Every development in Kenya requires county approval before a single brick is laid. Cadreatech prepares your complete regulatory drawing package — architectural, structural, fire safety, MEP, and compliance documents — under one coordinated submission.
Start Your Approval Package →Why this matters
Building without county approval in Kenya is illegal — and costly
Construction approvals in Kenya are not optional. Under Section 29 of the Physical Planning Act and the Physical and Land Use Planning (PLUPA) Act 2019, no person may carry out any development without a valid permit from their county government. Therefore, structures built without approval can be stopped, fined, or demolished — regardless of how much has already been spent.
The wider consequences of unapproved construction
Beyond the legal risk, unapproved buildings cannot connect to electricity, water, or sewerage systems. In addition, banks and SACCOs will not finance projects without stamped drawings. Consequently, once you want to sell or transfer the property, missing approvals become a title problem that can hold up transactions for years.
The good news is that the approval process is entirely manageable. With the right documentation prepared correctly the first time, delays are avoidable. That is exactly what Cadreatech does for you.
“Our multidisciplinary structure simplifies the process because we provide architectural, structural, and MEP submissions under one coordinated package — the county only needs to deal with one firm.”
Cadreatech serves clients across residential, commercial, institutional, and government projects in all 47 counties. See our completed projects portfolio.
The complete package
What goes into a county-compliant drawing set
County physical planning departments review far more than a floor plan. As a result, Cadreatech’s architectural team prepares every drawing and document required for a successful, first-pass submission.
Shows plot boundaries, setbacks, access roads, north point, and relationship to neighbouring properties. Based on your Survey of Kenya Registry Index Map (RIM).
Detailed layout of every level — room sizes, door and window positions, circulation routes, and functional zones — at the scale required by each county.
External elevation drawings showing building heights, fenestration, materials, and finishes from every side. Required by every county planning department.
Vertical cuts through the building showing floor-to-ceiling heights, structural elements, stair geometry, and roof pitch. Essential for structural plan coordination.
Fire escape routes, extinguisher locations, emergency signage, compartmentalisation, and compliance with Kenya’s Fire Risk Reduction Rules for county Fire Department review.
Foundation layout, reinforcement schedules, beam and column details, and concrete mix specifications — prepared by our ERB-registered structural engineering team.
Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing layouts for the county’s Energy, Water, and Public Health departments. Our MEP engineers prepare these as part of the same submission.
Sewer connection or septic tank design depending on county requirements. Includes stormwater handling, soakpits, and full public health compliance documentation.
Room finishes schedule, door and window schedules, indemnity forms signed by the architect and structural engineer, and any county-specific compliance statements.
Step by step
How the county approval process works in Kenya
The approval route differs slightly between counties. Nairobi, Kiambu, and Mombasa use the electronic eDAMS (e-Development Application Management System) platform, while many other counties still process applications manually. Cadreatech handles both routes.
Architectural drawings — County Physical Planning
Your BORAQS-registered architect submits architectural drawings to the county’s Physical Planning Department. In eDAMS counties, this happens online. Drawings go through sub-departments covering roads, fire, water, power, and public health.
All departments must assent before an approval notice is issued. After that, the architect prints blue-copy sets and takes them to county offices for official stamping.
Structural drawings — Civil & Structural Engineering Department
Once architectural drawings are stamped, the ERB-registered structural engineer submits structural drawings, design calculation sheets, and an indemnity form.
In eDAMS counties, the architect opens the project portal and adds the structural engineer, who then uploads their drawings for county review. Fees are based on the project’s square metreage and development type.
NEMA Environmental Impact Assessment
Projects with potential environmental impact — including most commercial developments, estates, and industrial facilities — require EIA clearance from NEMA under the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA).
A licensed NEMA expert conducts the study, writes the EIA report, and submits it through the eCitizen NEMA portal. For low-risk residential projects, however, a simplified Summary Project Report may suffice.
NCA project registration — National Construction Authority
All projects valued above KES 5 million must register with the NCA. Your contractor submits the registration form together with approved drawings, the NEMA certificate, a Bills of Quantities summary, and signed contract documents.
After registration, the NCA conducts periodic site inspections. If inspectors find non-compliance, your site can be shut down. Learn more in our article on construction approvals in Kenya.
Construction permit issued — proceed to site
Once all approvals are in place, the county issues your Construction Permit, valid for 2–3 years. Construction may then commence.
Counties conduct periodic inspections during the build. Deviating from approved drawings can trigger stop-orders or require expensive re-approval. Cadreatech’s construction supervision team can monitor compliance throughout.
Occupancy Certificate — upon project completion
When construction is complete, you apply for a final county inspection — typically within 5 days. If the building conforms to all approved drawings, the county issues an Occupancy Certificate.
This document legally permits the building to be inhabited, sold, or used commercially. Without it, your development remains unapproved in the eyes of the law — regardless of its physical condition.
Regulatory landscape
The four authorities that govern building approvals in Kenya
Understanding who issues what is critical. Cadreatech coordinates with all four bodies on your behalf.
County Government — Physical Planning Department
Issues the building permit and Construction Permit. Reviews drawings for compliance with county bylaws, zoning regulations, the PLUPA Act 2019, Kenya’s Building Code, and the National Building Code 2024. Timelines are typically 30–90 days for straightforward applications.
NEMA — National Environment Management Authority
Issues EIA licences under EMCA (Cap. 387). Required for commercial projects, industrial facilities, and large housing estates. Applications go through the eCitizen NEMA portal. Low-risk residential projects may qualify for a simplified Summary Project Report.
NCA — National Construction Authority
Formed under the NCA Act 2011 to regulate contractors. All projects above KES 5 million must register. The NCA conducts site inspections and can issue stop-orders. Contractors must therefore hold valid NCA registration. Details at nca.go.ke.
BORAQS & ERB — Professional Registration Bodies
BORAQS licenses architects and QSs under Cap 525. The Engineers Regulatory Board (ERB) licenses structural engineers. Consequently, only professionals registered with these bodies may submit drawings for county approval.
Our advantage
Why a single coordinated package saves you time and money
Most developers work with separate architectural, structural, and MEP consultants who submit independently. As a result, coordination gaps appear, drawings conflict, and counties raise multiple queries. Cadreatech’s multidisciplinary structure eliminates this problem entirely.
| Factor | Separate consultants | Cadreatech (one package) |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing coordination | Each consultant works independently — conflicts appear at county review | All drawings coordinated internally before submission |
| Submission sequencing | Architectural delays hold up structural; structural delays hold up NCA | Integrated timeline — all sets progress together |
| County queries | Multiple points of contact; conflicting responses from different firms | One project manager handles all county correspondence |
| NEMA & NCA | Developer must coordinate separately with each body | Cadreatech manages NEMA EIA and NCA registration coordination |
| Revision cycles | Changes to architectural drawings require separate structural revisions — double billing | Internal revision loops — one revision fee covers all disciplines |
| Accountability | Blame-shifting between firms when approvals are delayed or rejected | Single point of responsibility from brief to stamped drawings |
Listen & learn
Going deeper on construction approvals
We covered this topic in detail in our engineering blog and on the Cadreatech podcast. Both resources break down what developers frequently get wrong — and how to avoid costly mistakes in the approval process.
Cadreatech Podcast
Construction Approvals in Kenya — what developers get wrong
A frank conversation with our team on the most common approval mistakes, how counties differ, and why first-time rejections are almost always avoidable with the right preparation.
▶ Watch the podcastFor a written deep-dive, read our full article: Construction Approvals in Kenya: County, NCA & NEMA Permits — covering the step-by-step process, document checklists, and fee guidance for major counties.
Frequently asked questions
What developers ask us most
How long does county approval take in Kenya?
Timelines vary by county and project type. In straightforward residential applications in eDAMS counties such as Nairobi, Kiambu, and Mombasa, approvals typically take 30–90 days once complete documentation is submitted.
Complex commercial projects requiring multiple departmental sign-offs, NEMA clearance, or fire department review can, however, take 3–6 months. Working with an experienced firm that gets submissions right the first time is therefore the biggest factor in reducing this timeline.
Can I start construction while waiting for approvals?
In some counties, construction may begin once architectural drawings are stamped — even while the formal Construction Permit is still being processed. However, this varies by county. Some require the full permit before any works commence.
Starting without any approval at all risks demolition orders and fines. As a result, we always advise clients to confirm their county’s position before breaking ground.
Does every building need a NEMA EIA?
No. NEMA clearance is primarily required for commercial developments, industrial facilities, large housing estates, and projects in environmentally sensitive areas. Small residential projects typically do not require a full EIA.
That said, some counties may still require a Summary Project Report. Our team will advise based on your specific project scope and location.
What happens if my drawings are rejected by the county?
The county planner communicates specific areas of non-compliance. Common reasons include setback violations, insufficient fire escape provision, missing engineer’s stamps, or drawings that do not match local zoning restrictions.
Cadreatech prepares drawings to avoid first-pass rejections. Furthermore, if the county requests revisions, we handle them at no additional charge within normal scope.
How are approval fees calculated?
Most counties charge 1% of the estimated construction cost as the building plan approval fee, plus smaller fees for structural review, signboards, and inspection visits.
For example, Nairobi charges a percentage of construction value, while other counties apply fixed rates based on floor area. Cadreatech provides a fee estimate for your specific county during project onboarding.
What is eDAMS and does my county use it?
eDAMS is Kenya’s online platform for submitting building plans to county governments. Nairobi, Kiambu, and Mombasa have fully implemented it, allowing architects and engineers to submit, pay, and track applications digitally.
Many other counties, however, still operate a manual submission process. Our team manages both routes. See the AAK BuildHub for county-specific guidance.
Can Cadreatech handle approvals outside Nairobi?
Yes. We serve clients across all 47 counties — including Kiambu, Machakos, Nakuru, Kisumu, Mombasa, and Eldoret (Uasin Gishu).
County-specific requirements — setbacks, zoning rules, fee structures — are researched as part of every project brief, so nothing is assumed from one county to the next.
Explore further
Related services & resources
County approval is one step in the broader construction process. Here is what else Cadreatech can help with.
Ready to get your drawings approved?
Send us your project brief and we will prepare a coordinated county approval package — architectural, structural, and MEP — designed to pass first time.
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