Regulatory Requirements for New Buildings and Existing Buildings undergoing Major Additions and Alterations (A&A)
To advance sustainable development, the Building Control (Environmental Sustainability) Regulations requires a minimum environmental sustainability standard for new buildings and existing buildings that undergo major retrofitting.
Last updated 2 September 2026
Scope and Details
The Building Control (Environmental Sustainability) Regulations and Amendments are as follows:
Building Control (Environmental Sustainability) Regulations 2008 (opens in new tab)
Building Control (Environmental Sustainability) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (opens in new tab)
Building Control (Environmental Sustainability) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (opens in new tab)
Building Control (Environmental Sustainability) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (opens in new tab)
Applicability:
| Applicable for projects with 1st submission date for planning permission from 1 Dec 2021 onwards |
| Applicable for projects with 1st submission date for planning permission from 15 Apr 2008 to 30 Nov 2021 |
Note: Alteration to existing buildings which does not involve major retrofitting works is not subject to this requirement.
Submission Requirements
The requirements on environmental sustainability of buildings are integrated with the Building Plan and TOP processes. The qualified person (who submits the building plan) and the other appropriate practitioners are jointly responsible to ensure that their building works meet the minimum environmental sustainability standard. They are to submit their declaration and Submission form along with their Building Plan submission for approval. Upon project completion, they are to submit their declaration and as-built Submission form before making TOP application.
To generate the Submission form for submission via:
CORENET 2: Access the ES Online Portal (previously known as GM e-filing Portal) (opens in new tab)
CORENET X: Use the BC ES Appendix 1 form [XLSX, 69 KB] (opens in new tab)
Please refer to the latest CORENET X Code of Practice (COP) (opens in new tab) under Environmental Sustainability sections (Construction Gateway/Completion Gateway) and Building Envelope sections for more information
Sample ES forms for planning reference only. For BP/TOP submissions in CORENET 2.0, QPs must generate ES forms via ES Online Portal as per BC(ES) Regulations 2008.
Compliance Standard
Compliance with the respective environmental sustainability standards will be based on the first submission date for URA planning permission as stated in this table.
1st submission date for URA planning permission | Compliance standard |
|---|---|
From 1 December 2021 onwards | |
From 15 January 2013 to 30 November 2021 | Addendum to Code (3rd Edition), Sep 2014 [PDF, 92.8 KB] (opens in new tab) |
From 1 December 2010 to 14 January 2013 | Code for Environmental Sustainability of Buildings, 2nd Edition, Aug 2010 [PDF, 1.42 MB] (opens in new tab) |
From 15 April 2008 to 30 Nov 2010 | Addendum to Code (1st Edition), Sep 2014 [PDF, 78.4 KB] (opens in new tab) |
Note: Projects with building cooling systems will be required to submit the Air Conditioning System information template [XLSX, 67 KB] (opens in new tab), signed by the project’s Professional Engineer (Mechanical) when it is ready.
Mandatory Higher Green Mark Standard for Government Land Sales (GLS) sites
To maximise the potential for cost-effective energy savings in our built environment, projects developed on land sold under the Government Land Sales (GLS) programme will be subject to higher Green Mark standards.
Related Links
Access the following sources for more information related to the Building Control (Environmental Sustainability) Regulations:
Air Conditioning System Information Template [XLSX, 67 KB] (opens in new tab)
Daylighting_Template-NonResBldg (for 4th Edition ES Code) [XLSX, 81 KB] (opens in new tab)
Daylighting_Template-ResBldg (for 4th Edition ES Code) [XLSX, 80 KB] (opens in new tab)
Daylighting_Template-ResBldg_Appendix (for 4th Edition ES Code) [XLSX, 22 KB] (opens in new tab)
Energy Modelling Form Template [DOCX, 59 KB] (opens in new tab)
Code on Envelope Thermal Performance for Buildings [PDF, 807KB] (opens in new tab)
Embodied Carbon Calculator and User Guide (opens in new tab)
FAQ on Environmental Sustainability Requirement [PDF, 1.1 MB] (opens in new tab)
To ascertain if your project is subject to the regulation, please submit detailed scope of works using this Work Scope Information form [XLSX, 29.3 KB] (opens in new tab) via BCA Feeback Form (opens in new tab)