Temporary Building Application

What is a Temporary Building?

A Temporary Building is defined as:

1. any building or structure not more than 2 storeys high constructed of short-lived materials;

2. any building or structure not more than 2 storeys high permitted to be used by the competent authority or the Commissioner of Building Control (CBC) for a period not exceeding 36 months, or  such other periods as prescribed in the building control regulations;

3. any building used as workers’ quarters, a site office, a show-flat or show-house, a builder’s shed, store or other shed required in connection with any building works for a permanent building.

4. any structure used only for the outdoor display of an advertisement or signboard

Important: Temporary Buildings do not include any bridge, any decking for a bridge, or any earth retaining structure.

Examples of Temporary Buildings

• Gantry

• Tentage

• Stage

• Free-standing frame/panel/hoarding/board

• Pop-up stores

• Decorations such as Christmas trees

• Entrance arch

• Shed

• Offices

• Container

• Temporary indoor LED screens supports

• Temporary indoor advertisement structures and their supports
  
  Note: The above must not exceed 2 storeys high and be used for not more than 72 months. Buildings or structures exceeding 2 storeys are required to submit under the full regime to obtain TOP/CSC despite the duration.

• Workers’ Quarters, Site Office, Show-flat or Show-House, Builder’s Shed or Store within or outside a construction site

• Outdoor signs and advertisement, and their supporting structures

Application for Permit to Use a Temporary Building

The owner of the proposed temporary building must apply for a temporary building permit from the CBC through a two-stage process to construct and use it unless otherwise  specified under the Building Control (Temporary Buildings) Regulations 2018 (opens in new tab).

The owner must engage a professional civil or structural engineer (PE) to design, supervise, and inspect the erection of the temporary building, and submit the application for Permit to Use (PTU) via CORENET e-Submission (opens in new tab). BCA must receive the application at least 3 weeks before the scheduled construction of the temporary building.

1. First Stage – Preliminary Approval
   
   The owner of the proposed temporary building applies for the permit and submits the building plans for preliminary approval. Once preliminary approval is obtained from the CBC, the owner can proceed with the construction.

2. Second Stage – Permit to Use (PTU)
   
   After construction, the owner must submit the following documents to the BCA before a PTU can be granted:

   • The professional engineer’s certificate of supervision for the building works for the temporary building or Form BCA-CSC- CTSTBW.

   • The professional engineer’s certificate of supervision for the installation of the lightning protection system.

Simplified PTU approval process for Temporary Buildings with previously approved designs

A simplified application process is available for owners who wish to erect temporary buildings using a previously approved design. Under this process, the owner, (through his/her appointed PE), must:

1. Have obtained earlier approval from the CBC for the design (plans and calculations) for their temporary buildings.

2. For subsequent erection, the same owner (through the same appointed PE) apply for PTU based on the previously approved design by citing the earlier approval reference number. This does not require resubmission of plans and calculations. 

The PE is still required to supervise the erection/installation and submit the relevant Certificates of Supervision to BCA prior to the issuance of the PTU.

Important: The Temporary Building can only be used after the PTU is granted. 

CORENET e-submission requirements

The following are the documents required for the PTU application.

1. A copy of the written permission issued by the competent authority under the Planning Act (Cap. 232), i.e. the Urban Redevelopment Authority in respect of the proposed temporary building (where applicable);

2. A notification of the engagement of a professional engineer and builder, signed by the temporary building owner;

3. A location plan indicating the location of the temporary building;

4. Plans and Design of the individual structures for submission , with the standard temporary building endorsement by PE on the plan;

5. Design / Structural Calculations (PE Assessment);

6. A written consent from the owner of the premises if the applicant for the temporary building is not the owner of the premises on which the building is to be erected. 

Note: Pertaining to items (d) and (e) for temporary buildings submitted under the simplified PTU approval process (based on a previously approved design), the PE only needs to cite the earlier approval reference number.

Processing fees

The following fees will be collected for the PTU application.

1. $200 for every 100 m², or part thereof, of the statistical gross floor area of all the temporary buildings in the application; or

2. $200 for each temporary building in an application if all the temporary buildings in the application have no measurable statistical gross floor area. 

Technical agencies

The following are the relevant technical agencies that may have to be consulted, where applicable, before erecting a temporary building.

• Public Utilities Board (PUB)

• National Environment Agency (NEA)

• Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) 

• Land Transport Authority (LTA)

• National Parks Board (NParks)

• Urban Redevelopment Authority ( URA)

Roles of parties

1. Owner of the Temporary Building
   
   The owner must engage a professional civil or structural engineer to design, supervise, and inspect the erection of the temporary building, and submit the application for Permit to Use via CORENET e-Submission (opens in new tab).
   
   It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the temporary building/structure and to demolish it upon expiry of the validity of the temporary building permit.

2. Professional Engineer and Builder

Demolition of Temporary Buildings

The owner shall demolish and remove the temporary building from site upon expiry of the permit, and inform BCA within 7 days after the demolition.

FAQ on Temporary Buildings

To better understand the process and requirements of Temporary Building Applications, we have compiled the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.