KENYATTA UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN

ARC 403
BUILDING LAW

NAME
ARNOLD OTIENO OCHIENG
ADM N.O
B11/0529/2018
Outline the procedures from start to finish involved to obtain an Occupation certificate in
Kenya, and the required documents for obtaining the same.

The process to obtain a certificate of occupancy varies depending on the building or

structure in question. It is the responsibility of the developer to obtain the certificate of
occupation, once the project has been completed.

A. Documents Required to Obtain an Occupation Certificate in Kenya

 Copy of the title deed

 Duly signed application Form
 Duly signed Statistical Form (2 copies)
 Copy of plumber’s Certificate
 Copy of current practising certificate (architect)
 Copy of current practising certificate (engineer)
 Letters of supervision by both architect & engineer
 Cube test results
 Photos of the completed building (external and some internal rooms)
 Duly signed indemnity forms
 Evidence of official payment for the occupation certificate (payment receipt for
occupation certificate
 Copies of Approved architectural and structural plans
 Current rates receipt/ exception letter
 Change of user/ amalgamation certificate
B. Procedures to Obtain an Occupation Certificate in Kenya:

The procedure for obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in Kenya shown in this

procedure below as the official process as described by the Republic government of
Kenya.

Step I
The Applicant should purchase a form from the Land use and Administration Committee
(LAC) or Obtain application form (hard copy) from the Ministry, (Land Use and Allocation
Section) or any of its field offices in other districts. After filling the form submit the
application pack to the Land Use Administration committee (LAC) and collect an
acknowledgement slip as evidence of payment.

Complete the application form (hard copy or online) and return same accompanied with;

a) Your root of title to the subject parcel of land

b) Your survey plan (3 copies required)
c) Your tax clearance certificate (covering the past 3 years) or evidence of being
domiciled abroad where applicable;
d) Passport photographs (3 copies required)
e) Official receipt for application fees of Ksh.50 (Residential) land use) or Ksh. 2,000
for (Commercial land use).
f) Advert fees on the Kenya Observer payable directly to the Land Use and
Administration committee of the Ministry, and
g) Your cell phone contact and e-mail addresses where applicable.

Step II
Collect the letter of offer of allocation after you have Advertised your application (in
batches) this is made on the Kenya Observer to give room for objections (if any) to the
grant of Certificate of Occupancy.

If no objection is received within 21 days statutory waiting period, your application will be
processed by the relevant departments of the Ministry;
Step III
Pay for the Allocated land in the period of not less than 90 days. On payment of the
prescribed fees, your Certificate of Occupancy will be prepared and forwarded to
Authority of the Municipality for endorsement.

On return of your Certificate of Occupancy from the Municipality, it will be sent for
stamp duties stamping.

Step IV
The letter of confirmation is issued to the applicant with a plot and block Number.

Step V
The Scheme Officer will now begin to processes the application for the Certificate of
Occupancy, signs off on the file and forwards the files to Executive Secretary of Land Use
Administration committee. (LAC) within - 5 Days.

Step VI
The Surveyor General provides Scheme Officer with digitized survey copy and this is
done in - 2 Days

Step VII
Executive Secretary to Land Use Administration committee (LAC) will then approves
processing and signs a letter of allocation. Executive Secretary for Land Use Allocation
Commission signs off on the file and sends the file to the Senior Special Assistant to His
Excellency, Lands this done within - 2 Days

Step VIII
The Senior Special Assistant, Lands vets the entire file and sends it with a covering memo
to the Permanent Secretary Lands Bureau (PS Lands) - 2 Days
Should the file have a query, the message is relayed back by notification for correction of
the query.

Step IX
The Permanent Secretary Lands Bureau (PS), Lands signs off on the memo and sends the
file to His Excellency with a period of - 2 Days

Step X
The Deputy Registrar processes the file further, signs off and sends it to Registrar of
Titles for final registration -with a period of 2 Days

The Registrar of Titles registers the Certificate of Occupancy, signs off and request for
printing of Certificate of Occupancy - 1 Day
Thereafter it is registered in the Lands Registry of the Ministry and you can then sign,
and collect your Certificate of Occupancy duly signed and registered.

This process adds up to a total of 21 days of processing all the required documents.