Property Development Feasibility Decoder

Enter a Nairobi location to see, in plain terms, what you are allowed to build on the plot: the ground coverage, the floor area ratio, the total buildable area, an indicative construction cost, and an estimated development value. All figures are calculated on your device from the Nairobi planning ordinances — no data leaves your browser.

CCN Development Ordinances Guide Nairobi NLPD Zone Tables IQSK / NCA Cost Benchmarks · Mid-2025 PLUPA 2019 Change-of-User Flags

Beta — advisory tool only. This decoder looks up your area against two official sources: the Nairobi City Development Ordinances Guide and the Nairobi City County Local Physical Development Plan tables. Ground coverage figures are broadly the same in both sources. Plot ratio figures use different scales, so they are converted here to a single Floor Area Ratio. Where the two sources disagree, the newer plan is used and the difference is flagged. Nairobi’s zoning has not yet been fully gazetted under the Physical and Land Use Planning Act 2019 (Court of Appeal, Civil Appeal No. E160 of 2025). Always confirm results with a registered physical planner before you commit funds.

Enter the plot details

Location or area name

Start typing to search more than 200 Nairobi areas and sub-zones.

Plot area

In square metres. 1 acre is about 4,047 sqm. 1 hectare is 10,000 sqm.

What you plan to build

Sewer connection

On mains sewer Septic / unsewered

Sewer status changes what is allowed in zones 4, 5, 10E and 16.

Build quality

Typical unit or floor size

Used to estimate how many units fit (85% floor efficiency assumed).

Ground coverage

—

Floor area ratio

—

Maximum buildable area

—sqm

Ground floor footprint

—sqm

Floors

—

Estimated units

—

Uses allowed in this zone

⚠ Your planned use is not directly listed. You may need a Change of User approval under PLUPA 2019 section 57. Allow roughly KES 150,000 to 750,000 and 3 to 9 months.

Construction cost estimate IQSK / NCA mid-2025 baseline, land and fees excluded

Professional fees (about 13% of build cost)—

Total project cost, excluding land (mid)—

Estimated gross development value

Gross margin over total cost—

Gross annual rent (mid)—

Gross rental yield on cost—

Zone notes

⚠ Points to verify with county planning

Advisory tool only. These figures are a plain-language reading of the CCN Development Ordinances Guide and the NLPD tables. They are not a formal planning decision or a valuation. Nairobi’s zoning is not yet fully gazetted under PLUPA 2019 (Court of Appeal, Civil Appeal No. E160 of 2025). Confirm every figure with the Nairobi County Department of Physical Planning and a registered physical planner before making a decision. Construction costs are IQSK / NCA benchmarks (mid-2025) and exclude land, VAT, the NCA levy, stamp duty and finance costs. The development value shown is an indicative benchmark, not a valuation under the Valuers Act (Cap. 532). JW Realty & Consulting Limited accepts no liability for decisions taken on the basis of this tool.

Need a formal feasibility study?

This decoder is a fast first look. For a decision you can take to a lender or a board, our team can prepare a full feasibility study, obtain the planning brief, and deal with the county planning department for you.

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Property Development Feasibility Decoder

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