Updated 17 October 2026
Buying land in Kenya comes with government charges on top of the price. This calculator adds up the official costs of transferring a freehold or leasehold title into your name: stamp duty, the transfer registration fee, the title deed fee, an official search and, for agricultural land, Land Control Board consent. Enter the price or the government value of the land, whichever is higher, and choose where the land is.
The Fees Used in This Calculator
- Stamp duty: 4% of the value for land within a municipality and 2% for land outside a municipality. Stamp duty is charged on the value assessed by the government valuer, so if the valuer puts the land above the price in your sale agreement, duty is worked out on the higher figure.
- Registration of transfer: KSh 1,000.
- Title deed fee: KSh 2,500.
- Official search: KSh 1,000.
- Land Control Board consent: KSh 3,000, or KSh 10,000 for special consent.
The fixed fees are those published by the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning. They are charged per transaction, so a buyer who searches two parcels pays two search fees. The figures were checked in October 2026; the ministry can revise them, so confirm the amount on the invoice from the registry or the eCitizen or Ardhisasa payment page before you pay.
What the Calculator Leaves Out
Government charges are only part of the bill. You will usually also pay an advocate to draw the sale agreement and the transfer and to handle registration. Legal fees are set by the Advocates Remuneration Order and depend on the value of the property, so ask your advocate for a written fee quote. A valuation report, a surveyor if the boundaries need confirming, and county land rates or land rent arrears that the seller must clear can all add to the cost. Rates and rent clearance certificates are usually required before the transfer is registered.
Example
For land bought at KSh 3,000,000 outside a municipality, stamp duty at 2% is KSh 60,000. Add KSh 1,000 to register the transfer, KSh 2,500 for the title, KSh 1,000 for a search and KSh 3,000 for Land Control Board consent, and the government costs come to KSh 67,500. The same plot inside a municipality would attract stamp duty of KSh 120,000 and no Land Control Board fee if the land is not agricultural land.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much is stamp duty on land in Kenya?
Stamp duty is 4% of the value for land within a municipality and 2% for land outside a municipality, based on the government valuation.
Who pays stamp duty, the buyer or the seller?
In practice the buyer pays stamp duty on a land transfer unless the sale agreement says otherwise.
How much is a land search in Kenya?
The official search fee is KSh 1,000 per search.
When do I need Land Control Board consent?
Consent is needed for most sales, leases and subdivisions of agricultural land. The fee is KSh 3,000, or KSh 10,000 for special consent.
Does the total include lawyer fees?
No. Advocate fees are separate and depend on the property value under the Advocates Remuneration Order.
Estimates only. Confirm amounts with the lands registry before you pay.
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