Application for a Permit to Erect Temporary Building

What is a Temporary Building?

• Gantry, Tentage, Stage, Free-Standing Frame/Panel/Hoarding/Board, Pop-up Stores, Festive Decorations such as Christmas Tree, Entrance Arch, Shed, Offices, Container, Racking Platform, Temporary Indoor LED Screens, Temporary Indoor Advertisement Structures and their Supports. [The above must not exceed 2 storeys high and to be used for not exceeding 72 months. Building or structure exceeding 2 storeys would be required to submit under full regime to obtain TOP/CSC despite the duration.]
• Workers' Quarters, Site Office, Show-Flat or Show-House, Builder's Shed, Store or Other Shed within or outside a construction site
• Outdoor Signs and Advertisement, and their Supporting Structures

Applying for a Permit to Use for a Temporary Building

a. The applicant, i.e. the owner of the proposed temporary building is required to apply for a temporary building permit to first construct the temporary building and to use it from the Commissioner of Building Control (“CBC”) via a two-stage process specified in paragraph (b) below unless the building or structure is specified under the Building Control (Temporary Buildings) Regulations 2018.

The owner must engage a professional civil or structural engineer to design, supervise, inspect the erection of the temporary building and submit the application for Permit to Use via CORENET e-Submissions. The application must reach BCA 3 weeks before the construction of the temporary building.


b. A two-stage process consists of:

i. First Stage - Preliminary Approval

The owner of the proposed temporary building, makes the permit application and submits the building plans for preliminary approval. Upon obtaining the preliminary approval granted by the CBC, the owner can then proceed with construction.

ii. Second Stage – Permit To Use (PTU)

When the building has been constructed, the owner is required to submit to BCA the following documents before a PTU can be granted:

• the professional engineer’s certificate of supervision for the building works for the temporary building (Form BCA-CSC-CTSTBW) and
• if applicable, the professional electrical engineer’s certificate of supervision in respect of the installation of the lightning protection system (Form BCA_CSC_CSPLP)

Only when the PTU is granted would the temporary building be allowed for use.


c. Simplified PTU approval process for temporary buildings with previously approved design

An owner who wishes to erect a temporary building using a previously approved design can submit their PTU applications based on a simplified process.

Under this process, the owner (through his/her appointed Professional Engineer (PE)) will first need to have obtained an earlier approval from the Commissioner of Building Control for the design (plans and calculations) for their temporary buildings. For subsequent erection of temporary buildings using the same previously approved design, the same owner (through the same appointed PE) can apply for PTU based on the previously approved design, by citing the earlier approval reference number (without the need to resubmit plans and calculations in this subsequent PTU application). The PE however, is still required to supervise the erection/installation and submit the relevant Certificates of Supervision to BCA prior to issuance of the PTU.

CORENET e-submission Requirements

Documents to be submitted for an application of a PTU –

a. Where applicable, 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;

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

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

d. Plans and Design of the individual structures for submission signed by the applicant and the Professional Engineer (PE) where applicable, with the standard temporary building endorsement by PE on the plan;

e. Design / Structural Calculations (PE Assessment);

f. Where the temporary building owner is not the owner of the premises on which the temporary building will be erected, written consent of the owner of the premises for the application to be made. Example: A is a tenant who wants to erect a temporary building, he will be Owner of the temporary building, he will need to seek the permission from B who is the owner of the premises where this temporary building will 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 would only need to cite the earlier approval reference number.

Processing Fees

For the application of a PTU, a processing fee as below will be collected

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

ii. $200 for each temporary building in an application if all the temporary buildings in the application have no measurable statistical gross floor area; The submission and processing requirements are set out in the Building Control (Temporary Buildings) Regulations 2018

Technical Departments

The following are the relevant technical departments that may have to be consulted, where applicable, before the temporary building is erected.

• Public Utilities Board (PUB), Pollution Control Department of National Environment Agency
• Fire Safety & Shelter Department (FSSD)
• Land Transport Authority, Road & Transport (LTA-R&T)
• Land Transport Authority, Vehicle Parking (LTA-VP)
• National Parks Board (NParks)
• Conservation & Urban Design Division, Urban Redevelopment Authority (CUDD, URA)

Roles of Parties

a. Owner of the Temporary Building

The owner must engage a professional civil or structural engineer to design, supervise, inspect the erection of the temporary building and submit the application for Permit to Use via CORENET e-Submissions. He will be responsible for the safety of the temporary building/ structure. Upon expiry of the validity of the temporary building permit, the owner is also responsible to demolish the temporary building or structure.

b. Professional Engineer and Builder

Demolition of Temporary Buildings

Upon expiry of the permit, the building shall be demolished and removed from the site, and BCA should be notified.