Rules and permits

Which renovation works need approval in Singapore?

It depends on the home. HDB flats need an HDB permit for most hacking, re-tiling and window work. Condos answer to the MCST’s by-laws, and to BCA for anything structural. Landed homes answer to URA and BCA once you add floor area or touch the structure.

Checked against official sources · Updated

The same job can need a permit in one home and nothing at all in another. This chart covers five common works; the three guides after it go into each type of home.

A chart of five works against three types of home. Taking down a non-structural wall: HDB permit; condo depends on by-laws; landed no approval. Replacing floor or wall tiles: HDB permit; condo depends on by-laws; landed no approval. Replacing windows: HDB permit; condo MCST approval; landed none if in the same place. Altering a structural wall, column or beam: not allowed in HDB; engineer and BCA approval for condo and landed. Enclosing an open balcony: not allowed in HDB or condo; URA permission for landed.
In every home, windows must be installed by a BCA approved window contractor, and in HDB flats every contractor must be on HDB’s directory.

What the chart is based on

Work HDB flat Condo Landed house
Take down a non-structural wall HDB permit: all hacking and demolition of walls needs HDB’s prior written approval Not a BCA matter if the wall carries only its own weight; your by-laws may require MCST approval No BCA plans (insignificant building work); URA needs no permission to enlarge rooms
Replace floor or wall tiles HDB permit No BCA plans; check your by-laws No BCA plans, no URA permission
Replace windows HDB permit, by a BCA approved window contractor MCST approval for features on the outside of the building No URA permission if floor area, setback and window position don’t change
Alter a structural wall, column or beam Not allowed Professional Engineer’s assessment and approval from the Commissioner of Building Control Plans by a Qualified Person; structural plans by a civil or structural engineer
Enclose an open balcony Not allowed URA: balconies shall not be enclosed with walls or glass panels URA planning permission needed

The detail, with the exceptions:

Three rules that apply everywhere

  1. The owner answers for the work. HDB says owners are responsible for their contractor following its guidelines; BCA says owners with unauthorised works have committed an offence; condo owners can be told by the MCST to undo unauthorised works at their own cost.
  2. Get approval before the work starts, not after. A permit or approval granted afterwards is never guaranteed, and putting things back costs more than waiting.
  3. Some trades must be licensed, whatever the home. Windows need an approved window contractor; wiring, gas and water pipes need licensed workers. See licensed trades.

Questions people ask

Do I need approval to install air-conditioning?

BCA lists all air-conditioning works as insignificant building works, so no plans go to BCA. Outdoor units must be installed by a BCA-trained installer. In an HDB flat, a new 15A power point for an air-conditioner needs a permit if the flat has no higher electrical loading, and you send HDB an installation report within 14 days.

Who checks that my renovation follows the rules?

For HDB flats, HDB: you or your contractor apply for permits, and HDB can order unauthorised works removed. For condos, the MCST enforces its by-laws and BCA enforces building control. For landed homes, URA and BCA. In every case the owner is responsible, not just the contractor.

Sources

Renovation rules change. We checked this guide against these official pages on 5 October 2026. If a source says something different from this guide, the source is right, and your HDB branch, condo management or BCA has the final word on your own home.

  1. HDB — Important Information on Renovations
  2. HDB — Renovation Guidelines for Building Works
  3. HDB — Renovation Guidelines for Window Works
  4. HDB — Renovation Guidelines for Air Conditioner Installation Works
  5. HDB — Renovation Guidelines for Electrical Works
  6. Singapore Statutes Online — Building (Strata Management) Act 2004, s 37
  7. BCA — What to know as a condo owner
  8. BCA — Building works not requiring approval
  9. Singapore Statutes Online — Building Control Regulations 2003, First Schedule (insignificant building works)
  10. Singapore Statutes Online — Building Control Regulations 2003, Part IVA (windows)
  11. URA — Renovating strata-titled residential property
  12. URA — Renovating land-titled residential property

SpaceToReno is run by the team behind Junk to Clear, which also handles renovations. Where a guide links to Junk to Clear or a sister site, it’s because that step calls for the service, and the sentence says so. Enquiries sent through the form go to the same team. How SpaceToReno works

Read next

HDB renovation rules: permits, approved contractors and what’s not allowed

In an HDB flat, every contractor must come from HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors, even for works that need no permit. Hacking walls, replacing floor tiles and replacing windows need a permit first, and some works, like removing structural walls, aren’t allowed at all.

Read the guide →

Condo renovation rules: your MCST, the by-laws and BCA

In a condo, start with your management corporation (MCST): its by-laws can require approval before you renovate, and works that change how the building looks need its authorisation. Structural changes need a Professional Engineer and BCA approval; adding floor area needs a 90% vote and URA permission.

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Renovating a landed house: URA permission, BCA plans and your neighbours

Inside a landed house, many works need no approval: re-tiling, new windows in the same place, enlarging rooms. Adding floor area, enclosing an open balcony, earthworks and structural changes need URA and BCA approval through a Qualified Person, an architect or engineer.

Read the guide →