of subsection (1)(m) shall not prejudice the implementation of such agreement. (3) Sector Ministries shall, in relation to local government authorities perform the following functions to- (a) supervise professionalism of personnel relating to the particular sector in the local government authorities; (b) ensure quality assuarance in the performance of the functions of technical personnel relating to the sector in the local government authorities; (c) undertake monitoring and evaluation of the technical personnel’s performance of their functions; (d) ensure all posts as required by the establishment of a particular profession are properly filled; (e) ensure human resources development; and (f) ensure availability of equipment, human resources and funds for equipment, human resources and funds for ) ensure human resources development; and (f) ensure availability of equipment, human resources and funds for equipment, human resources and funds for ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.663 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] implementation of sectoral programmes in the local government authorities. [s. G.663 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] implementation of sectoral programmes in the local government authorities. [s. 61] 64.–(1) Subject to this Act, it shall be the duty of every urban authority within its area of jurisdiction to- (a) establish and maintain offices and buildings for the purpose of transacting the business of the authority and for public meetings and assemblies; (b) take and require the taking of measures for the conservation of natural resources, the prevention of soil erosion and the prohibition and control of cultivation; (c) prevent or control the keeping, movement, control, destruction and sale of livestock, animals and birds, so that their keeping or use does not become a public nuisance or injurious to health; (d) provide for the treatment of congested area, for the closure and demolition of buildings or parts of buildings unfit for human or other habitat either from structural or sanitary causes or from the narrowness, closeness or bad arrangement of those buildings or of the streets, and for the prohibition of the use of such buildings for such habitation, and to pay compensation if it shall so think fit; (e) provide for the inspection of all meat, fish, vegetables and all other foodstuffs of whatever kind or nature, and of liquids intended for human consumption, whether exposed for sale or not, and to seize and destroy all such foodstuffs or liquids as are unfit for human consumption, or to seize and otherwise deal with any foodstuffs or liquids intended for human consumption when and in such manner as may by by-laws be directed or allowed, and to supervise and control all bakeries; (f) provide, maintain, supervise and control public markets and pounds, and cold-storage depots, mineral water factories and public or private slaughter-houses, Duties of urban authorities ontrol public markets and pounds, and cold-storage depots, mineral water factories and public or private slaughter-houses, Duties of urban authorities ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 664 and all matters and things as may be necessary for the convenient use of such markets, pounds, cold-storage depots, mineral water factories and public or private slaughter-houses, and to impose fees, rents, and tolls in respect of the use of public markets, pounds or slaughterhouses by any person; (g) keep and maintain in good order and repair all public latrines, urinals, cesspits, dustbins and other receptacles for the temporary deposit and collection of rubbish, and public bathing and washing places, and to provide for the removal of all refuse and filth from any public or private place, and provide for the removal of nights oil and the disposal of sewage from all premises and houses in its area, so as to prevent injury to health; (h) provide for and maintain a supply of electric lighting or other means of lighting streets and trunk roads, including bridges carrying trunk roads, and to provide lamps, lamp posts, and other materials and apparatus as may be deemed necessary for lighting its area; (i) provide for the prevention and abatement of public nuisances or of nuisances which may be injurious to the public health or to the good order of the area of the authority; (j) name or re-name, where necessary, all streets, such names to be affixed in conspicuous places, and to cause the buildings in such streets to be numbered; (k) make, keep and maintain clean and in good order and repair all streets and sewers together with all buildings, machinery, works and things belonging thereto which have or shall become vested in the authority, and to provide for the drainage of surface water: Provided the authority shall have power to divert or alter the course of any street on sewer and to keep the same clear of obstructions so as not to be a nuisance or injurious to health; (l) keep clean all trunk roads within the area of the authority; eep the same clear of obstructions so as not to be a nuisance or injurious to health; (l) keep clean all trunk roads within the area of the authority; ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.665 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (m) regulate any trade or business which may be noxious, injurious to the public health or a source of public danger, or which otherwise it is in the public interest expedient to regulate, and to provide for the issues of licences or permits to facilitate the regulation of any such trade of business, and for the imposition of fees in respect of such licences or permits; (n) regulate the use and conduct of public vehicles plying for hire and their fares, to regulate the routes and parking places to be used by such vehicles, to appropriate particular routes, roads, streets and parking places to specified classes of traffic, and when necessary to provide for the identification of all licensed vehicles; and (o) undertake all other works, matters and services necessary for or conducive to the public safety, health or convenience, as it shall think fit, or which the Minister may declare to be the functions of the urban authority. cive to the public safety, health or convenience, as it shall think fit, or which the Minister may declare to be the functions of the urban authority. (2) In addition to the duties specified in subsection (1), an urban authority may perform any of the functions specified in the Schedule to this Act. [s. 62] 65.–(1) For the purposes of ensuring the better performance by urban authorities of their general functions in accordance with the objects, purposes and provisions of this Act, the Minister may, subject to section 66, make regulations more particularly specifying the powers and duties to be exercised by any urban authority, or by any category of urban authorities, or by all urban authorities. (2) It shall be the duty of every local government authority in relation to which regulations are made under this section, to exercise the powers and discharge the duties conferred or imposed by the regulations to the best of its ability and resources. [s. 63] 66.–(1) Where the regulations required or desired to be made in respect of any urban authority in pursuance of section 65 Regulations conferring specific functions Functions and duties under other written laws Act No. 15 of 2003 s. 70 authority in pursuance of section 65 Regulations conferring specific functions Functions and duties under other written laws Act No. 15 of 2003 s. 70 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 666 relate to any service or branch of Government for which a Minister other than the Minister responsible, the regulations in question shall be made by the responsible Minister after consultation with the Minister. (2) Where, the regulations are to be made in relation to which consultations are required in accordance with subsection (1), such consultations shall be signified in writing to have been made by the Minister other than the Minister responsible and that consent to their promulgation has been procured as such. ied in writing to have been made by the Minister other than the Minister responsible and that consent to their promulgation has been procured as such. (3) Every urban authority shall have power to do any act or thing in relation to any service or matter which is regulated or provided for by or under any written law or laws for which a Minister other than the Minister responsible, subject only to compliance by the authority with any administrative directions or legislative procedures issued or prescribed by the Minister or other competent appropriate authority concerned after consultation with or with the general or specific approval of the Minister. [s. 64] 67.–(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 284A of the Penal Code or of the Public Officers (Recovery of Debts) Act, an act or thing done or omitted by any member of an urban authority shall not, if done or omitted bona fide in the execution or purported execution of his duties as a member, officer, servant or agent, subject any such person to any action, liability or demand of any kind, subject to subsection (2). his duties as a member, officer, servant or agent, subject any such person to any action, liability or demand of any kind, subject to subsection (2). (2) Where in any proceeding a question arises respecting the bona fides of any act done in the purported pursuance of the functions of the urban authority, the burden of proving that the act in question was done bona fide shall lie on the person alleging that it was so done. (3) There shall be freedom of speech and debate in any proceedings of the urban authority during council meetings, and such freedom of speech and debate shall not be liable to Liability of members Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 54 Cap. 16 Cap. 76 ity during council meetings, and such freedom of speech and debate shall not be liable to Liability of members Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 54 Cap. 16 Cap. 76 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.667 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] be questioned in any court or other place outside the council meetings. (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any member of an urban authority who exercises the powers conferred on him by this Act in abuse of the authority of his office, commits an offence and shall be proceeded against in accordance with section 96 of the Penal Code. [s. 65] B - Powers in Relation to Functions 68. ce, commits an offence and shall be proceeded against in accordance with section 96 of the Penal Code. [s. 65] B - Powers in Relation to Functions 68. For the purposes of the better performance of the functions conferred upon it by this Act or any other written law, an urban authority shall have power to- (a) construct any new and necessary works in connection with any of the functions under this Act; (b) provide for the establishment, management, layout, planting, swimming baths, public libraries, museums and other places of public resort, recreation of entertainment for the use of the public, and to contribute to the cost of maintenance of any parks, gardens, swimming baths, public libraries, museums and other places of public resort, recreation or entertainment provided by persons for the use of the public; (c) provide and maintain appliances for extinguishing fires, and water-buckets, pipes, fire escapes and other implements for safety or use in case of fire; (d) undertake the abatement of fire and the prevention of the spread of it and for such purposes to enter any premises; (e) design the layout of streets, building areas and other areas, and to provide for and authorise the adoption of such measures with respect to expropriation or limitation of user, and with respect to the assessment and time of payment of compensation, as the authority may consider necessary or desirable for the purpose Cap. ser, and with respect to the assessment and time of payment of compensation, as the authority may consider necessary or desirable for the purpose Cap. 16 Powers of urban authorities 16 Powers of urban authorities ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 668 of the convenient design and construction of such layouts, save that before any layout is made, the plan or plans of such layout or alteration shall be submitted for the approval of the Minister; (f) plant trees in any street and to erect tree guards to protect such trees, save that the streets shall not thereby be unduly obstructed; (g) with the approval of the Minister, engage in any form of municipal trading or industry; (h) with the approval of the Minister, engage in any form of transport service; (i) provide for the imposition and fixing of charges to be paid in respect of services rendered by the authority; (j) provide for the licensing of building surveyors and for the examination of candidates for licences or otherwise for ensuring their technical ability, for the professional conduct of such building surveyors, for the cancellation of licences in cases of misconduct and for the scale of fees chargeable by licensed building surveyors for services rendered; (k) provide for the establishment and management of a provident fund for the benefit of the servants or any class of servant of the authority; (l) appropriate particular routes, roads and streets to the use of public vehicles employed in the transport services undertaken and conducted by the authority, to the exclusion of the use of such routes, roads and streets by other public vehicles plying for passenger hire, save that such appropriation shall not substantially affect to its detriment traffic proceeding to or from places outside the limits of the area of the authority; (m) provide for the control, management and treatment of domestic animals; (n) prohibit or regulate the establishment and conduct of markets other than public markets established by the authority; eatment of domestic animals; (n) prohibit or regulate the establishment and conduct of markets other than public markets established by the authority; ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.669 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (o) prohibit or regulate the hawking of wares of the erection of stalls on or near any street; (p) provide for the control and management of cinemas, theatres, circuses, dance-halls and places of public entertainment generally; (q) provide for the care and welfare of the aged and destitute; (r) provide for the control, use and licensing of vehicles other than motor vehicles; (s) provide for the establishment and maintenance of regional schools; (t) open and operate banking accounts with any authorised bankers; (u) provide for the construction, leasing, sale and control of houses; (v) undertake works and measures for or in connection with any local government purposes. [s. 66] 69.–(1) Any urban authority may, by agreement, and with the prior approval of the Minister, acquire any land or right over or to the use of any land, within or outside its area of jurisdiction, for the purposes of any of its functions. ister, acquire any land or right over or to the use of any land, within or outside its area of jurisdiction, for the purposes of any of its functions. (2) For the purposes of any of its functions under this Act or any other written law, any urban authority may, with the prior approval of the Minister- (a) request the President to exercise the powers to acquire land conferred on him under the Land Acquisition Act, in respect of any land whether within or outside the area of its jurisdiction; (b) request the President to exercise the power conferred on him by the Land Act to revoke a right of occupancy in respect of the land concerned. (3) Where the President agrees to any request made to him under subsection (2)(a) or (b), the purpose for which the urban authority has made the request shall be deemed to be- Power to acquire land Cap. 118 Cap. 113 ubsection (2)(a) or (b), the purpose for which the urban authority has made the request shall be deemed to be- Power to acquire land Cap. 118 Cap. 113 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 670 (a) a public purpose for the purposes of the Land Acquisition Act; and (b) good cause for the revocation of a right of occupancy within the meaning of section 10 the Land Act. (4) All expenses and compensation incurred in respect of acquisition of any land by the President or the revocation of any right of occupancy under this section shall be paid by the President, and the urban authority concerned shall pay to the President the sum as the President may determine, and the rights in the land so acquired shall be granted to that authority on such terms and conditions as the President may determine. [s. 67] 70. ne, and the rights in the land so acquired shall be granted to that authority on such terms and conditions as the President may determine. [s. 67] 70. Subject to this Act and to any other written law in force in relation to the acquisition, use of land and disposition of land, a local government authority may, with the approval of the Minister- (a) exchange, let, mortgage or charge any land or premises in its ownership or disposition; and (b) charge rent or fees in respect of the occupation, use or hire of any such land or premises. [s. 68] 71. An urban council may accept, hold and administer any gift of property for any public purpose, or for the benefit of the inhabitants of the area or any part of it, and may execute any works, including works or maintenance and improvement, incidental or consequential to the exercise of the powers conferred by this section. [s. 69] 72.–(1) Subject to subsection (2), an urban council may enter into any contract necessary or desirable for the discharge of any of its functions under this Act. (2) An urban authority shall not enter into any contract for supply of goods or materials or the execution of any works or the provision of any services without complying with the Cap. 118 Cap. 113 Power to let and mortgage land and charge Power to accept gifts Power to contract Cap. 290 f any services without complying with the Cap. 118 Cap. 113 Power to let and mortgage land and charge Power to accept gifts Power to contract Cap. 290 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.671 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] procedure of competitive tendering and other procedures set out in the Local Government Finances Act. (3) Any contract made by an urban authority shall be made in accordance with the standing orders of the authority or, if no provision in them relates to the making of contracts, in accordance with the directions of the Minister and, in the case of contracts for the supply of goods and materials or for execution of works to the value of ten thousand shillings or more, the standing orders or the directions shall- (a) require that notice of the intention of the authority to enter the contract shall be published and tenders invited; (b) regulate the manner in which the notice shall be published and tenders invited; and (c) regulate the manner in which the notice shall be published and tenders given, but any urban authority may lawfully enter into a contract without publishing notice of the intention to enter into it in accordance with the requirements of its standing orders. lawfully enter into a contract without publishing notice of the intention to enter into it in accordance with the requirements of its standing orders. (4) A person entering into a contract with an urban authority shall not be bound to enquire whether the entering by the authority into the intended contract complies with the standing orders of the urban authority and all contracts entered into by an urban authority, if otherwise valid, shall have full force and obligations of the authority under them, notwithstanding the standing orders or directions not having been complied with. [s. 70] 73. An urban authority may insure against risks of any type. [s. 71] 74.–(1) Subject to subsection (2), an urban authority may by resolution, authorise the writing off as an irrecoverable debt in regard to which no further proceedings need be taken, of any sum due or payable to the authority from or by any person on Power to insure Power to write- off arrears of revenue, cash and stores be taken, of any sum due or payable to the authority from or by any person on Power to insure Power to write- off arrears of revenue, cash and stores ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 672 the ground of the apparent irremediable poverty of that person or for other sufficient cause. (2) A sum shall not be written off by an urban authority as an irrecoverable debt without the prior approval of the Regional Commissioner, if it exceeds in any one case such amount as may be prescribed by the Regional Commissioner in respect of that authority, or if by so writing it off, the total sum written-off by that district council in that financial year would exceed such amount as may be prescribed by the Regional Commissioner in respect of that district council. (3) Subject to subsection (4), an urban authority may, by resolution, authorise the writing-off of deficiencies of cash or stores. t district council. (3) Subject to subsection (4), an urban authority may, by resolution, authorise the writing-off of deficiencies of cash or stores. (4) Deficiency shall not be written-off by any authority without the prior approval of the Regional Commissioner if it exceeds in value any amount which may be prescribed by the Regional Commissioner for that council or if, by so writing it off, the total value of the deficiencies written-off by that authority in that financial year would exceed any amount which may be prescribed by the Regional Commissioner in respect of that authority. (5) Where the urban council is aggrieved by any of the decisions made by the Regional Commissioner under this section it may appeal to the Minister whose decision in the matter shall be final. [s. 72] 75.–(1) Subject to this Act and to any other written law, an urban authority may charge fees for any service or facility provided by it or for any licence or permit issued by the authority under this Act. (2) Subject to the prior approval of the Regional Commissioner, an urban authority may for good cause authorise the remission of any fees or other charges imposed under the provisions of this Act or any rules or by-laws made by or in respect of the authority under this Act. [s. 73] Power to charge fees s imposed under the provisions of this Act or any rules or by-laws made by or in respect of the authority under this Act. [s. 73] Power to charge fees ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.673 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 76.–(1) Without prejudice to the generality of section 61, a Director shall on receiving information that- (a) any person in respect of whom the functions of the authority are exercisable, has committed an offence for which he may be arrested without a warrant of arrest, order that and forthwith taken before a magistrate of court having jurisdiction over that person; or (b) property of any description which has been stolen, whether within or outside the area of the urban authority, is within that area, cause that property to be seized and detained pending the order of the magistrate having jurisdiction in the matter and shall report the seizure and detention to that magistrate. (2) For the purposes of any of the powers of arrest conferred by this section, a Director shall have and may exercise and perform all the powers and duties which are by law conferred or imposed upon police officers. this section, a Director shall have and may exercise and perform all the powers and duties which are by law conferred or imposed upon police officers. (3) Where a Director exercises the powers conferred on him by this section in abuse of the authority of his office, then, he as well as any other person involved in procuring the Director to exercise the power in abuse of authority, commits an offence and shall be proceeded against in accordance with section 96 of the Penal Code. [s. 74] 77.–(1) Without prejudice to the generality of section 61 and 76, a Director may, in writing, require any person in respect of whom the functions of the authority are exercisable to appear before him for any of the purposes of this Act, and it shall be the duty of every person, when so directed, to attend before the Director. (2) A person who, when lawfully required to attend before the Director pursuant to subsection (1), without reasonable excuse neglects, refuses or fails to attend as and when directed, commits an offence against this Act. Duties of Director in respect of offences Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 55 Cap. 16 Duty of persons to appear before Director mmits an offence against this Act. Duties of Director in respect of offences Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 55 Cap. 16 Duty of persons to appear before Director ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 674 (3) A person acting on and in accordance with instructions lawfully given by a Director pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be empowered to do all that may reasonably be necessary to give effect to those instructions. [s. 75] 78. The courts which shall have jurisdiction in relation to the area of an urban authority for the purposes of this Act shall be such competent courts as are or may be established by or under the written law relating to the establishment and powers of magistrates and other courts of Mainland Tanzania. [s. 76] C - Functions of the City Council Established Subject to Section 8 79. shment and powers of magistrates and other courts of Mainland Tanzania. [s. 76] C - Functions of the City Council Established Subject to Section 8 79. The Functions of the city council established pursuant to section 8 shall be to- (a) co-ordinate the powers and functions of the urban authorities regarding infrastructure and land use planning; (b) prepare a coherent city-wide framework for the purpose of enhancing sustainable development; (c) promote co-operation between the city council and, or amongst local government authorities within the city area; (d) deal with all matters in which there is an interdependency among the urban authorities; (e) support and facilitate the overall functioning and performance of the urban authorities; (f) provide peace and security and emergency services such fire prevention and control, ambulance and police; (g) perform such other functions as may be agreed upon between the city council and other urban authorities; and Courts Functions of city council Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 56 her functions as may be agreed upon between the city council and other urban authorities; and Courts Functions of city council Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 56 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.675 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (h) perform major functions relating to protocol and ceremonies. [s. 77] D - Powers of Minister 80. NMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (h) perform major functions relating to protocol and ceremonies. [s. 77] D - Powers of Minister 80. For the purposes of discharging the responsibility in relation to local government imposed on him by section 4 of this Act, the Minister may, in addition to all other powers conferred on him by or under this Act- (a) subject to the provisions of any written law in that behalf, cause modifications to be made in the development plans of any person or body of persons engaged in activities connected with or affecting the development and growth of local government authorities; (b) seek and secure modifications in the educational or training and development plans of any institution so as to facilitate the proper education and training of manpower for the staffing of local government institutions; (c) subject to this Act and to any other written law in that behalf, do any other act or thing which in his opinion is designed to or may further the promotions of efficient and democratic local government, having regard at all times to the national interests and the interests of the people of the United Republic. [s. ient and democratic local government, having regard at all times to the national interests and the interests of the people of the United Republic. [s. 78] 81.–(1) The Minister shall have power to take all measures which in his opinion are necessary, desirable or expedient for the enforcement of the performance by every urban authority of the functions conferred and the duties imposed on it by this Act, and may, for that purpose, invoke any of the powers vested in him by the provisions of this Part, subject to the other provisions of this Act or any other written law. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the discretion of the Minister in the exercise of his power under this section, the Discharge of duty of Minister under section 4 Power to enforce performance of functions Minister in the exercise of his power under this section, the Discharge of duty of Minister under section 4 Power to enforce performance of functions ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 676 Minister shall order an inquiry to be conducted into the affairs of an urban authority before taking any measure of the nature referred to in subsection (1) where- (a) a new scheme proposed by an urban authority and requiring the approval of the Minister arouses serious local opposition or administrative doubts; (b) the Minister is not fully convinced that an urban authority is conducting all its affairs satisfactorily; (c) it is necessary that mute disputes or dissatisfaction about local administration be properly and fully aired; or (d) it is proposed that changes be made in the boundaries of an urban authority or authorities or any area within its jurisdiction, so as to satisfy himself that there is among the inhabitants of and residents in the area concerned a general wish, or concurrence in the proposal, that the intended boundary variations be effected. [s. abitants of and residents in the area concerned a general wish, or concurrence in the proposal, that the intended boundary variations be effected. [s. 79] 82.–(1) Notwithstanding the generality of the powers conferred on the Minister by sections 83, 85 and 86, the Minister shall before taking any measure which is punitive or censorial in nature against an urban authority or any member or officer of it as a consequence upon the failing or being cause to fail to satisfactorily perform its functions under this Act, cause an inquiry to be conducted into the matter. (2) For the purpose of an inquiry ordered to be conducted under this section, the Minister may appoint a person or a committee of persons to conduct the inquiry and to report to him the findings of the inquiry, and any such person or committee shall have and exercise such powers and enjoy all rights which are vested in a commission of inquiry constituted under the Commissions of Inquiry Act. [s. 80] 83. Subject to the following provisions of this Part, where the Minister is satisfied, after inquiry under section 82, that any urban Inquiries relating to performance of functions Cap. 32 Power to transfer functions nister is satisfied, after inquiry under section 82, that any urban Inquiries relating to performance of functions Cap. 32 Power to transfer functions ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.677 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] authority is unable or has failed to exercise a particular function or all functions conferred upon it by this Act, he may transfer the power to perform that or those functions to such other person or body of persons as he may, by order published in the Gazette, specify. [s. 81] 84. Where any of the functions of an urban authority are transferred to any person or body of persons under section 83, the expenses incurred by that person or body of persons in discharging those functions shall be a debt due from the authority concerned to that person or, as the case may be, body of persons. [s. of persons in discharging those functions shall be a debt due from the authority concerned to that person or, as the case may be, body of persons. [s. 82] 85.–(1) Where after inquiry, the Minister is satisfied that any urban authority has made default in the performance of any functions conferred or imposed upon it by this Act or any other written law for the time being in force, he may make an order, to be published in the Gazette, declaring the authority to be in default and may, by the same or any other order- (a) for the purpose of removing the default, direct the authority to perform its functions in a manner and within such times as may be specified in the order; or (b) transfer to such person or body of persons as he may deem fit such of the functions of the authority in default as may be specified in the order. (2) Where an urban authority in respect of which an order has been made under subsection (1)(a), fails to comply with any requirement of the order within the time or times specified for the requirement to be complied with, the Minister may make an order under subsection (1)(b). ement of the order within the time or times specified for the requirement to be complied with, the Minister may make an order under subsection (1)(b). (3) Where an order made under subsection (1)(a) involves default in the performance of any or a majority of, or the basic functions of the authority, the Minister may, by the same or a subsequent order, dissolve or suspend the authority for such time as he may think fit, from the performance of its functions Expenses in respect of transferred functions Power to dissolve authority prematurely Act No. 14 of 1999 Sch. it, from the performance of its functions Expenses in respect of transferred functions Power to dissolve authority prematurely Act No. 14 of 1999 Sch. ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 678 as may be specified in the order and, where he dissolves the authority he shall specify a date, being not later than six months from the date of dissolution, for the holding of elections to constitute a new authority, or nomination for re-election. (4) Every order made under this section shall be laid before the Assembly at its next meeting following the making of the order. (5) A person or body of persons to whom any of the functions of an urban authority are transferred under this section shall, when performing the functions and in respect of them, be deemed to be that authority for the purposes of this Act, and when so acting, shall have all the powers and immunities of that authority, including the power of affixing its official seal. [s. es of this Act, and when so acting, shall have all the powers and immunities of that authority, including the power of affixing its official seal. [s. 83] 86.–(1) Without prejudice to the powers conferred upon him by the preceding provisions of this Part, where the Minister is satisfied that any urban authority has failed to comply with any of the provisions of this Act or any other written law, or has conducted its affairs in a manner incompatible with any of the provisions of this Act or any other written law, whether or not such failure or such conduct amounts to default by the authority in the performance of any function conferred or imposed upon the authority by or under this Act or any other written law, he may, by order published in the Gazette, dissolve the authority, and may, by the same or a subsequent order, transfer to such person or body of persons as he may think fit all or any of the functions of the authority so dissolved. (2) A person or body of persons to whom any of the functions of any urban authority have been transferred under subsection (1) shall, when performing those functions and in respect of them, be deemed to be that authority for the purposes of this Act and when so acting shall have all the powers and immunities of that authority, including the power of affixing its official seal. purposes of this Act and when so acting shall have all the powers and immunities of that authority, including the power of affixing its official seal. Power to dissolve councils in default Power to dissolve councils in default ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.679 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (3) An order made under this section dissolving an urban authority shall not have effect so as to invalidate any act, matter or things validly done or omitted to be done by the authority or by any person or body of persons on its behalf and every licence, registration or permit lawfully issued, made or granted by the authority or by any person or body of persons on its behalf and still in force on the date of dissolution of the authority shall continue in force for the period specified in the licence, registration or permit unless it is sooner lawfully surrendered, forfeited, suspended, revoked or cancelled. [s. 84] 87.–(1) Without prejudice to the powers of the Minister to dissolve councils stipulated in section 85 and 86, the Minister shall have powers to dissolve councils at the end of the tenure of the councils, by notice published in the Gazette, seven days before the President dissolves the Parliament in the year to which the General Election is to be held. by notice published in the Gazette, seven days before the President dissolves the Parliament in the year to which the General Election is to be held. (2) Following dissolution of the councils, the committees of the councils shall remain suspended pending the General Election and the affairs of the council shall be under the Director as a Chairman while all heads of departments shall be members of the committees. (3) In the discharge of duties, and in the exercise of powers under this section, the Director shall not initiate new projects or investments and shall not be allowed to make change or alter any project or investments approved by the councils, prior to dissolution. [s. 84A] 88.–(1) The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, depute any person by name or by office to exercise or perform on his behalf, subject to such conditions, exceptions, and qualifications as may be specified in the notice, any of the powers and duties conferred upon him with respect to urban authorities which he may specify, other than the power Power to dissolve councils pending General Election Act No. 17 of 2010 s. 38 Delegation of powers of Minister ich he may specify, other than the power Power to dissolve councils pending General Election Act No. 17 of 2010 s. 38 Delegation of powers of Minister ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 680 conferred by section 4, the power to establish authorities, the power to make any rules or regulations, or give directions to authorities and the power to dissolve authorities, and upon such delegation or from the date specified in the notice, the delegate may exercise those powers and discharge the duties, subject to the said conditions, exceptions or qualifications. (2) The Minister may similarly revoke any such notice and may exercise any powers or discharge any duties conferred upon him by this Act notwithstanding the delegation by him of those powers or duties. [s. 85] 89.–(1) It shall be the duty of every urban authority to furnish the Minister and the Regional Commissioner with information as he may require in relation to his functions under this Act. urban authority to furnish the Minister and the Regional Commissioner with information as he may require in relation to his functions under this Act. (2) The urban authority shall have the duty to prepare and submit quarterly to the Regional Commissioner a progress report of its implementation of development plans or such other report as may be required by the District Commissioner and Regional Commissioner in relation to his functions under the Regional Administration Act. [s. 86] 90. In relation to the exercise of powers and performance of functions of local government authorities conferred by this Act, the role of the Regional Commissioner and of the District commissioners shall be to investigate the legality when questioned of actions and decisions of local government authorities within their areas of jurisdiction and to inform the Minister or take such other appropriate action as may be required. [s. 87] PART VI LEGISLATIVE POWERS 91.–(1) The Minister may make regulations for better carrying out of the provision and purposes of this Act. Supply of information Act No. 13 of 2006 s. 21 Cap. 97 Powers of Regional and District Commissioner Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 57 Regulations Act No. 17 of 2009 s. 14 information Act No. 13 of 2006 s. 21 Cap. 97 Powers of Regional and District Commissioner Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 57 Regulations Act No. 17 of 2009 s. 14 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.681 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Minister may make regulations prescribing the procedure for the election of- (a) the Chairman and members of Village Council; (b) the Chairman and members of Mtaa Committee; and (c) the Chairman of Kitongoji. [s. 87A] 92. The legislative authority in relation to all matters and things within the area of each urban authority is delegated to the urban authority concerned, and shall be exercised in respect of any matter or thing in accordance with the provisions of this Part and subject always to the provisions of any written law relevant to that matter or thing. [s. 88] 93.–(1) Every urban authority may, subject to the consent of the Minister, make by-laws for the carrying into effect and for the purposes of any function conferred on it by virtue of this Act or any other written law. nister, make by-laws for the carrying into effect and for the purposes of any function conferred on it by virtue of this Act or any other written law. (2) Any by-law made by an urban authority under this section shall be read and construed subject to this Act and to any other written law, and nothing in this Act shall be deemed to empower any urban authority to make any by-law over-riding or derogating from or inconsistent with any other written law in force in the United Republic in relation to the area of that urban authority. (3) By-laws made under this section may be made to apply to the whole of the area of jurisdiction of an urban authority of any part of it, and the power to make by-laws conferred by this section shall include power to make different by-laws in respect of different parts of the area of jurisdiction of an urban authority. [s. 89] Delegation of legislative authority Power of urban authorities to make by-laws ferent parts of the area of jurisdiction of an urban authority. [s. 89] Delegation of legislative authority Power of urban authorities to make by-laws ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 682 94.–(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section where urban authority proposes to make any by-laws, it shall, at least two weeks before the meeting of the authority, at which it is proposed to consider the by-laws, give notice to the inhabitants of the area of its jurisdiction of its intention, in such manner as may most probably bring the notice to the attention of all persons likely to be affected by the by-laws indicating the precise purport of the by-laws proposed, and calling upon all interested persons within the area to lodge any objections or representations in writing with the authority within such time as may be prescribed. all interested persons within the area to lodge any objections or representations in writing with the authority within such time as may be prescribed. (2) Where upon the expiration of the notice, or not less than three days before the authority’s meeting at which it is intended to consider the proposed by-laws, no objections or representations are received, or no person raising an objection satisfies the council that there is no need for the by-laws to be made, the authority shall proceed to make the by-laws proposed, taking into account any other kind of objections or representations made. (3) After any by-law has been made or amended by the authority, the by-law or amendment shall be submitted for the approval of the Minister, together with- (a) a copy of the minutes of the meeting of the authority at which the by-law or amendment was adopted; (b) a certificate by the Director that the preceding provisions of this section have been complied with; (c) copies of any objections against the adoption of the by-law, by-laws or amendment which may have been lodged in writing with the authority, or, if none have been lodged, a statement to that effect. f the by-law, by-laws or amendment which may have been lodged in writing with the authority, or, if none have been lodged, a statement to that effect. (4) Where any objection has been lodged and has not been withdrawn, the Minister may approve, alter or reject any by-law or amendment and consent to the by-law or amendment so submitted to him. (5) Upon approval being given by the Minister to any by-law or amendment, with or without alteration pursuant to Procedure where urban authority makes by-laws Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 58 the Minister to any by-law or amendment, with or without alteration pursuant to Procedure where urban authority makes by-laws Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 58 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.683 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] subsection (4), the by-law or amendment shall be published in the Gazette, and shall have full force of law within the area of the urban authority from the date of publication or the date of commencement specified in the by-law or amendment. [s. 90] 95. Where in the opinion of the Minister, it is necessary or desirable, for purposes of the better development and fostering of the system of local government in urban authorities, that- (a) a certain by-law not involving any local variation be made by or in respect of all urban authorities; or (b) uniform by-laws regarding a specific subject or subjects is or are needed for all authorities or a category of them, he may, subject to section 95, make the required by-laws which shall come into operation upon publication in the Gazette or on such date as may be specified in the by-laws. [s. 91] 96.–(1) By-laws shall not be made by the Minister pursuant to section 93 unless the provisions of this section have been complied with. -laws. [s. 91] 96.–(1) By-laws shall not be made by the Minister pursuant to section 93 unless the provisions of this section have been complied with. (2) Where the Minister proposes to invoke the power conferred by section 94 to make uniform by-laws in respect of all or a category of urban authorities, he shall, at least two months before making the by-laws by notice published in the Gazette and in any national newspaper or any newspaper circulating in the area of the urban authorities or category of urban authorities proposed to be made, give notice of his intention, indicating the precise purport of the intended by-laws, and shall call upon all interested authorities affected, and persons within the area of jurisdiction of those urban authorities, to lodge any objections in writing with him in a manner and within such time as may be prescribed, and an urban authority may request that it be permitted to appear and be heard by the Minister. (3) Every urban authority which lodges an objection pursuant to subsection (2) shall, on request made to the Power of Minister to make uniform by-laws Procedure where Minister makes uniform by-laws tion pursuant to subsection (2) shall, on request made to the Power of Minister to make uniform by-laws Procedure where Minister makes uniform by-laws ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 684 Minister, be entitled to appear, by representatives, before the Minister and make representations further clarifying its objections, and the Minister shall not make or apply the proposed by-laws to any authority if its objections are upheld by him or until after the reasons for the rejection of any of its objections have been furnished in writing to that urban authority or its representative. (4) Where upon the expiration of the notice, no objections or representations have been received from any authority or any authority in the category of the urban authorities concerned, or no urban authority raising an objection satisfies the Minister that special provision should be made for that authority in the proposed by-laws or that it should be excluded from the application or any of their provisions, the Minister shall proceed to make the by-laws as intended, which shall come into operation upon publication in the Gazette or on a date specified in the by-laws. [s. ll proceed to make the by-laws as intended, which shall come into operation upon publication in the Gazette or on a date specified in the by-laws. [s. 92] 97.–(1) Any by-laws made under this Part may prescribe reasonable fees, charges and tariffs in relation to any act to be done or any licence, permit or other instrument or document granted or issued under them, and may require acts or things to be performed or done to the satisfaction of a prescribed person, and may empower a prescribed person to issue orders to any other person requiring acts or things to be performed or done, imposing conditions and prescribing periods and dates upon, within or before which such acts or things shall be performed or done or the conditions shall be fulfilled. (2) Any by-law made under this Act may confer upon an urban authority, and its officers or employees powers of inspection, inquiry and execution of works as may be reasonably necessary for the proper carrying out of its enforcement. [s. 93] By-laws may impose special conditions ry and execution of works as may be reasonably necessary for the proper carrying out of its enforcement. [s. 93] By-laws may impose special conditions ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.685 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 98.–(1) Without prejudice to the generality of the power of authorities to make by-laws, an urban authority may make by-laws for the control, under permit or otherwise, of the construction of buildings and other structures and of the execution of work on existing buildings and structures and may by such by-laws, prescribe the conditions subject to which the construction of buildings and other structures and the execution of work on existing buildings and structures, may be undertaken and carried out. the construction of buildings and other structures and the execution of work on existing buildings and structures, may be undertaken and carried out. (2) In pursuance of subsection (1), an urban authority may make by-laws- (a) for the making and maintenance of passages, lanes and roads for the purpose of giving access to premises; (b) for the space about new buildings and buildings which are to be extended or altered, so as to ensure free circulation of air; (c) for building lines and the layout of buildings; (d) for the level of the ground floor of buildings; (e) for the lighting and ventilation of buildings, the height of buildings and the dimension of rooms and corridors; (f) for reducing the risk of fire in buildings and ensuring sufficient means of exit from new or extended or altered buildings in the event of fire; (g) preventing the construction of buildings and other structures which would be a disfigurement to the urban area or neighbourhood or not be in keeping with the architectural character of the neighbourhood and the execution of any work which would tend to make existing buildings and structures a disfigurement to the area or neighbourhood or not be in keeping with the architectural character of the neighbourhood; (h) respecting the repair and renovation of buildings and other structures, and compelling necessary repairs and renovations to buildings and other structures to be carried out; By-laws regulating building in urban authorities Act No. elling necessary repairs and renovations to buildings and other structures to be carried out; By-laws regulating building in urban authorities Act No. 3 of 2011 s. 38 3 of 2011 s. 38 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 686 (i) for the certification of dwelling-houses as having been constructed in accordance with the requirements of by- laws made under this section as condition precedent to the habitation; (j) respecting the construction of hoardings and similar structures and temporary buildings; (k) for the use of proper buildings, scaffolding, hoarding, machinery and appliances in connection with the construction, extension, alteration, repair and renovation of buildings and other structures; (l) prescribing the conditions to be satisfied by a site for any building or for any class of building; (m) respecting the provision of sanitary arrangements and conveniences of or in connection with new, extended or altered buildings; (n) for cutting into, laying open and pulling down any work suspected to have been executed in contravention of any by-law made under this section or any permit granted under any such by-law; (o) for the designations of streets as residential streets or shopping streets or business streets, and prescribing special requirements to be satisfied by buildings constructed; (p) for the drainage of streets, lands, compounds and new buildings; (q) respecting the level, width and construction of streets; (r) regulating or prohibiting the construction of wells; (s) respecting the period of duration of any permit provided for under any regulations made under this section and the extension of period, and for the revocation of permit if the construction of the building or execution of the work to which it relates is not begun within a time specified in such permit; (t) for the refusal of a permit to an applicant who has not completed a building or any work under a permit previously granted to him; in such permit; (t) for the refusal of a permit to an applicant who has not completed a building or any work under a permit previously granted to him; ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.687 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (u) prescribing the forms to be used; (v) prescribing the fees to be paid in respect of any matter or thing prescribed by by-laws made under this section; and (w) for matters connected with or incidental to the preceding matters. (3) The authority may further provide provisions as it may think necessary to the giving of notices, as to the deposit of loans, sections and specifications and other particulars by persons intending to lay out streets or to construct, extend, alter, repair and renovate buildings, for inspection by officers in the manner as the provisions may specify and for the maintenance of building agents on the sites of works, and the keeping of proper plans. (4) The by-laws may be made with respect to the area of the authority generally, or with respect to particular areas, buildings or works in the area of the urban authority. made with respect to the area of the authority generally, or with respect to particular areas, buildings or works in the area of the urban authority. (5) For the purposes of the exercise of powers of the authority stipulated in subsections (1), (2) and (3), a reference to the authority in relation to areas on which the derivative rights were acquired for the development of the Export Processing Zones and Special Economic Zones shall imply reference of Export Processing Zones Authority. [s. 94] 99.–(1) Subject to subsection (2), a copy of a by-law purporting to be made by an urban authority upon which is endorsed a certificate purporting to be signed by the Chairman or other officer of the authority authorised by the urban authority in that behalf, stating- (a) that the by-law was made and published by the urban authority in the manner required by this Act; (b) that the copy is a true copy of the by-law; (c) that on a specified date the by-law was duly approved by the Minister and came into operation on a specified date, Evidence of by- laws made by urban authorities pecified date the by-law was duly approved by the Minister and came into operation on a specified date, Evidence of by- laws made by urban authorities ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 688 shall be admitted in evidence in any court without further proof, and the certificate shall be evidence of the facts stated in it without further proof, and without proof of the handwriting or official position of the person purporting to sign the certificate. (2) This section shall not be construed as derogating from any provisions of the Evidence Act operating to permit a court to take cognisance of any by-laws without its due making being established by adduction of evidence. [s. 95] 100.–(1) A copy of every by-law made in accordance with this Part shall be kept at the office of the urban authority by whom it was made in relation to which it is applicable, and shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by the public free of charge, and a copy of it may be furnished on application, to any person affected by it on payment of such sum as the authority may determine. free of charge, and a copy of it may be furnished on application, to any person affected by it on payment of such sum as the authority may determine. (2) An urban authority shall send a copy of every by-law made by it to every person or body of persons exercising jurisdiction in the area of the authority and to every ward committee to which the by-laws applies. (3) A person, body of persons or ward committee which receives a copy of a by-law under this section shall deposit it at its offices and the copy so deposited shall be open to inspection by the public free of charge. [s. 96] 101.–(1) An urban authority may, in the by-laws it makes, annex to the breach of any by-law or any order made under it a fine, not exceeding three hundred thousand shillings or a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months or both and may subject to the limitations, annex different fines and different terms of imprisonment for successive or continuous breaches of any by-law. (2) Where any person is convicted of failing to comply with, or contravening, any conditions subject to which a licence or Cap. 6 Copy of by-laws to be deposited at offices of urban authorities Penalties for breach of by-laws Acts Nos. 6 of 1999 s. 59 4 of 2019 s. 4 nce or Cap. 6 Copy of by-laws to be deposited at offices of urban authorities Penalties for breach of by-laws Acts Nos. 6 of 1999 s. 59 4 of 2019 s. 4 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.689 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] permit has been granted to him under the provisions of any by-law made under the provisions of this Act, the court may, in addition to, or in substitution for, any penalty prescribed by that by-law, cancel the licence or permit in respect of which the offence has been committed. (3) Any by-law may provide that in addition to any penalty, any expense incurred by the urban authority in consequence of any breach of that by-law or in the execution of any work directed by that by-law to be executed by him shall be paid by the person committing the breach of failing to execute the work and may be recoverable summarily as a civil debt. be executed by him shall be paid by the person committing the breach of failing to execute the work and may be recoverable summarily as a civil debt. (4) The Director may, where he is satisfied that any person has committed an offence under any by-laws made under this Act, by order under his hand compound offence by requiring such person to make payment of a sum of money: Provided that- (a) such sum of money shall not be more than the maximum fine provided for such offence and the whole of the amount of any levy or penalty due from such person; (b) the power conferred by this subsection shall only be exercised where the person admits in writing that he has committed the offence; (c) the Director shall give to the person from whom he receives such sum of money an official receipt therefor. [s. 97] PART VII PROVISIONS RELATING TO LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 102. Where any matter or thing is directed or prohibited to be done by or under this Act, or where any authority is given by this Act to any person to direct or prohibit anything or matter to be done, then if the act or thing directed to be done remains undone or if the prohibited act or thing is done, every person Offences ing or matter to be done, then if the act or thing directed to be done remains undone or if the prohibited act or thing is done, every person Offences ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 690 offending against the direction or prohibition shall in every such case be committing an offence against this Act or, as the case may be, the subsidiary legislation made under it. [s. 98] 103. Subject to this Act, any officer or employee of an urban authority duly authorised in that behalf, may, at all reasonable times, enter into or upon any land, building, premises or vessel within the area of the authority for the purposes carrying out any inspection, inquiry or the execution of works under the provisions of this Act or any by-law, regulation, rule or order made by or for the authority. [s. 99] 104.–(1) Subject to subsection (3), any police officer may arrest without warrant any person who commits any offence against this Act or any by-law or other subsidiary legislation made under it and any Director or Ward Executive Officer may arrest without warrant any person who in his presence, commits an offence against any by-law made by an urban authority. or Ward Executive Officer may arrest without warrant any person who in his presence, commits an offence against any by-law made by an urban authority. (2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3), any officer or employee of an urban authority in uniform and authorised in writing for the purpose by a Regional or District Commissioner, may arrest without warrant any person who in his presence commits any offence against any by-law of an urban authority made under this Act, and may, subject to the directions of the Regional or District Commissioner in question, detain that person as it may be reasonably necessary to deliver him before a court to be dealt with according to law. (3) The powers conferred by subsections (1) and (2) shall only be exercised if the person proposing to arrest or detain any person has reasonable grounds for believing that that person will not attend a court in response to any process issued against him. [s. 100] Powers of entry Powers of arrest rounds for believing that that person will not attend a court in response to any process issued against him. [s. 100] Powers of entry Powers of arrest ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.691 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 105. A person who- (a) wilfully obstructs any member of an urban authority or any of its officers or employees in the execution of his duty; (b) being the occupier of any premises, prevents the owner of the premises, his agent or the person receiving rent for the premises from complying with any of the requirements of the authority; (c) being the occupier of any premises, on demand refuses or willfully omits to disclose or wilfully misstates the name of the owner of the premises, his agent or the person receiving rent for the premises, commits an offence and on conviction, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both. [s. conviction, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both. [s. 101] 106.–(1) A person who- (a) having been elected or appointed as a member of an urban authority but not having been, at the time when he was elected or appointed, qualified to be so elected or appointed, sits or votes in the authority; or (b) sits or votes in an authority after his seat has become vacant or he has become disqualified from sitting or voting in it, knowing or having reasonable grounds for knowing, that he was so disqualified, or that his seat has become vacant, as the case may be, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty thousand shillings for every day upon which he so sits or votes. (2) Such penalty shall be recoverable by action at the suit by the urban authority concerned. (3) The provisions of this section shall not apply in the case of any disqualification from voting arising under the Offence to obstruct Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 60 Penalty for unqualified person sitting or voting Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 61 ion from voting arising under the Offence to obstruct Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 60 Penalty for unqualified person sitting or voting Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 61 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 692 provisions of this Act regarding duty of members not interested in contracts. [s. 102] 107. A person who commits any offence against the provisions of this Act for every such offence, on conviction shall be liable to the penalty expressly prescribed by this Act and, if no such penalty is prescribed, to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both. [s. 103] 108. The books and register of any urban authority and any extracts from them certified by the Chairman or other officer authorised in that behalf by the authority shall, in any proceeding for the recovery of any amount alleged to be due to the authority, be prima facie evidence of the amounts so due. [s. 104] 109. all, in any proceeding for the recovery of any amount alleged to be due to the authority, be prima facie evidence of the amounts so due. [s. 104] 109. Where any offence against any provision of this Act is committed by a company or partnership, every director, manager, secretary or other person having the management or control, in Mainland Tanzania, of the business or property in the case of a company, and every such person and each partner in the case of a partnership, shall severally be liable to be prosecuted and punished for the offence in like manner as if he had himself committed the offence, unless the act or omission constituting the offence took place without his knowledge, consent or connivance, but nothing in this section shall be deemed to exempt from liability any other person committing any such offence. [s. 105] 110.–(1) A suit shall not be commenced against an urban authority- General penalty Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 62 Books to be prima facie evidence of sums due Contravention by company or partnership Notice of suits Act No. 1 of 2020 s. 33 y Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 62 Books to be prima facie evidence of sums due Contravention by company or partnership Notice of suits Act No. 1 of 2020 s. 33 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.693 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (a) unless a ninety days’ notice of intention to sue has been served upon the urban authority and a copy thereof to the Attorney General and the Solicitor General; and (b) upon the lapse of the ninety days period for which the notice of intention to sue relates. (2) The notice served under this section shall state the cause of action, the name and place of abode of the intending plaintiff and the relief which he claims. [s. 106] 111. Nothing in this Act shall prejudice the right of an urban authority to rely upon any written law relating to the limitation of time for bringing proceedings. [s. 107] 112.–(1) Save as is otherwise expressly provided, appearance by or on behalf of an urban authority in any civil case or matter in which an urban authority is a party, shall be made by a solicitor authorised in that behalf by a local Government Authority. y civil case or matter in which an urban authority is a party, shall be made by a solicitor authorised in that behalf by a local Government Authority. (2) The Director of Public Prosecutions may delegate to any solicitor powers to prosecute as stipulated in the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977, the Criminal Procedure Act or any other written law. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), where a local government authority has not employed or engaged a solicitor or where, with respect to any proceedings in court to which a local government authority is a party, that local government authority may be represented by any Law Officer, a State Attorney or a legal officer authorised in that behalf by the local government authority. [s. 107A] 113.–(1) Subject to subsection (2), the notice referred to in section 110 and any summons, notice or other documents required or authorised to be served on an authority shall be served by delivering it to, or by sending it by registered post Limitation of suits against authorities Appearance in court Act No. 4 of 2005 s. 32 Cap. 2 Cap. 20 Mode of service on authority it by registered post Limitation of suits against authorities Appearance in court Act No. 4 of 2005 s. 32 Cap. 2 Cap. 20 Mode of service on authority ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 694 addressed to the Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer of the authority at the principal office of that authority. (2) The court may with regard to any particular suit or document order service on the authority to be effected otherwise, and in that case service shall be effected in accordance with the terms of the order. [s. 108] 114. Subject to general instruction given by the Attorney General, in any prosecution by or on behalf of an urban authority in any court, and in any civil case or matter in a court in which an authority is a party, the authority may be represented by any officer or employee duly authorised in that behalf by the authority, notwithstanding that that officer or employee is not an advocate within the meaning of the Advocates Act. [s. 109] 115. Save as is otherwise expressly provided, any person accused of an offence against this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under it may be tried by any court of competent jurisdiction. [s. 110] 116. accused of an offence against this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under it may be tried by any court of competent jurisdiction. [s. 110] 116. A court shall not be precluded from trying an offence under this Act by `reason only that the offence, if committed, was a breach of an order, resolution, by-law or rule issued or made by a member or members of the courts as a member or members of any urban authority or by reason only of the fact that the proceedings have been instituted by or on behalf of any member or officer of or agent for an authority. [s. 111] 117. All appeals by or against an urban authority shall, depending on the court of original jurisdiction in any particular matter, be brought before and heard by a competent court exercising appellate jurisdiction. [s. 112] Appearance of authority in legal proceedings Cap. 341 Trial of persons Preservation of jurisdiction of courts Appeals appellate jurisdiction. [s. 112] Appearance of authority in legal proceedings Cap. 341 Trial of persons Preservation of jurisdiction of courts Appeals ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.695 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 118. Wherever in any criminal process or proceeding it is necessary to refer to the ownership or description of property belonging to or under the management of an urban authority, the property may be described as the property of the authority. [s. 113] 119. Where, for any purpose or in any proceeding under this Act, a question arises as to whether any person is or is not the occupier of any tenement or building, the burden of proof that such person is not the occupier of the tenement or building shall be on the person who alleges that that person is not the occupier, and that person shall be deemed to be the occupier unless the contrary is shown. [s. 114] 120. In any proceedings instituted by or on behalf of an urban authority it shall not be necessary to prove the corporate name or name of the authority or the constitution or the limits of its area. [s. f an urban authority it shall not be necessary to prove the corporate name or name of the authority or the constitution or the limits of its area. [s. 115] 121.–(1) Subject to this section, any notice, order or other document required or authorised by this or any other Act to be served by or on behalf of an urban authority or by an officer of the authority, on any person shall be deemed to be duly served- (a) where the person to be served is a company, if the document is addressed to the secretary of the company at its registered office or at its principal office or place of business, and is either- (i) sent by registered post; or (ii) delivered at the registered office, or at the principal office or place of business, of the company; (b) where the person to be served is a partnership, if the document is addressed to the partnership at its principal place of business, identifying it by the name Description of property Burden of proof as to who occupier is Name of authority need not be proved Service of notice by authority fying it by the name Description of property Burden of proof as to who occupier is Name of authority need not be proved Service of notice by authority ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 696 or the style under which its business is carried on, and is either- (i) sent by registered post; (ii) delivered at that office; or (c) where the person to be served is a public body, an urban authority, or a corporation, society or other body, if the document is addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, president, secretary, treasurer or other principal officer of that body or authority, corporation or society at its principal office and is either- (i) sent by registered post; or (ii) delivered at that office; or (d) in any other case, if the document is addressed to the person to be served, and is either sent to him by registered post or delivered at his residence or place of business. the document is addressed to the person to be served, and is either sent to him by registered post or delivered at his residence or place of business. (2) Any document which is required or authorised to be served on the owner or occupier of any premises may be addressed “the owner” or “the occupier”, as the case may be, of those premises, naming them, without further name or description, and shall be deemed to be duly served where- (a) the document so addressed is sent or delivered in accordance with subsection (1)(d); or (b) the document so addressed or a copy of it so addressed is affixed to some conspicuous part of the premises. (3) Where a document is served on a partnership in accordance with this section, the document shall be deemed to have been served on each partner. (4) For the purposes of enabling any document to be served on the owner of any premises, his agent or the person for the time being receiving rent for the premises, the urban authority may require the occupier of the premises to state the name and address of the owner, his agent or the person receiving rent for the premises. [s. 116] may require the occupier of the premises to state the name and address of the owner, his agent or the person receiving rent for the premises. [s. 116] ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.697 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 122.–(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, every by-law, order, notice or other document requiring authentication by an urban authority shall be deemed to be sufficiently authenticated without the seal of the authority if signed by two members of the authority or by the chief executive officer of the authority or by any officer of the authority duly authorised in that behalf by any resolution of the authority, save that the authority shall cause at least one copy of every by-law made by it to be authenticated by the official seal of the authority and deposited in the offices of the authority. (2) Every instrument and deed shall be executed by an urban authority under its official seal and any contract or other document shall be deemed to be duly executed by or on behalf of an authority if signed by the Chairman or the Vice- Chairman and by an officer of the authority duly authorised in that behalf by a resolution of the authority. ty if signed by the Chairman or the Vice- Chairman and by an officer of the authority duly authorised in that behalf by a resolution of the authority. (3) Any document purporting to be a document duly authenticated or executed by or on behalf of an urban authority shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to be a document so executed or authenticated. [s. 117] 123.–(1) Subject to subsection (2), and save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act or any other written law, the publication of any by-law, order, notice or other document required by this Act to be published shall be deemed to be duly made- (a) if it is published in the Gazette; or (b) if it is fixed for a reasonable time in some conspicuous place on or near the outer door of the office of the authority during office hours or is made known in such other manner as is customary in the area of the authority. Authentication and execution of documents Publication of notices s or is made known in such other manner as is customary in the area of the authority. Authentication and execution of documents Publication of notices ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 698 (2) This section shall not be construed as authorising the publication of any rules or regulations made under this Act otherwise than in the Gazette. [s. 118] 124. The Minister may, by regulations published in the Gazette, establish a code of conduct for members of urban authorities. [s. 119] 125. Where any decree or order is granted or obtained against the Urban Council, no execution or attachment or process of that nature shall be issued against the property of the Council, except that the Urban Council Director shall cause to be paid out of the revenue of the Council such amount as may by judgment or order be awarded against the Council to the person entitled to it. [s. 109B] PART VIII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 126. [Repeals the Urban Councils (Interim Provisions) Act; the Urban Wards (Administration) Act and the Municipalities Ordinance]. [s. 120] 127. SIONS 126. [Repeals the Urban Councils (Interim Provisions) Act; the Urban Wards (Administration) Act and the Municipalities Ordinance]. [s. 120] 127. Notwithstanding the repeal of the written laws specified in section 126, and unless there is, in any particular case, in this Act any express provision to the contrary- (a) no right, obligation or other entitlement of any person or body which was extinguished by the enactment and application of the Decentralisation of Government Administration (Interim Provisions) Act shall be revived for the reason only of the establishment by this Act of an urban authority by the name or style of an authority previously existing in the area formerly Code of conduct Act No. 6 of 1999 s. 63 Protection of assets and properties of Council Act No. 13 of 2006 s. 22 Repeals Acts Nos. 10 of 1976 11 of 1978 Ord. No. 29 of 1946 Savings Act No. 27 of 1972 Act No. 27 of 1972 operties of Council Act No. 13 of 2006 s. 22 Repeals Acts Nos. 10 of 1976 11 of 1978 Ord. No. 29 of 1946 Savings Act No. 27 of 1972 Act No. 27 of 1972 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.699 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. erved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.699 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] of the authority dissolved by the Decentralisation of Government Administration (Interim Provisions) Act; (b) all officers and staff appointed to hold offices under any of the laws repealed and whose appointments are in force immediately before the commencement of this Act shall, unless their offices are abolished by virtue of this Act or until the appointments are terminated or new officers are appointed in their places, continue to serve in those offices and shall, for that purpose, be deemed to be serving in those offices in pursuance of this Act; (c) all licences, permits, authorisations and other instruments or documents granted or given by an urban council shall, so long as they subsist on the date of commencement of this Act, remain effective and in force until they expire, cease to have effect or are replaced by new ones issued or granted under this Act; (d) all proceedings pending in court by or against any urban council shall be continued and completed against the urban authority established in the area formerly under the jurisdiction of that urban council, but no financial liability shall lie against the local government authority as a result of those proceedings save in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Finances Act, relating to the disposition of liabilities of existing local government authorities after the commencement of this Act; (e) all subsidiary legislations made prior to the commencement of this Act in relation to the area of a new urban authority by a former urban council shall remain effective and in force in the area of the authority unless it is sooner amended, revoked or replaced by legislation made under this Act, and may be enforced by the urban authority as if it were subsidiary legislation made by that authority. r replaced by legislation made under this Act, and may be enforced by the urban authority as if it were subsidiary legislation made by that authority. [s. 121] Cap. 290 [s. 121] Cap. 290 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 700 SCHEDULE (Made under section 64(2)) FUNCTIONS WHICH URBAN AUTHORITIES MAY PERFORM (1) Provide services for the improvement of agriculture; (2) Control or prescribe the methods of husbandry in respect of any agricultural land; (3) Require the taking of measures as may be necessary for the preservation of harvested crops; (4) Suppress or control animal or insect pests or plant pests, noxious weeds or plant diseases; (5) Declare any area of land to be reserved for the purpose of reconditioning, whether by artificial measures or natural regeneration or both, or for the purpose of planting with fodder plants and prohibit, control or regulate the use of such area; (6) Provide services for the improvement of livestock; (7) Build, equip and let shops and dwelling houses; (8) Prohibit, restrict and regulate the construction, alteration, alignment and elevation of all buildings and other structures and of parts thereof, and compel the demolition, removal, repair or rendering safe of any building, structure or part thereof which, in the opinion of the authority is dangerous or unfit for occupation for structural or sanitary reasons or which otherwise constitutes a nuisance and for the doing of any such work as aforesaid at the cost of the owner or occupier and for recovering such costs; (9) Provide for building lines and the lay-out of buildings; (10) Regulate the amount of space to be allowed in and about buildings or securing the proper ventilation thereof and the free circulation of air; (11) Regulate the closing of building or parts of buildings unfit for human habitation; (12) Erect and maintain houses for occupation by such persons as the authority shall decide; (13) Make advances upon such conditions as shall be thought fit for the purpose of enabling the inhabitants of the area to build or to buy dwelling houses; (14) Prescribe the conditions to be satisfied by a site for any building or for any class buildings; (15) Prohibit the construction of any new building unless the plans thereof have been submitted to and approved by the authority; (16) Prohibit or regulate the use in any defined area of any inflammable material in the construction or repair of any building; (17) Establish, erect, equip and maintain social or welfare centres, public libraries and cinemas; rial in the construction or repair of any building; (17) Establish, erect, equip and maintain social or welfare centres, public libraries and cinemas; ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.701 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. erved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.701 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (18) Establish, erect, equip and maintain communal feeding centres and canteens for the supply of food and drink, including intoxicating liquors; (19) Make grants of money towards the establishment and maintenance of libraries and museums; (20) Acquire, hire, erect and maintain such offices and buildings as may be required for the purposes of the authority; (21) Prohibit or regulate the making of borrow pits or other excavations; (22) Require the proper conveyance, burial or cremation of deceased persons in cemeteries or otherwise; (23) Conduct funerals; (24) Establish, maintain and control burial and cremation grounds; (25) Grant sums of money towards the establishment, equipment or maintenance of schools and educational institutions; (26) Grant and maintain scholarships or bursaries to suitable inhabitants of the area to attend any school or other educational institution in Tanzania or elsewhere; (27) Provide services and prescribe steps to be taken for the prevention, control or relief of famine, including relief works, the provision of seed, the acquisition, whether by purchase or compulsory deposit, of foodstuffs for storage, the storage of such foodstuffs and the control of movement of persons, whether for the purposes of feeding them or otherwise, and any other measure necessary for the purpose; (28) Establish, maintain and control fire brigades; (29) Establish, erect, maintain and control premises for the inspection, treatment, storage, sale and distribution of articles of food; (30) Regulate or control the production and sale of milk and milk products; (31) Provide services for the purchase, processing and sale of milk and milk products; (32) Establish, maintain and regulate premises for the drying, cleaning and storing of hides and skins; (33) Regulate or control the drying, cleaning and storage of hides and skins; (34) Establish, regulate and control markets, regulate and control trade therein, construct market buildings, and let stands or plots in such matters; (35) Prohibit, regulate or control trade otherwise than at established markets; (36) Regulate and control the fixing of and collection of storages, rents and tolls in markets; (37) Take measures for the prevention and abatement of nuisances, including such as arising outside the area cause annoyance, danger or injury to health within the area; for the prevention and abatement of nuisances, including such as arising outside the area cause annoyance, danger or injury to health within the area; ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 702 (38) Secure the destruction of locusts in any stage of development; (39) Exterminate and prevent the spread of tsetse fly, mosquitoes, bugs and other insects; (40) Establish, erect, maintain and control centres for the inspection and storage of produce; (41) Regulate or control the inspection, movement and storage of produce; (42) Safeguard and promote public health including the prevention of and the dealing with any outbreak or the prevalence of any disease; (43) Control the residence and movement of persons in order to prevent or check the spread of sleeping sickness or other communicable disease; (44) Build, equip and maintain, or grant sums of money towards the establishment, equipment or maintenance of hospitals, health centres, maternity clinics, dispensaries, asylums for the aged, destitute, infirm or for orphans, or institutions for lepers; (45) Establish and operate ambulance services; (46) Establish, install, build, maintain and control drains, latrines, public lavatories, baths and wash places; (47) Establish, maintain, operate and control drainage and sewerage works; (48) Regulate the washing of clothes in public places within the area; (49) Establish, maintain and carry out service for the removal and destruction of and otherwise dealing with night soil and all kinds of refuse; (50) Establish, erect, maintain and control disinfecting stations; (51) Prohibit the possession, conveyance, handling, sale or offering for sale, and provide for the destruction when deemed necessary of diseased animals or carcasses or of any article of food or drink which is diseased or unfit for human consumption; (52) Control the movement of beggars in streets and public places; (53) Require person to carry lights during certain hours in certain places; (54) Suppress brothels and disorderly houses and take measures to prevent prostitution; (55) Provide for the return of destitute persons to their homes; (56) Prohibit, regulate and control meetings, processions, dances, beer parties and other assemblies; (57) Regulate and control public collection of money in streets and other public places within the area; (58) Prohibit, regulate and control the use of firearms; (59) Prohibit any act or conduct which in the opinion of the authority is likely to cause a riot or any disturbance or breach of the peace; (60) Prohibit, restrict, regulate or license tribal or traditional dances; (61) Establish, control and manage recreation grounds and open spaces and parks; Prohibit, restrict, regulate or license tribal or traditional dances; (61) Establish, control and manage recreation grounds and open spaces and parks; ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.703 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] (62) Erect, supply and maintain buildings and equipment for recreational purposes; (63) Establish, maintain and control camping grounds and out-pans; (64) Regulate the upkeep of parks, gardens, recreation grounds and other public places; (65) Establish, erect, maintain and control dipping tanks; (66) Purchase and operate for hire agricultural tractors machinery; (67) Operate and maintain crop processing or drying plants. control dipping tanks; (66) Purchase and operate for hire agricultural tractors machinery; (67) Operate and maintain crop processing or drying plants. (68) Establish and maintain seed farms, plant nurseries, aspiaries, fish ponds and animal at sud; (69) Establish, maintain and operate aerodromes and landing grounds; (70) Establish, erect, maintain and control public weighing machines; (71) Establish, erect, maintain and control slaughter houses; (72) Establish, erect, maintain and control laundries; (73) Establish, erect, maintain and control cold storage works; (74) Establish, maintain and control systems of lighting in public places; (75) Establish, acquire and maintain omnibus or transport services; (76) Establish, acquire and maintain ferry or boating services; (77) Provide for the registration of births, deaths and marriage within any area in which such registration is not provided for by any other law; (78) Require the notification and registration of any marriage, birth or death within the area, the notification or registration of which is not required by any other law, and appoint registration offices and registrars for such purposes; (79) Regulate and require the registration of the making of testamentary dispositions; (80) Regulate and require the registration, of transactions in immovable property; (81) Make, maintain, alter, divert and close roads, streets and roads of any specified classes, paths, culverts, street drains and water courses; (82) Make, maintain, alter and close bridges, spurares and open spaces; (83) Name and number, and alter the names and numbers of roads, streets and houses; (84) Prohibit or regulate the use of streets in the area; (85) Ensure that the owner or occupier of any land or tenements maintains, clears and keeps free from vegetation the roads or paths adjoining his land or tenements; (86) Regulate the use and lighting of bicycles and other vehicles; (87) Engage in local trading or industry; (88) Carry on any works or undertaking authorised by the Minister; lighting of bicycles and other vehicles; (87) Engage in local trading or industry; (88) Carry on any works or undertaking authorised by the Minister; ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (URBAN AUTHORITIES) ACT [CAP. 288 R.E. 2023] 704 (89) Sell or buy products resulting from the carrying on, by or on behalf of the authority of any works or undertakings which the authority is authorised to carry on; (90) Establish, provide, maintain and control public water supplies and impose water rates; (91) Prevent the pollution of water in any river, stream, water course, well or other water supply in the area, and for this purpose prohibit, regulate or control the use of such water supply; (92) Regulate or prohibit the sinking of wells and provide for the closing of wells; (93) Regulate or prohibit the construction and use of furrows; (94) Grant sums of money to any association existing for the promotion of arts and crafts or of recreation and sports or of the welfare of the inhabitants of the area; (95) Regulate or control the use of swamp or marshland; (96) Establish, erect, maintain and control public monuments; (97) Control and regulate the sitting of advertisements and hoardings; (98) Regulate the use and prevent the misuse or waste of or any interference with water, gas, oil or electric power; (99) Do all things necessary for carrying out any of the purposes of this Act which the authority is authorised to carry out or for any purpose not specifically provided for in this act which the Minister may determine to be exercise by the authority of its powers and duties under the provisions of this Act; (100) Incur all expenditure necessary for the carrying out of any of the purposes of this Act or any purpose not specially provided for in this Act which the Minister may determine to be a purpose incidental to the exercise by the authority of its powers and duties under the provisions of this Act; (101) Provide funds for meeting the expenses of courts, including the provision of court houses and other buildings and personal emoluments for the staff of such courts; (102) Engage paid labour for essential public works; (103) Require the performance of unpaid communal labour or the payment of a composition in lieu thereof within the area of the authority for purposes covered by this Schedule and not barred by and convention respecting the use of forced labour; and (104) Subject as aforesaid an authority may perform or shall perform any other functions whether similar to those enumerated in this Schedule or not, which may be specifically assigned to an authority by the Minister.
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