How to Obtain a Certificate of Occupancy in Kenya

Certificate of occupancy is a legal document usually issued by your local government agency or the housing/building department declaring a building’s compliance with relevant building codes and other laws, and indicating it to be in a condition suitable for human habitation.

You may find a certificate of occupancy necessary when you need to sale or take a mortgage on a house as well as when you need to occupy for everyday living , when say you have done your own construction.

The Procedure 

Step One

The process starts with a visit to the land use and administration committee (LAC). The applicant need to buy a form from this office or from other field offices in the districts.

A complete application form should be returned accompanied with

• The root of title to the subject parcel of land
• Three copies of the survey plan
• Your tax clearance certificate for three years or evidence of being domiciled outside Kenya
• There copies of your passport photographs
• Official receipt for the application fee of Ksh.50. (Residential) land use) or Ksh.2, 000 for (Commercial land use).
• Your telephone number and or your email address
• Fees for advertising on the Kenyan observer paid directly to the Land Use and Administration committee of the Ministry`

Step Two

After advertising the application on the Kenya Observer in sets and allowing room for objection to the grant of the certificate of occupancy. The second step is collection of letter of offer of allocation in case there is no objection in 21 days’ time.

Step Three

The third step is paying for the allocated land within ninety days. Once payment is done the certificate of occupancy will be readied and sent to Authority of the county for endorsement. The document is then sent to the Kenya Revenue office for stamp duty stamping.