Starting construction in Nairobi or Kiambu without statutory county approval is the fastest way to get your site shut down by county enforcement officers or the National Construction Authority (NCA). Both counties now mandate 100% digital submission through online development portals. Here is the step-by-step roadmap to getting your residential building plans approved smoothly in 2026.
The digital submission platforms
- Nairobi City County — e-Development Permit System (e-DPS) / Nairobi e-Construction portal.
- Kiambu County — Electronic Development Application Management System (EDAMS).
- Machakos & Kajiado Counties — Physical Planning & Lands Department desk submission and growing digital pilot desks.
The mandatory statutory document bundle
An application is only deemed complete when the following statutory documents are uploaded simultaneously:
- Proof of land ownership — Certified copy of Title Deed or Certificate of Lease, plus an official Land Registry Search (issued within the last 3 months), and an official Survey Deed Plan / Mutation.
- Architectural drawing set (BORAQS Stamped) — Site layout plan, dimensioned floor plans, 4 external elevations, minimum 2 cross-sections, roof drainage plan, and door/window schedules. Must bear the physical/digital seal and registration number of a BORAQS-registered architect of record.
- Structural engineering package (EBK Stamped) — Foundation layout, column/beam schedules, suspended slab reinforcement details, staircase calculations, and structural engineer’s indemnity form signed by an EBK-registered engineer.
- Land rates clearance certificate — Current financial year county land rates clearance receipt from the county revenue department.
- NEMA Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) license — Required for multi-dwelling, commercial, or sensitive riparian zone developments (standard single-family residential homes often qualify for fast-track exemption summaries).
How county approval fees are calculated
County fees are computed mathematically based on total plinth area (gross square metres across all storeys) and building classification:
In Nairobi and Kiambu, residential building fees generally average between KES 30 and KES 60 per square metre, plus statutory processing levies (building inspection fee, occupation certificate fee, and signboard levy). For example, a 229 m² maisonette attracts county submission fees of roughly KES 25,000 – KES 45,000.
Top five reasons county officers reject plans
- Boundary setback violations — Enclosed rooms drawn inside the statutory 6.0 m front road reserve or 1.5–3.0 m side boundary setbacks.
- Exceeding plot coverage limits — Footprint exceeding 60% in Nairobi or 50% in Kiambu/Kajiado.
- Habitable rooms without direct external light — Bedrooms or living rooms ventilated only through adjacent corridors or internal lightwells (violating NCA Residential Guidelines §H.8).
- Septic tank positioned too close to boundaries — Violating the mandatory 3.0 m public health clearance standoff.
- Unstamped or draftsperson drawings — Submissions lacking verifiable BORAQS architect registration credentials.
How Chimbuko streamlines your approval
Every Chimbuko plan is generated directly against Kenyan county residential codes before export. When you order our Stamped Set (KES 29,500), your drawing package is reviewed, verified, and stamped by a registered BORAQS architect, providing you with submission-ready PDFs, CAD DXF files, and printed sets ready for uploading to Nairobi e-DPS or Kiambu EDAMS.