Updated 1 November 2026
An LPG retail licence from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) is required before you sell gas cylinders in Kenya. You apply online on EPRA’s licensing portal, EPRA charges no fee for petroleum business licences, applications are evaluated within 30 calendar days, and the licence lasts one year. You need, among other things, proof that you own at least 5,000 cylinders or written distributorship authority from a licensed brand owner, a fire clearance certificate and a calibrated weighing scale. Updated November 2026.
Updated November 2026. Sources: EPRA “Licence for Retail of LPG in Cylinders” application guide and EPRA’s Guidelines for Retail of Liquefied Petroleum Gas in Cylinders (May 2026), both read 1 November 2026. This is a summary; read the full guidelines before you build or stock an outlet.
LPG retail licence requirements (new application)
- Certificate of incorporation or business registration certificate.
- CR12 from the Registrar of Companies, not older than 1 year (plus the CR12 and directors’ IDs of any company that is a shareholder).
- Copies of IDs or passports for all directors.
- Valid Class G or D work permits for foreign directors working in Kenya (a notarised declaration if not resident).
- A valid KRA tax compliance certificate.
- A valid single business permit for the premises from the county.
- Proof of ownership of at least 5,000 cylinders (0.5, 1, 3, 6 or 13 kg), or written distributorship authority from a licensed LPG cylinder brand owner.
- A valid fire clearance certificate for the premises from the county.
- A valid weighing scale calibration certificate from Weights and Measures.
- A colour photo of the retail point showing the cylinder cage and neighbouring premises.
Most small shops qualify through the brand owner’s distributorship letter rather than owning 5,000 cylinders. A tax compliance certificate needs your KRA returns up to date; see our KRA deadlines calendar.
How to apply for an LPG retail licence on the EPRA portal
- Go to the licensing portal on the EPRA website and click “Create Account”.
- Click “License Management”, then “New Licence Application”.
- Choose the category “Retail of LPG in Cylinders”.
- Read and accept the licence conditions, then click “Proceed with registration”.
- Fill in each step and click “Save”.
- Upload the documents listed above.
- Submit. EPRA evaluates applications within 30 calendar days.
Renewal uses the same documents except the business registration certificate and the photo. The licence is valid for one year from issue, so diarise the renewal.
Other licences an LPG shop needs (EPRA 2026 guidelines)
- EPRA licence for retail of LPG in cylinders.
- Weighing scale calibration certificate (Weights and Measures).
- Workplace registration certificate from the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSHS).
- Fire safety compliance certificate from the county.
- Authorisation to sell each brand from the brand owner.
- For Tier III outlets only: environmental and public health approvals and a risk assessment report.
Outlet size tiers and how much gas you can stock
| Tier | Floor area | Maximum LPG stored | Risk level | Minimum fire extinguishers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier I | Under 7 m² | Up to 150 kg | Low | 1 (9 kg DCP or 5 kg CO2), near the exit |
| Tier II | 7 to 15 m² | Up to 400 kg | Medium | 2 (9 kg DCP and 5 kg CO2): one at storage, one at exit |
| Tier III | Over 15 m² | Up to 1,000 kg | High | 4 (9 kg DCP and 5 kg CO2), spread around storage plus one at the exit |
As a rough guide, 150 kg is about eleven full 13 kg cylinders, so a small Tier I cage holds limited stock.
Where you can and can’t put an LPG outlet
LPG can be sold from a cage, a containerised outlet or a purpose-built kiosk. It should not be in a basement, enclosed corridor, upper or ground floor of a multi-storey building, a poorly ventilated space, or near drains, manholes or hollows where gas can collect. Minimum distances from the nearest cylinder:
| Distance to | Tier I | Tier II | Tier III |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property boundary | 3 m | 3 m | 5 m |
| Public walkway | 3 m | 5 m | 10 m |
| Building wall with no openings | 1 m | 5 m | 7 m |
| Building with openings | 1 m | 10 m | 10 m |
| Ignition source | 5 m | 10 m | 10 m |
| Hospitals, schools, stadiums, places of worship | 15 m | 30 m | 30 m |
If you can’t meet a distance, EPRA may approve fire walls (cutting the distance by up to 50%) or other measures such as blast partitions or automatic extinguishers (up to 30%).
Storage and safety rules
- Cylinders upright, no stacking, at least 0.8 m aisles; empties and full cylinders kept apart and marked.
- No damaged or leaking cylinders on site; non-combustible structure with water-based paint; impermeable, drained floor.
- Good ventilation; containers need mesh or louvres on opposite walls at low and high level and must not be sealed or air-conditioned.
- “NO SMOKING” and “NO OPEN FLAMES” signs displayed; extinguishers serviced yearly and checked daily.
- Cylinder deposits are refundable in full when a customer returns the empty and leaves the brand; a deposit is not a sale.
Budgeting the business? Our Kenya Power bill guide helps with running costs, and you can register for tax invoices with eTIMS for small businesses. Take payments with an M-Pesa business till.
LPG retail licence: frequently asked questions
How much does an EPRA LPG retail licence cost?
Nothing. EPRA’s application guide says no fees are charged for petroleum business licences it issues. You still pay for county permits, fire clearance and scale calibration.
How long does EPRA take to approve an LPG licence?
Applications are evaluated within 30 calendar days of receipt, and the licence is valid for one year.
Do I need 5,000 cylinders to sell gas?
No. You need either proof of owning at least 5,000 cylinders or written distributorship authority from a licensed LPG cylinder brand owner.
How much gas can a small LPG shop store?
Under EPRA’s 2026 guidelines, an outlet under 7 m² (Tier I) can hold up to 150 kg, 7 to 15 m² up to 400 kg, and over 15 m² up to 1,000 kg.
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