FAQ on Temporary Buildings

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 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, or:

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 advertisements and their supporting structures

A person who intends to erect any temporary building must obtain a PTU from the Building & Construction Authority (BCA) before using or occupying it. However, there are instances when temporary buildings are not required to obtain a PTU.

Temporary buildings are regulated under Building Control (Temporary Building) Regulations 2018.

A PTU from the BCA is not required for the following temporary buildings:

1. Any temporary building below 4 storeys that is required in connection with building works for a permanent building and used as:

   • Workers’ quarters

   • Site office

   • Builder’s shed

   • Store

   • Other sheds 

   • Any protective structure erected for the safety or convenience of persons in any public place or on any public road, such as:

   • Protective hoarding

   • Catch platform

   • Fence

   • Safety netting 

2. Any building works prescribed as insignificant building works in the First Schedule of the Building Control Regulations 2003.

3. Any tentage meeting all 3 conditions below:

   1. Used not more than 60 days

   2. Areas do not exceed 2000 m2

   3. No span of any elements exceeds 18m

4. Any stage* meeting both conditions below:

   1. used for a duration not more than 7 days

   2. used for or in connection with the holding of any wedding, entertainment, funeral, or religious ceremony

*Note: The stage refers only to the base platform. Structural frame/truss supporting the lighting/ sound equipment, LED, screen, backdrop, elevated deck, roof etc. used on the stage is not covered under this definition of stage and may require a PTU.

5. Any frame, panel, hoarding, board, or other structure for:

   1. For any structure capable of standing on its own on the ground, a roof, or any horizontal plane (whether or not it is affixed to the horizontal plane on one or more supports), where —

      1. Every part of the structure is less than 4 m from the horizontal plane on which it stands; and

      2. The side of the structure with the largest surface area does not exceed 10 m² in area;

   2. For all other cases:

      1. The largest surface area of the structure does not exceed 10 m² in area.

Important: Although temporary buildings falling within A or B are not required to obtain a PTU, the relevant project parties must comply with the regulatory requirements under Building Control Regulations 17, 18, 19, and 20.

The temporary building must comply with the following:

1. Building Control (Temporary Buildings) Regulations 2018

2. Where applicable, the following relevant technical agencies may have to be consulted for clearance:

   1. Public Utilities Board (PUB)

   2. National Environment Agency (NEA)

   3. Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)

   4. Land Transport Authority(LTA)

   5. National Parks Board (NParks)

   6. Urban Redevelopment Authority ( URA)

1. A fee of $200 for every 100 square metres, or part thereof, of the statistical gross floor area* of the temporary building or buildings in the application; or

2. A fee of $200 for each structure in an application in which the temporary buildings or buildings has no meaningful or measurable statistical gross floor area;

3. For extension of Permit to Use, a fee of $200 for each structure in an application.

*Statistical gross floor area means the aggregate of the floor areas of all the storeys, including basements, in all of the temporary buildings in the application.

The owner who intends to erect a temporary building 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 PTU on behalf of the owner via CORENET e-Submission.

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 Professional Engineer (PE)) must:

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

2.  For subsequent erection of temporary buildings using the same previously approved design, 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 the resubmission of plans and calculations. 

Once the submission is in order, a Preliminary Approval will be issued for the erection/installation of temporary buildings. 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.

An application for a PTU for the temporary building must include the following:

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. 

7. A fee of $200 for every 100 square metres, or part thereof, of the statistical gross floor area of the temporary building or buildings in the application;

8. A fee of $200 for each structure in an application in which the temporary building or building have no meaningful or measureable statistical gross floor area;

Note: Item (1) is not applicable to all advertising structures

Pertaining to items (4) and (5) 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.

The PTU application forms can be downloaded from CORENET e-submission. Please refer to the steps to download forms and submit PTU application via CORENET e-submission.

Application for PTU (New Erection or Permit Extension)

Follow these steps to download forms from the CORENET e-submissions portal and submit your PTU Application. 

1. Log in to CORENET e-submission.

2. Click More – Online Submission.

3. Search for Permit to erect temporary building works.

4. Download all relevant forms.

5. Fill in the necessary forms (refer to submission checklist below) and all mandatory fields.

6. Click Proceed.

7. Upload the duly filled and encrypted forms, plans, calculations, report ,etc.

8. Assign the proper tags to the attached documents (such as calculations, plans, others).

9. Click Proceed to submit the application

Once the application is submitted, an acknowledgement page with an E-submission number will be generated.

Submission Checklist for PTU application

Ensure you have the following things ready for your PTU application. 

1. Application form BCA-BP-PMTTB (Application for Permit to Use Temporary Buildings);

2. Form BPM_PTB_NAPPQP01 (Notification of Appointment/Authorisation of Professional Engineer(s) and Builder);

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

4. Design/ structural calculations (for new erection) or PE's inspection report and certification (for permit extension);

5. Plans of the individual structures for submission;

6. Written consent of the owner of the premises if the owner of the temporary building is not the owner of the premises on which the temporary building is to be erected;

7. A copy of the written permission issued by the competent authority under the Planning Act (Cap.232) where applicable;

8. Fees can be paid via e-payment through CORENET X.

Correspondence to an existing E-Submission

Follow these steps to submit the correspondence (e.g. Submission of form BCA-CSC-CTSTBW (Certificate of Supervision for building works) and form BCA CSC CSPLP (Certificate of Supervision for lightning protection system) after the completion of the temporary building works.

1. Log in to CORENET e-submission.

2. Click More – Online Correspondence.

3. Under Reference Submission No., key in the E-Submission number to correspond with, e.g. ES20230611-56447.

4. Click Next.

5. Upload the duly filled and encrypted forms, etc.

6. Click Submit.

Once submitted, an acknowledgement page with the Correspondence number will be generated.

The application must reach BCA 3 weeks before the scheduled construction of the temporary building.

Once the owner and professional engineer obtain the preliminary approval of the plans.

The owner must, no later than 7 days after completing building works of a temporary building, submit the following certificates of supervision, where applicable:

1. Professional Engineer’s certificate of supervision for the building works of the temporary building;

2. If applicable, a Professional Electrical Engineer’s certificate of supervision for the installation of the lightning protection system.

Upon receiving the certificates, the Commissioner of Building Control will process the PTU application for final approval.

The owner of the temporary building must demolish the temporary building within 14 days after the preliminary approval lapses or is revoked, or the PTU expires. The CBC must be notified of the demolition within 7 days after the temporary building is demolished. Failing to do so is an offence under Building Control Regulation 16.

An owner who is granted the PTU may, at any time before its expiry, apply to the CBC for an extension of the permit. Extended use is allowed at CBC’s discretion. Where the application to extend a PTU relates to a temporary building under paragraph (b) of the definition of “temporary building” in the Act, the PTU will not be extended if the aggregate period of the PTU and all extensions of the PTU exceeds 72 months.

Plan fees can be paid via e-payment through CORENET X.