NCA project registration in Kenya: who applies, when, and what you need

The owner or developer is responsible for registration

The National Construction Authority states that construction projects in both the public and private sectors must be registered. Its project-registration guidance places responsibility on the developer or owner, even when a contractor or consultant helps prepare the application.

NCA’s current guidance says the owner must apply within 30 days from the date a construction tender, contract, or project is awarded to an NCA-registered contractor. The regulations also say the application must be made before construction begins. Plan the paperwork early so the deadline and the start of work are both covered.

What documents should you prepare?

NCA publishes a checklist for project registration. Gather the relevant approvals and professional details for your specific project; some approvals depend on its location, use, and environmental or technical effects. Check the live NCA page and portal in case the checklist changes.

• A contractor and any subcontractors registered with NCA, with valid practising licences for the current financial year.
• Project consultants, such as the architect, engineer and quantity surveyor, registered with their professional bodies and holding valid practising licences.
• Approved architectural and structural drawings, plus county physical-planning approval documents or permits.
• Other applicable approvals, such as NEMA, EPRA, WRA or KCAA approvals where required.
• A bill-of-quantities summary signed and stamped by the quantity surveyor, the developer’s KRA PIN, and the signed contract, tender or agreement.
• Supervision commitment letters or agreements with the project consultants.

How do you submit the application?

The NCA Online Project Registration System lets a developer create an account and apply for a compliance certificate. Follow the current portal instructions, upload the requested information, and keep your submission and project reference details. If you need help, NCA says you can contact a regional or liaison office.

NCA’s project-registration page currently says registration is free. Confirm the current requirement on the official NCA page or portal before paying anyone to submit on your behalf.

How long does NCA registration take?

NCA’s project-registration FAQ says evaluation should take seven working days after on-site due diligence. This refers to the NCA evaluation stage; it is not a promise for the time needed to prepare drawings, secure county approvals, complete due diligence, or finish the whole pre-construction process. Build those separate stages into your programme and check with the relevant authority about your project.

Do county approval and NCA registration mean the same thing?

No. County development or building approvals and NCA project registration are separate requirements handled by different authorities. NCA’s checklist asks for county approvals as part of the supporting documents, along with applicable approvals from other regulators. Read the separate guide to building approvals in Kenya and confirm your own project’s requirements with the county and relevant authorities.

Before you start work

Agree the project scope with your team, confirm the contractor’s current NCA licence, complete the required county and other approvals, and submit the project registration documents in time. Ask the architect, engineer and quantity surveyor to confirm that their drawings, licences, and supervision commitments are ready for the application.

• Confirm current rules on the official NCA project-registration page.
• Keep a copy of the signed construction agreement and the uploaded approval documents.
• Do not treat a contractor’s assurance as proof that the owner’s registration duty has been met; check the project status with NCA.