Kenya - Obtain a Construction /Building Permit

ProcedureEdit

Apply In-Person
Step 1: Obtain a survey plan from Survey Kenya

i. One is to visit the Survey of Kenya offices in the ministry of land departments to obtain a survey plan. A survey plan from Survey of Kenya is a required document when applying for a building permit.

ii. You should then proceed to request for Folio Registry number search:

You are required to provide proof of land ownership when requesting for the survey plan. One is shown the survey plan to confirm that it is the one they have requested for then issued with a payment authorization slip to go and pay for the survey plan.

iii. You are then to proceed and pay for Folio Registry number search:

You will be required to produce an authorisation of payment for this service. You will be charged Ksh 150 for the numbers search.

iv. Confirm availability of survey plan and Pay for survey plan:

After the search is done and availability confirmed. You are to pay Ksh 650 for the survey plan.

v. This process takes one day to complete.

Step 2: Obtain a project report from an environmental expert

i. Once the survey plan has been obtained, a licensed environmental expert must be hired to prepare a project report to be submitted to NEMA.

ii. The project report can take a period of 5 days to complete and costs approximately Ksh.50,000.

Step 3: Obtain approval of the environmental impact study from National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)

Following the enactment of new Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act on February 27, 2009, companies now have to obtain approval of projects from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). Projects of all risk categories are subject to approval and an environmental impact assessment (EIA).
It takes 30 days on average to get the approval. The cost is set at 0.05% of warehouse value, prior to February 11, 2009, the fee rate was 0.1% of warehouse value. It costs approximately Ksh.10, 000 for an EIA study from NEMA.

Step 4: Submit and obtain approval of the architectural plans from county council

The structural engineer submits all the structural and architectural drawings to be approved using an online platform eDevelopment Permit System . and follow the following steps

i. Register with County self-service portal

ii. Submit architectural plans

iii. Pay for permit fees

The County Council will issue an invoice that must be paid, this can take up to 2-3 weeks to be obtained.

iv. Obtain architectural plans approval notification

v. Submit architectural plans for signing

The drawings are reviewed by all relevant departments simultaneously. Once the structural and architectural drawings are approved, they will be signed on by the governor.
When all signatures have been obtained, the approved plans are scanned and uploaded in the system so that they can be retrieved by the architect.

vi. Obtain authenticated architectural plans and construction permit

The required documents to be submitted are the following:

i. The proposed development

ii. A survey plan from Survey of Kenya

iii. Ownership documents

iv. Up-to-date rates payment receipts

v. Structural plans

Building permit fee is based on the size of the building. The estimated cost is Ksh.21,000/sq. The fees are as follows:

i. Building plan approval fee: 1% of the estimated cost of construction

ii. Construction sign board fee: Ksh.25,000

iii. Application fee: Ksh.5,000

iv. Inspection of building file: Ksh.5,000

v. Occupation certificate: Ksh.5,000

It takes a period of 45 days to get the approval.

Step 5: Submit and obtain approval of the structural plans

Visit the county’s development and control and follow the following steps:

i. Submit structural plans

ii. Obtain structural plans approval notification

iii. Submit structural plans for signing

iv. Obtain authenticated structural plans

With approved drawings, construction may start while the application for a building permit is being processed.
The following documents are to submitted for approval

a) project plans,

b) architectural drawings,

c) Location survey of property documents and others.

It takes approximately one day for approval. The approval is done free of charge.

Step 6: Obtain stamps on architectural and structural plans from the Nairobi City County – Development Control Section

Once the plans have been approved, the architect must submit hard copies of the plans to be stamped by the Nairobi City County, even after submitting the documents online.
The engineer must also do the same after the architect’s plans have been stamped. The engineer does not have to wait one month like the architect to bring in the hard copies.
It takes approximately ten days for approval. The approval is done free of charge.

Step 7: Apply for project registration with the National Construction Authority (NCA

The building company then has to register the proposed construction project with the National Construction Authority (NCA) and fill a project registration form providing details of the construction work. The form Project registration form

Can be downloaded from the NCA website NCA website

It takes around a week to obtain the compliance certificate.
Upon submission of the application, the building company receives a temporary certificate that testifies the registration is under process.
The building company submits the project registration form to the authority with several documents listed below.

i. Authenticated architectural plans (original)

ii. Authenticated structural plans (original)

iii. NEMA approval (Simple copy)

iv. Bill of quantities (Simple copy)

v. contract/agreement (Simple copy) It should be duly signed by both the contractor and the client

vi. Contractor’s registration certificate (Simple copy)

vii. Quantity surveyor’s practicing certificate (Simple copy)

viii. Architect’s practicing certificate (Simple copy)

ix. Engineer’s practicing certificate (Simple copy)

The building company will then be issued with an invoice on the amount of levy it should pay the authority at selected bank accounts, which are posted on the NCA website. The levy is 0.5% of the total cost of the project (percentage applicable to projects with a value of over Ksh.5,000,000).
It takes approximately one day for approval. The approval is done free of charge.

Step 8: Receive on-site visits by NCA to check for compliance and obtain invoice

Once the application has been made, there is a site-inspection to check for compliance of the construction site against the approved plans and the NEMA clearance.
After this site inspection, the applicant will receive an invoice showing the amount to be paid.

Step 9: Submit payment receipt, obtain preliminary compliance certificate and compliance certificate

Once payment is made, then a provisional certificate of compliance, valid for 90 days, is given to the applicant. If later, there are no violations of compliance, then the final compliance certificate will be issued
It takes approximately seven days for approval.

Required DocumentsEdit

Transfer Certificate of Title
Architectural plan
structural plans
clearance application form
Civil/structural permit
Electrical permit
Mechanical permit
Sanitary permit
Plumbing permit
Electronics permit
Fire Safety Clearance
NEMA approval
Bill of quantities
contractor’s registration certificate
Quantity surveyor’s practicing certificate
Architect’s practicing certificate
Engineer’s practicing certificate
survey plan

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

National Construction Authority - Head Office
Physical address: 9th Floor, KCB Towers, Kenya Road,
Upperhill Area, Nairobi,
Postal address: P.O.Box 21046-00100
Nairobi,
Tel:+254 709 126 102/172/173 Email:[email protected] , [email protected]
Website:NCA Link

EligibilityEdit

A permit from the National Planning and Building Authority is required for private property construction, alteration or repair work on buildings within the City of Kenya.
Individuals and companies and other stakeholders must register with Kenya National Planning and Building Authority to be Eligible to invest in Construction work in Kenya.
Any company qualified under terms and conditions prescribed from time to time by the Kenya Ministry of land, housing and Urban Development is free to register for contraction, as the case may be, for general Construction, Building construction, Special Contractors or foreigners investing in Building/construction Business.
The following people/construction industries are eligible for construction/Building Permit.

i civil engineering;

ii structural engineering;

iii architecture;

iv building services;

v building surveying;

vii quantity surveying

vii construction management

FeesEdit

Request for Folio Registry number search Ksh 150
For survey plan Ksh 650
NEMA approval fees Ksh 10,000.00
Building permit fee is based on the size of the building. The estimated cost is Ksh.21,000/sq. The fees are as follows:

i. Building plan approval fee: 1% of the estimated cost of construction

ii. Construction sign board fee: Ksh.25,000

iii. Application fee: Ksh.5,000

ix. Inspection of building file: Ksh.5,000

x. Occupation certificate: Ksh.5,000

NCA levy is 0.5% of the total cost of the construction project.

ValidityEdit

The registration is valid for 1 year then a renewal is required

Documents to UseEdit

NCA project registration form : NCA project registration form

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing TimeEdit

It takes a period of up to 90 days to get the final building permit.

InstructionsEdit

The instructions for obtaining a construction permit are follows

Obtain a Survey Plan from Survey of Kenya. This usually takes one day to complete.
Obtain a project report from an environmental expert and submit to National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) – 5 days
Obtain approval of the environmental impact study from NEMA
Submit and obtain approval of the Architectural Plans – Up to 45 days. The structural engineer submits all the structural and architectural drawings to be approved using an online platform eDevelopment Permit System .
The following documents are required for submission:

i. The proposed development;

ii. A survey plan from Survey of Kenya;

iii. Ownership documents

iv. Up-to-date rates payment receipts.

v. Structural plans

The fees are as follows:

i. Building plan approval fee: 1% of the estimated cost of construction

ii. Construction sign board fee: KES 25,000

iii. Application fee: KES 5,000

iv. Inspection of building fee: KES 5,000

v. Occupation certificate: KES 5,000
Submit and obtain approval of the structural plans. – 10 days
Obtain stamps on architectural and structural plans from the Nairobi City County – Development Control Section.- 1 day
Apply and receive the Project Registration Certificate from the National Construction Authority (NCA) – 7 days or Less

The following documents must be provided for the registration application

i. Authenticated architectural plans (original)

ii. Authenticated structural plans (original)

iii. NEMA approval (Simple copy)

iv. Bill of quantities (Simple copy)

v. Contract/agreement (Simple copy) It should be duly signed by both the contractor and the client

vi. Contractor’s registration certificate (Simple copy)

vii. Quantity surveyor’s practicing certificate (Simple copy)

viii. Architect’s practicing certificate (Simple copy)

ix. Engineer’s practicing certificate (Simple copy)
Notify the County Council of commencement of work and request and receive set out inspection – 1 day

Required InformationEdit

Name of Owner
Contact Address
Type of Occupancy
structural permit
Application for Final Inspection Form.
Form for Connection of New Premises (Water and Sewerage).
Occupancy Certificate Process Card.
Supporting Documents
site map

Need for the DocumentEdit

Building permits are mainly about safety. By enforcing construction standards, they give you and the other occupants of the building the best chance to avoid fire, structural failure or something as simple as a child getting his head caught between stair posts.
If you decide to move, the permit process also protects future owners.

Information which might helpEdit

On June 27, 2013 the Nairobi City County adopted the new Financial Act 2013 which became effective as of October 1, 2013. The Act modified the method of assessing the building permit fees and consolidated several costs into one. The building permit fee is now based on the size of the building. The Joint Building Council Rates provide the estimated cost per square meter which varies depending on the type of building (e.g. office block, residential, industrial complex, etc.).

External LinksEdit

Guideline of time, cost and procedures for dealing with construction permits in Kenya: Guideline of construction permits in Kenya

Nairobi Development Permit System : Nairobi Development Permit System

OthersEdit

Any site plan shall fully and clearly contain the following information, where applicable:-

the dimensions, of the site on which the building is to be erected;
the boundaries of such site;
the dimensioned position of any building line and;
the position and width of any servitude or right of way to which such site is subject;
the registered number or other designation of such site and of the immediate neighbouring sites;
the direction of true north, and if required by The Authority, the natural ground contours at suitable vertical intervals or spot levels at each corner of such site;
the name of the street upon which such site abuts;
the location
any municipal service and any connection point thereto;
any drain, storm water drain, or surface channel existing-upon such site;
Any building designed and constructed with the principles and norms of good building practice should comply with the Regulations Kenya National Planning and Building Authority
Applicant subjected to future evaluation by relevant division/ department/Authority
Entities that fail to meet complete the stated requirements are not be able to conduct business of construction until they perform the necessary activity.
Foreigner’s investor is only allowed general Construction, Building construction, Road construction and special construction.