General
Building works not requiring approval
Property type
Condo/Strata
Landed
HDB
Others
Learn which building works in Singapore don’t require BCA approval, plus key guidelines, exemptions, and owner responsibilities for safe renovations.
Private property owners intending to renovate or carry out building works to their property may be required to submit building / structural plans to BCA for approval. However, there are some minor building works that are exempted from this requirement. This guide outlines the types of building works exempt from the plan approval process, the responsibilities of private property owners and QPs, and the requirements necessary to safely and legally carry out building works.
You are advised to read this page in consultation with your appointed Qualified Person (QP).
Types of private property
Private property typically refers to the following:
Landed houses
Apartment buildings
Condominium
Cluster housing
Residential units in a mixed development
Owners of landed houses are additionally advised to refer to the following guides for information on additional exemptions, good practices, and safeguarding property during building works.
Good Neighbors - guide for good practices when carrying out building works.
Safe Slope and Slope Protection Structures – guide for safeguarding your property and the public from soil erosion and slope failure.
Building works in strata-titled developments, such as condominiums, might require MCST’s approval. Please refer to the Strata Management Guides for more information on strata living.
Insignificant building works (exemptions for plan submission to BCA)
Insignificant building works are building works that do not require plan submission to BCA.
Please consult the First Schedule of Insignificant Building Works for more and latest details about insignificant building works.
Appointment of a QP
Private property owners should engage a Qualified Person (QP) to advise on the clearances required from BCA and other relevant authorities for the intended building works.
A QP must:
Be registered as an Architect with the Board of Architects (BOA), or a Professional Engineer with the Professional Engineers Board (PEB).
Hold a valid practising certificate issued by the BOA or PEB.
Clearances from other relevant authorities
Besides approval from BCA for the structural and building plans, homeowners are also responsible for:
Checking if clearances from other relevant authorities (e.g. the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)) are required for any building work that will be done.
Observing other laws with which they have to comply (e.g. caveats, MCST by-laws, etc.).
Important: Although plan submission and approval from BCA is not necessary, homeowners must observe safety, and good practices, and obtain the required approvals from other relevant authorities. Always consult your QP when in doubt about the necessary clearances.
For more information on the plan submission processes, please check Building Plan Submission and Structural Plan Submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I identify the unauthorised building works on my property?
Building owners can compare the as-built condition of the existing building works on their property with those in the approved plans to identify any unauthorised building works on your property.
2. What will happen if I do not remove the unauthorised building works on my property?
Unauthorised building works to your property may be a safety hazard if the structures are not properly designed by a Qualified Person (QP). Building owners who are found to have unauthorised building additions and/or alterations will have committed an offence under the Building Control Act and will be subject to the appropriate enforcement action.
3. How do I obtain a copy of the approved plans of my property?
Building owners can fill in the BCA Plan Purchase Application Form. We will contact you when the plans are available to arrange for an appointment to view and purchase the plans.
4. What should I do if I intend to keep the unauthorised building works on my property?
The building owner should engage a Qualified Person (QP), who is the Registered Architect (RA) or Professional Engineer (PE), to act on their behalf and submit the plans of the unauthorised building works to the Commissioner of Building Control for approval. The appointed QP shall also obtain all other necessary approvals from the relevant authorities, such as the URA.
5. I am a potential buyer of an existing property. What should I do to ensure that the property that I will be purchasing does not have any unauthorised building works?
A potential buyer of an existing property should engage a competent person, such as an architect, engineer or to investigate, inspect the property for any unauthorised building works and compare the as-built condition of the existing building works with those in the approved plans.
A legal search is one of the checks that should be routinely completed by a conveyancing lawyer. This search will only yield those unauthorised building works that had been brought to BCA’s attention and does not guarantee that the property does not have any unauthorised structures.
6. I am the owner of a new property. What should I do before I proceed with any addition and/or alteration to my new property?
Owners of new properties may proceed with minor addition and/or alteration to their properties if these building works are insignificant building works under the Building Control Regulations.
We advise owners to check with the developer and project architect or Professional Engineer (PE) before proceeding with any major addition and/or alteration works.
Owners who are found to have not obtained the necessary approvals for the additions and/or alterations works to their properties that require approvals and have proceeded with the building works, can have the issuance of their Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC) delayed.