SG Diagrams for Sectional Title Schemes Explained

If you own or are buying a flat, a townhouse or a unit in a complex, the survey paperwork behind your property works differently from a standalone house on its own erf. A freehold house sits on a single piece of land with one SG diagram showing that erf's boundaries. A sectional title unit, by contrast, is part of a registered scheme, and the survey is captured in a sectional plan rather than a simple erf diagram. This guide explains what those documents are, what they show, and how you go about retrieving them.

Sectional plans, not a single erf diagram

When a developer establishes a sectional title scheme, a land surveyor draws up a sectional plan that is approved and filed by the Surveyor General. This plan is the cadastral survey for the whole scheme, and it covers far more than the outline of the land.

Importantly, the sectional plan remains the survey of the property — its boundaries, measurements and extent. It is not the title deed. The title deed records ownership: who holds the unit, the bond over it, and the transfer history. Those are two separate documents held by two different offices. If it is the owner, the bond or the transfer history you are after, that is a deeds question and you should use DeedsCheck instead.

What a sectional plan actually shows

A sectional plan is a multi-sheet document, and it captures the geometry of the entire scheme. Typically you will find:

• The land (the common property) — the boundaries, beacons and total extent of the erf or erven on which the scheme is built, surveyed exactly like any other cadastral parcel.
• The building footprint — where the building or buildings sit on that land, drawn to scale.
• The sections — each individual unit is numbered and drawn with its own boundaries, floor by floor, so you can see exactly which space belongs to which section.
• Floor area and participation quota — the measured size of each section, which feeds into the participation quota that determines levies and voting rights.
• Exclusive use areas — parking bays, storerooms, gardens or balconies that are reserved for a particular unit, shown and labelled on the plan even though they remain common property.

In other words, the sectional plan is the survey that defines the boundaries of your specific unit within the building, plus the survey of the land the building stands on. It is the cadastral picture of how a single block of property has been carved up into separate, individually owned sections.

Why exclusive use areas matter

One of the most common reasons people want to see the sectional plan is to confirm an exclusive use area. If a sale says the unit comes with a dedicated parking bay or a private courtyard, the sectional plan is where that allocation is drawn and identified by number. Disputes between neighbours over which bay or garden belongs to whom are usually settled by reading the plan, because the survey is the authoritative record of how the space was carved up when the scheme was registered.

Why sectional title diagrams are sourced manually on SGCheck

SGCheck is built for instant retrieval of survey diagrams on freehold properties — erf properties (urban) and farms or agricultural holdings (rural). For those, you search, see which diagrams exist for free, and download every diagram on the property as a PDF for a single R230 fee.

Sectional title is handled differently. Because a sectional scheme is captured as a multi-sheet sectional plan tied to a scheme number and unit, rather than a single erf diagram, these documents are sourced manually on request rather than through the instant search. That keeps the retrieval accurate to the exact scheme and section you need.

To request a sectional title sectional plan, get in touch through the contact page with the scheme name or number, the unit number and the town. We will source the survey documents for the scheme manually and let you know what is available.

How to find the right scheme details

Before you request a sectional plan, it helps to have a few details on hand:

• The scheme name (often printed on the complex signage or in the sale agreement).
• The scheme registration number if you have it.
• The unit or section number for your specific flat or townhouse.
• The town or suburb, which helps confirm the correct registry.

If you are not certain of the scheme details, you can still start with a free search on SGCheck for the property — and for freehold erven, farms and holdings the diagrams are available to download on the spot. For sectional units, reach out via the contact page and we will take it from there.

Frequently asked questions

Is a sectional title SG diagram the same as a title deed?

No. The sectional plan is the cadastral survey — it shows the boundaries of each section, the building footprint, floor areas and exclusive use areas. The title deed is a separate ownership record covering the owner, bonds and transfers. If you need ownership information, use DeedsCheck.

Why can't I download a sectional plan instantly like an erf diagram?

Sectional schemes are captured as multi-sheet sectional plans tied to a scheme number and unit, not as a single erf diagram. Because of that structure, SGCheck sources sectional title survey documents manually on request to make sure you get the correct scheme and section, rather than through the instant search.

What information do I need to request a sectional plan?

Ideally the scheme name or registration number, your unit or section number, and the town or suburb. Even partial details help, so get in touch through the contact page with whatever you have and we will source what is available.

Does the sectional plan show my parking bay or garden?

Yes, if those are registered as exclusive use areas. The sectional plan draws and numbers exclusive use areas such as parking bays, storerooms and private gardens, which is why it is the document people turn to when confirming what comes with a unit.