Get building plans approved by Mombasa County (e-DAMS)
County Government of Mombasa · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Your registered architect, planner or engineer submits the plans on Mombasa County's e-DAMS portal. The planning fee is a share of the building cost: 1% for homes of up to 4 floors, 2% for shops and malls. Public health plan approval is separate, KSh 2,000 for a single-storey house.
- Fee
- KSh 2,000Public health approval of building plans: single storey (residential)KSh 4,000Public health approval of building plans: multi storey (residential)KSh 10,000Public health approval of building plans: single storey (commercial)KSh 3,000Building health occupation certificateKSh 1,000Religious developments: application fee
- Where
- Online on Mombasa County's e-DAMS portal (edams.mombasa.go.ke), through a registered professional. Run by the Department of Lands, Urban Planning, Housing and Serikali Mtaani. e-DAMS support: 0700 218 240, 0735 839 413, esupport@mombasa.go.ke.
Steps
- Hire a registered professional, such as an architect or engineer, to prepare your plans. Only professionals use e-DAMS.
- Your professional applies on e-DAMS for the right permit: planning certificate, construction permit, Swahili house development or repair works.
- Pay the planning fee, worked out as a share of the building's total cost. For example, a home of up to 4 floors pays 1%.
- Pay the public health plan approval fee as well: KSh 2,000 for a single-storey house, KSh 4,000 for a multi-storey house.
- When the building is finished, get a building health occupation certificate (KSh 3,000).
Watch out
- False information in your building plans carries a penalty of 50% of the actual fee.
- Commercial buildings cost more to approve. A shopping mall pays 2% of its total building cost.
- These fees apply for 2026 only (1 January to 31 December 2026), so check again in the new year.
Who can apply
- Anyone putting up, repairing or changing a building in Mombasa County. Applications go through registered professionals such as architects, planners, surveyors, engineers and contractors.
Official sources (3)
- The Mombasa County Finance Act, 2025 (Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 10, Mombasa County Acts No. 3) web.mombasa.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Lands, Urban Planning, Housing and Serikali Mtaani web.mombasa.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- e-DAMS – Mombasa Electronic Development Application and Management system edams.mombasa.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026