Nairobi City County has rolled out a six-month legal amnesty window allowing housing developers and property owners to get approvals by way of regularising their unauthorized sound developments without paying penalties.
This is in a move aimed at promoting tenure security and property rights through urban planning legal framework and improving supply of physical and social infrastructure delivery across the capital estates.
In a public notice issued by the County Executive Committee Member for Built Environment and Urban Planning, Patrick Mbogo, the county announced the coming into force of the Nairobi City County Regularization of Unauthorized Developments Regulations, 2025.
The regulations in the law offer a one-time opportunity for owners of both completed and ongoing developments to bring their properties into compliance.
Under the amnesty, applicants are encouraged to “submit what you have”, even if documentation is incomplete.
The County Urban Planning Department will guide applicants on additional requirements as part of the review process.
Successful applicants will receive conditional approvals, and upon meeting set conditions, a Certificate of Compliance, after which developments will be formally recognised and entered into county records.
The regularisation covers developments such as change or extension of use to land or buildings, subdivisions and amalgamations of land, building plans, occupation approvals, and lease renewals.
However, the county has drawn a clear line on exclusions, stating that structures on public land, riparian reserves, protected areas, unsafe buildings, and developments violating court orders will not be regularised.
All applications must be certified by registered professionals-Physical Planners, Architects, Engineers etc, who will be held accountable for submissions made. Application Fees will be charged in accordance with the Nairobi City County Finance Act, and submissions can be made through the Nairobi Planning and Development Management System (NPDMS), sub-county offices or City Hall.
Chief Officer for Urban Development Patrick Analo Akivaga says the initiative is meant to enhance property rights, tenure security,access approval documents to access credit & finance,reduce enforcement disputes, prevent demolitions, integrate developments into county infrastructure plans and promote safer, more organised urban growth.
“This is a collaborative process,” the notice states, urging housing owners, developers to come forward within the stipulated timeframe or risk enforcement action once the amnesty period lapses.
Analo has called on all affected property owners to take advantage of the window, saying compliance will be strictly enforced after the six-month deadline from December 2025.
