Kenya Survey Standards Reference
Permitted errors, datums, UTM zones, traverse and levelling accuracy standards, and survey marks
Survey Regulations 1994 (L.N. 168) | Survey Act Cap 299 | RDM 1.1 (2025)
Measurement Units (Reg 23)
linear
metres
angular
degrees-minutes-seconds (DMS)
area
square metres and hectares
height
metres above mean sea level
Permitted Errors (Reg 27)
| Measurement Type | Permitted Error |
|---|---|
| baseline | 1:25000 |
| angles | 10 seconds |
| chaining | 1:3000 |
| tacheometry | 1:1000 |
| leveling | 10√K mm |
Datums & Projections (Reg 24)
Arc 1960
Code: ARC1960
Ellipsoid: Clarke 1880
Projection: UTM
WGS 84
Code: WGS84
Ellipsoid: WGS 1984
Projection: UTM
Minna
Code: MINNA
Ellipsoid: Clarke 1880
Projection: UTM
Kenya UTM Zones
Zone 35N
Turkana (North)
Zone 36N
Western Kenya (Kisumu, Eldoret)
Zone 36S
Central Kenya (Nakuru, Kericho)
Zone 37S
Eastern & Southern Kenya
Traverse Accuracy Standards (RDM 1.1 Table 5.2)
| Order | Precision Ratio | Description |
|---|---|---|
| First Order Class I | 1 : 20,000 | Very high precision geodetic control |
| First Order Class II | 1 : 10,000 | High precision geodetic control |
| Second Order Class I | 1 : 5,000 | Primary control survey |
| Second Order Class II | 1 : 2,500 | Secondary control survey |
| Third Order | 1 : 1,000 | Cadastral and detail survey |
Levelling Accuracy Standards (RDM 1.1 Table 5.1)
| Order | Allowable Misclosure | Description |
|---|---|---|
| First Order | 4√K | Precision levelling - benchmarks |
| Second Order Class I | 6√K | Engineer levelling |
| Second Order Class II | 8√K | Technical levelling |
| Third Order | 10√K | Cadastral survey levelling |
| Fourth Order | 20√K | Detail survey elevations |
Note: For RDM 1.1 compliant Kenya road surveys, use Third Order (10√K mm) as minimum standard.
Survey Marks (Reg 37-47)
PSCPermanent
Primary Survey Control
Concrete pillar with brass plate, established by Survey of Kenya
Reg 14(1)
PSC-FPermanent
Primary Survey Control (Flush)
Primary control mark flush with ground surface
Reg 14(2)
SSCPermanent
Secondary Survey Control
Concrete pillar or bench mark of secondary order
Reg 15(1)
TSCTemporary
Tertiary Survey Control
Temporary control mark, iron pin or nail
Reg 16(1)
MNTemporary
Masonry Nail
Nail in masonry, concrete or rock
Reg 17(a)
IPTemporary
Iron Pin
Iron pin driven into ground
Reg 17(b)
WPTemporary
Wooden Peg
Temporary wooden peg for boundary delineation
Reg 17(c)
CBPermanent
Concrete Beacon
Concrete boundary beacon with centre mark
Reg 17(d)
INDTemporary
Indicatory Beacon
Indicatory beacon (not a physical corner mark)
Reg 18
RVPermanent
Rivet
Brass or steel rivet in rock or concrete
Reg 17(e)
BMPermanent
Benchmark
Permanent benchmark referencing Kenya National Datum
Reg 20(1)
TBMTemporary
Temporary Benchmark
Temporary benchmark for short-term surveys
Reg 20(2)
FBPermanent
Flush Bracket
Flush bracket on wall or permanent structure
Reg 20(3)
Survey Regulations Index
| Regulation | Part | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reg 14 | V | Primary Survey Control | Establishment of PSC marks |
| Reg 15 | V | Secondary Survey Control | Establishment of SSC marks |
| Reg 16 | V | Tertiary Survey Control | Establishment of TSC marks |
| Reg 17 | V | Boundary Marks | Types of boundary marks |
| Reg 18 | V | Indicatory Beacons | When indicatory beacons are used |
| Reg 20 | V | Benchmarks | Permanent and temporary benchmarks |
| Reg 21 | V | Special Marks | Road nails, spikes, railway marks |
| Reg 22 | V | Natural Features | Trees, rocks as reference marks |
| Reg 24 | V | Coordinate Systems | Systems of coordinates and projections |
| Reg 27 | V | Permissible Errors | Maximum allowable measurement errors |
| Reg 37 | VI | Survey Marks Design | Design and specification of survey marks |
| Reg 38 | VI | Placement of Marks | Placement of survey marks |
| Reg 47 | VI | Missing Beacons | Procedure for missing beacons |
| Reg 51 | VII | Traverse Surveys | Guiding principle for traverses |
| Reg 52-59 | VII | Triangulation & Traverse | Methods for control surveys |
| Reg 99 | VIII | Deed Plan Requirements | Specifications for deed plans |
| Reg 100-108 | VIII | Plan Drawing Standards | Drawing specifications for plans |
Quick Reference
Deed Plan (Reg 99-108)
- • Scale: 1:500 to 1:5000
- • North arrow required
- • All boundaries numbered
- • Area in sq m and hectares
- • Beacon schedule required
Control Survey
- • Min 2 control points for detail
- • Traverse closure ≤ 1:10,000
- • Level run ≤ 10√K mm
- • Coordinates in UTM ARC1960