Runda–Ruaka planning area · DC Policy 2026
Karura Forest zoning
Karura Forest is a planning zone in the Runda–Ruaka area of Nairobi. The Development Control Policy 2026 does not publish floor, coverage or plot-ratio figures for it. Ask Nairobi City County's planning department what applies before you plan anything here.
Figures from the Nairobi City County Development Control Policy 2026, as mapped by Nairobi Maps. Updated 2026-10-24.
What the policy says about Karura Forest
The policy adds no special rules for this zone beyond the figures above.
Plots in Karura Forest
We count 13 land parcels in this zone. Half of them are smaller than 0.252 ha (2,523 m²); the middle half are between 0.22 and 0.708 ha.
Where Karura Forest is
The zone covers about 9.6 km² across one ward.
Zones next to Karura Forest
- Gigiri and UN
- Kitusuru
- Lower Springvalley
- Muthaiga North
- New Muthaiga
- Old Muthaiga
- Ridgeways
- Runda Residential
- Westlands Core
Building or changing the use here?
Applications go to Nairobi City County on NPDMS. How planning approval works in Nairobi, which approval you need, and what to check on the plot first. Many projects also need NEMA’s environmental licence: NEMA licences in Nairobi.
Questions about Karura Forest
How many floors can I build in Karura Forest?
The Development Control Policy 2026 publishes no floor limit for Karura Forest. Ask Nairobi City County's planning department before you plan a building here.
Which wards does the Karura Forest zone cover?
Karura ward, by the boundaries on the Nairobi Maps map.
How do I get approval to build in Karura Forest?
Building plans are submitted to Nairobi City County through its online planning system, NPDMS, by a registered architect and engineer, and they must keep within this zone’s limits. If the use you want is not one the zone allows, a change of use comes first. Check your plot on the Nairobi Maps map before the drawings are made.
This page describes the policy, not a decision. Nairobi City County decides every application. Check a plot's registered details with an official search — see how to do a land search in Nairobi.