Homeowners and property developers seeking to construct permanent buildings in Nairobi will now pay new building plan approval fees under changes contained in the Nairobi City County Tariffs and Pricing Policy 2025–2030.
The new framework introduces a standardized, area-based tariff for approving building plans, with charges set to vary depending on the size, type and complexity of a development.
According to the policy, the county will charge a fee for approving building plans for all permanent structures within its jurisdiction as part of efforts to improve development control and ensure orderly urban growth.
“The County shall apply a standardized, area-based fee structure for building plan approvals, reflecting development size and complexity, with provisions for waivers or discounts for low-income, public interest, and pro-poor projects,” reads part of the policy.
The county says the approval fees will help uphold building codes, physical planning requirements and conditions imposed by approving authorities.
They will also be used to ensure buildings comply with safety standards for occupants, enforce the county’s spatial plan, support planning for infrastructure such as drainage, sewerage and power, and mobilize resources for service delivery.
Nairobi County Unveils New Building Plan Approval Fee Formula for Homeowners and Developers
Under the new policy, Nairobi County will adopt a standardized fee structure for building plan approvals, with provisions allowing waivers or discounts for low-income housing projects, developments undertaken in the public interest and other pro-poor projects.
In determining the amount payable, the county will classify developments into residential, commercial and industrial categories. The tariff will also take into account the cost of providing services related to building plan approvals.
The policy states that these services include preparing and implementing the county’s spatial plan, maintaining road access, and carrying out inspections during the approval process.
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To recover the cost of these services, the county will consider both direct and indirect expenses.
Direct costs include implementing the spatial plan, inspectorate staff salaries, and inspection equipment used to review developments and monitor compliance.
Indirect costs include administrative expenses, road maintenance costs, and the cost of processing building plan approvals.
The policy notes that these parameters may not be the only factors used in determining the final approval charges.
How Nairobi Will Calculate Building Permit Fee
At the same time, it outlines how the county intends to calculate building permit fees.
The building plan approval fee will cover the cost of plans and inspections required for building permits, with the county using the average annual cost of providing these services over the previous three years as the basis for setting the tariffs.
At the same time, permit charges will be based on the total cost of plans and inspections, derived from both direct and indirect service delivery costs.
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This means developers applying for building permits will pay fees that reflect the cost of reviewing architectural and structural plans, carrying out site inspections, processing applications, and enforcing compliance with planning and building regulations.
The new framework changes how Nairobi County determines the cost of obtaining building plan approvals and permits, with homeowners and developers paying charges based on the nature, size, and complexity of their projects.
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