No fuel stations in residential zones as ministry tightens planning rules

Fuel station

By Staff Reporter — Harare, Zimbabwe

The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has announced stricter controls on fuel service stations in urban areas and introduced an expedited waiver process for land‑use changes, Chief Director of Spatial Planning and Development Shingirai Mushamba told the SundayMail. Under the new rules, fuel stations will no longer be permitted in residential zones unless they form part of approved shopping centres, and all stations must meet statutory buffer requirements and include road widening or turning lanes in site plans.

Shingirai Mushamba: “Fuel stations must comply with statutory buffer requirements and include road widening or turning lanes to manage traffic.”

New planning rules for fuel stations and traffic management

The ministry said the measures are intended to protect residents and motorists by reducing safety risks and traffic congestion near fuel outlets. Developers seeking to establish service stations must:

• Locate stations only within approved commercial centres or zones that permit such use.

• Comply with statutory buffer distances from surrounding properties to reduce fire and safety risks.

• Incorporate road widening or turning lanes into site designs to manage traffic flow and lower accident risk.

Mushamba said the regulation protects both motorists and nearby residents and will be enforced through local planning controls.

Expedited waiver process for land‑use changes

An expedited waiver process for land‑use changes will take effect on 10 February 2026. The reform shifts the initial processing of applications to local councils, allowing developers to submit requests directly to councils rather than routing them through central ministry offices. Under the new workflow:

• Local councils will compile weekly reports of land‑use change applications.

• Provincial deputy directors will review consolidated council reports and forward recommendations to the Permanent Secretary for final authorisation.

• The process is designed to speed up the early stages of approvals while retaining provincial and central oversight for final decisions.

Monitoring enforcement and compliance

Mushamba said compliance will be monitored through regular quarterly updates from local councils. Any breaches will be addressed through coordinated action across council departments, with support from the Zimbabwe Republic Police where necessary. The ministry emphasised that the reforms aim to balance planning discipline with flexibility for approved projects.

What this means for developers and residents

Developers should review site plans to ensure buffer zones and traffic mitigation measures are included before submitting applications to local councils. Residents can expect stricter enforcement of planning rules around fuel outlets and faster processing of land‑use change requests, though final approvals will still require provincial and central sign‑off.

fuel stations, residential zones, Harare