What NCA Class Does Your Contractor Need for Your Project?
Your contractor needs to be registered in an NCA class whose contract-value ceiling is at or above your project's total value. The National Construction Authority groups building contractors into classes NCA 1 to NCA 8, where NCA 8 covers the smallest projects and NCA 1 covers projects of unlimited value. A contractor registered in a lower class than your project's value cannot legally carry out the work, regardless of their experience.
Full Explanation
NCA registration is not a single yes/no credential — it is tiered. The class a contractor holds tells you the maximum contract value they are legally cleared to undertake for building works. The bands are set by the NCA and are periodically revised, so treat the figures below as approximate and confirm the current thresholds on the NCA's own portal.
Approximate building-works value ceilings by class
| Class | Approximate maximum project value |
|---|---|
| NCA 8 | up to ~KES 10 million |
| NCA 7 | up to ~KES 20 million |
| NCA 6 | up to ~KES 50 million |
| NCA 5 | up to ~KES 100 million |
| NCA 4 | up to ~KES 250 million |
| NCA 3 | above NCA 4's ceiling |
| NCA 2 | above NCA 3's ceiling |
| NCA 1 | unlimited |
These are widely-reported 2026 figures, not the authority's live schedule — always check the register for the contractor's actual current class before relying on it.
How to use this when hiring
Work out your project's total budget, then confirm your contractor is registered in a class that covers it. A typical residential home falls within NCA 6 to NCA 8; a larger apartment block or commercial building moves up the scale. If your project is worth KES 30 million and the contractor is registered NCA 8 (ceiling ~KES 10 million), they are not cleared for your job even if they have built similar homes before — the class, not the portfolio, is the legal limit.
Verifying the class
Search the NCA Registered Contractors tool by the contractor's company name or registration number. It shows the class they hold and whether their practising licence is current. Do this yourself rather than accepting a screenshot or a stated class — registration status can lapse.
Architects, engineers and quantity surveyors
NCA classes apply to contractors. Consultants are registered with their own bodies — BORAQS for architects and quantity surveyors, the Engineers Board of Kenya for engineers — and are verified against those registers instead.
Related
How to Choose a Verified Contractor in Kenya — the full vetting checklist. Who Are the Most Reputable Building Contractors in Kenya? — how to build a verified shortlist. How Does SuprosNetworxs Verify Professionals? — what the platform checks at onboarding. Construction Services Hub — submit a project and get matched with verified professionals.
Call to action
Explore Construction Services to get matched with construction professionals whose credentials are checked at onboarding — then verify the NCA class yourself before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
What do NCA 1 to NCA 8 mean?
They are contractor registration classes set by Kenya's National Construction Authority. Each class has a maximum contract value the contractor is legally allowed to undertake for building works — NCA 8 the lowest ceiling, NCA 1 unlimited.
What NCA class do I need to build a house in Kenya?
Most standalone residential homes fall within the NCA 6 to NCA 8 range by value, but it depends on your total budget. Work out the project value and match it to the class ceiling; check the current thresholds on the NCA portal.
Can an NCA 8 contractor build a KES 50 million project?
No. An NCA 8 contractor's ceiling is around KES 10 million for building works. A KES 50 million project needs a contractor registered at NCA 6 or higher, regardless of the contractor's experience.
How do I check a contractor's NCA class?
Use the NCA Registered Contractors search tool at nca.go.ke — search by company name or registration number to see the class held and whether the licence is current.
Do architects and engineers have NCA classes?
No. NCA classes are for contractors. Architects and quantity surveyors are registered with BORAQS; engineers with the Engineers Board of Kenya. You verify consultants against those registers.