The Urban Planning Act

A village settlement qualifies as a trading centre only if it has the listed basic services.

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Jurisdiction: Tanzania
Instrument: Act or statute
Citation: The Urban Planning Act
Version: Undated source snapshot
Language: en
Official source: View official record ↗

budget capacity city designation employment composition local services municipal classification municipal status population threshold population thresholds public services service availability service standards settlement classification town qualification township classification

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A village settlement qualifies as a trading centre only if it has the listed basic services. A minor settlement trading centre can qualify as a township only if it meets the listed population and service criteria. A township qualifies as a town only if it meets the stated population, self-sustenance, and service requirements. A place qualifies as a municipality only if it meets the stated population, employment, budget, and service-center criteria. A municipality may be designated as a city if it meets the stated qualifications, and the National Assembly has the power to grant city status.

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Provisions of The Urban Planning Act

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1
Short title
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AI-assisted research summary: A village settlement qualifies as a trading centre only if it has the listed basic services.

1. Minor Settlement (Trading Centre): A Minor Settlement (Trading Centre) (Minor Settlements Act, Act No. 33 of 1931). Some villages act as trading centre according to the level 742 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE URBAN PLANNING ACT [CAP. 355 R.E. 2023] of services available. In order to qualify for a trading centre a village settlement shall have at least the following services: (a) 5 retail shops and a market place; (b) a primary school; (c) a dispensary; and (d) a post office.
2
Interpretation
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AI-assisted research summary: A minor settlement trading centre can qualify as a township only if it meets the listed population and service criteria.

2. Township: (a) Minimum Population: 10,000 people; (b) Level of services: In order to qualify for township a minor settlement trading centre shall have at least the following services: (i) health centre; (ii) secondary school; (iii) 20 licensed retail shops and a market place; (iv) primary court; and (v) it should be either a ward or division headquarters. * District administrative centres may be classified as townships provided they meet the above criteria mentioned in number 2.
3
Fundamental principles of urban planning
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AI-assisted research summary: A township qualifies as a town only if it meets the stated population, self-sustenance, and service requirements.

3. Town: (a) Minimum Population: 30,000 people; (b) self-sustenance: At least 50% of the annual budget; (c) Level of Services: In order to qualify for a town, a township shall have at least the following services: (i) hospital; (ii) secondary school; (iii) at least 50 licensed shops; (iv) police station; and (v) divisional headquarters.
4
Objectives of urban planning
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AI-assisted research summary: A place qualifies as a municipality only if it meets the stated population, employment, budget, and service-center criteria.

4. Municipality: (a) Minimum Population: 100,000 people; (b) Economic Base: At least 30% percent of employment should be in the non-agricultural sector. It must have, also, at least one manufacturing industry and several small scale industries; (c) Self Sustenance: At least 70% percent of annual budget; and (d) Services: It should be a centre for higher order of services, cultural, educational and health facilities which serve an area beyond the administrative region including universities, a referral hospital and international conference facilities. It should have, also, administrative importance of regional or national administration or centre of multinational organisation(s).
5
Responsibilities of Minister
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AI-assisted research summary: A municipality may be designated as a city if it meets the stated qualifications, and the National Assembly has the power to grant city status.

5. City: (a) Minimum Population: 500,000 people; (b) Self sustenance: At least 95% of annual budget; 743 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG. THE URBAN PLANNING ACT [CAP. 355 R.E. 2023] (c) any Municipality can be designated as a city if it has some symbolic importance in addition to the normal qualifications of a municipality, these shall include- (i) historical significance; (ii) outstanding cultural importance such as a major tourist centre; (iii) the seat of regional government; (iv) the seat of international activities; and (v) any other symbolic value. * The power to bestow a municipality the status of a city shall be vested in the National Assembly.
6
Appointment and responsibilities of Director
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AI-assisted research summary: A mega city must have at least 4,000,000 people and must also surpass all requirements of a city state.

6. Mega city: (a) Minimum Population: 4,000,000 people; and (b) Self Sustenance: In addition, it must surpass all requirements of a city state. 744 ©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.

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The Urban Planning Act

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