Obtain a survey plan from Survey Kenya
Agency: Survey Kenya
A survey plan from Survey of Kenya is a required document when applying for a building permit.
Time and cost: 1 day, KES 500
Obtain a project report from an environmental expert
Agency: Private Expert
Once the survey plan has been obtained, a licensed environmental expert must be hired to prepare a project report to be submitted to NEMA.
Time and cost: 5 days, KES 50,000
Obtain approval of the environmental impact study
Agency: 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. Projects of all risk categories are subject to approval and an environmental impact assessment (EIA), including the BuildCo warehouse. It takes 30 days on average. EIA fees has been eliminated effective from January 2017
Time and cost: 30 days, KES 10,000
Submit and obtain approval of the architectural plans
Agency: Nairobi City County – Development Control Section
The structural engineer submits all the structural and architectural drawings to be approved using an online platform https://ccn-ecp.or.ke/. The required documents to be submitted are the following:
- The proposed development;
- A survey plan from Survey of Kenya;
- Ownership documents
- Up-to-date rates payment receipts.
- Structural plans
The City Council will issue an invoice that must be paid, this can take up to 2 – 3 weeks to be obtained. 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 of Nairobi. 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.
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.).
For the Doing Business case study, the estimated cost is KES 21,000 / sq. m.
The fees are as follows:
- Building plan approval fee: 1% of the estimated cost of construction
- Construction sign board fee: KES 25,000
- Application fee: KES 5,000
- Inspection of building file: KES 5,000
- Occupation certificate: KES 5,000
Time and cost: 45 days, KES 166,563
Submit and obtain approval of the structural plans
Agency: Nairobi City County – Development Control Section
When construction is about to commence, the Contractor will apply for a construction permit. However, with approved drawings construction may start while the application for a building permit is being processed.
BuildCo must have the following items approved: project plans, architectural drawings, location survey of property documents and others.
Time and cost: 10 days, no charge
Obtain stamps on architectural and structural plans from the Nairobi City County – Development Control Section
Agency: 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.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Apply and received the Project Registration Certificate from the National Construction Authority (NCA)
Agency: National Construction Authority (NCA)
BuildCo 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 (that can be downloaded from the NCA website since 2012, www.nca.go.ke). This is line with the adoption of the National Construction Authority Regulations (2014) that mandate contractors to register their construction projects and obtain compliance certificate from NCA before construction. It takes around a week to obtain the compliance certificate. Upon submission of the application, BuildCo receives a temporary certificate that testifies the registration is under process.
Most of the time, construction companies start building just after submission at NCA without waiting to receive the compliance certificate as they should be doing. NCA conducts periodic inspections during the construction looking for registration certificates and structural flaws. NCA ensures that the safety of the workers on site and the general public is respected.
BuildCo submits the project registration form to the authority with several documents listed below. BuildCo is 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 KES 5,000,000).
The following documents must be provided for the registration application
- Authenticated architectural plans (original)
- Authenticated structural plans (original)
- Nema approval (Simple copy)
- Bill of quantities (Simple copy)
- contract/agreement (Simple copy) It should be duly signed by both the contractor and the client
- Contractor’s registration certificate (Simple copy)
- Quantity surveyor’s practicing certificate (Simple copy)
- Architect’s practicing certificate (Simple copy)
- Engineer’s practicing certificate (Simple copy)
Time and cost: 7 days, no charge
Notify the Nairobi City Council of commencement of work
Agency: Nairobi City Council
According to the Planning and Building Regulations 2009 – Volume I – Section A – 101, AA 54, BuildCo must complete a form to notify the Nairobi City Council of the commencement of work.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request and receive set out inspection
Agency: Nairobi City County – Development Control Section
According to the Planning and Building Regulations 2009 – Volume I – A – 102, AA 55, BuildCo must complete a form and request an inspection from the Building Control Section.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request and receive foundation excavation inspection
Agency: Nairobi City County – Development Control Section
According to the Planning and Building Regulations 2009 – Volume I – Section A – 103, AA 56, the Development Control Section of the Nairobi City Council must be informed that the foundation / excavation is complete and request an inspection by completing a form and submitted it.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Apply for permit to connect to the city sewage system
Agency: Nairobi City County – Development Control Section
According to the Planning and Building Regulations 2009 – Volume 1, Section A – 110, AA 63, a permit to connect to the City sewage system. It will take about a week to obtain the permission.
Time and cost: 7 days, KES 7,500
Request and receive final inspection by the Municipal Authority after construction
Agency: Nairobi City County – Development Control Section
Once the construction is completed alongside statutory inspections, BuildCo applies for an occupancy certificate. The Structural engineer will file a form AA65, according to the Planning and Building Regulations 2009, certifying that the “that the structural work of the building mentioned below has been carried out as per my structural design and details and that the said structure is safe and stable for the purpose for which it is intended”.
This certificate is issued to completed developments that have complied to all approval conditions and have undergone the regular inspections at the required stages. The application has to be accompanied by:Copy of approved building plans; Copy of approved structural plans; Structural Engineer’s indemnity form; Architect’s report; Plumbers certificate; and Kenya Bureau of Statistics form duly filled.
The occupancy certificate is given when the City Council deems the building is in compliance with the approved architectural drawings.
The application is then forwarded to the Assistant Director Enforcement so that an inspector is assigned for the final inspection of the construction. Normally it should be a combined visit from several other departments.
Time and cost: 5 days, no charge
Obtain occupancy certificate
Agency: Nairobi City County – Development Control Section
Time and cost: 14 days, no charge
Apply for water connection
Agency: Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NairobiWater)
BuildCo is required to submit an “application for water and sewerage supply form” obtained from the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company. Afterwards, BuildCo is required to pay KES 5000 for a survey and estimate of fees and attach the receipt of payment to the application form. BuildCo must also attach the company’s certificate of registration and its PIN number. The Nairobi Water Company may approve the application after all these documents have been submitted.
Two to three weeks after the application has been received Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company will send a team to assess the connection cost.
The final connection will be made once payment of the estimated connection cost has been paid and this will take about 2 – 3 weeks to be done.
Time and cost: 1 day, KES 5,000
Receive inspection for assessment of connection fees
Agency: Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NairobiWater)
Once an application has been submitted by BuildCo, an inspector will visit the property to make a cost assessment for labor and materials for the connection. This inspection will happen in about 2 – 3 weeks.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain water connection
Agency: Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NairobiWater)
Time and cost: 30 days, no charge
