Guides: Residential
HDB Renovation Guidelines
The large majority of Singapore homes are HDB flats, and HDB's renovation rules are the first compliance layer any residential designer works within, before BCA, before SCDF. Here's where those rules currently stand.
Permits
The Permit Requirement
Every HDB renovation needs a permit, submitted at least 7 days before work begins. Approval typically takes 3 to 5 working days and carries no fee. Starting work without an approved permit, even for changes that would otherwise be permitted, is itself a compliance failure, independent of whether the work itself meets code.
Never Permitted
Permanently Prohibited Works
Some elements cannot be altered under any permit, at any scale: reinforced concrete structural walls, columns, beams and floor slabs, and household shelter (bomb shelter) walls and doors. Floor loading beyond 150kg per square metre is prohibited, as is partitioning with combustible or toxic materials, and covering or enclosing void areas without separate authorisation. These aren't a matter of degree. A design that touches any of these elements needs to be redesigned, not negotiated.
Permit Required
Works Requiring Approval
Most of an interior fit-out falls here: hacking or removing floor and wall tiles, non-structural internal walls, kitchen and toilet fixtures, electrical works, plumbing works, built-in fixtures, window and door modifications, and air-conditioning installation. Each needs to be included in the permit submission. Retroactively adding scope after approval typically means a fresh submission.
Working Hours
When Work Can Happen
Noisy works are restricted to 9am to 5pm on weekdays only, with a quiet hour from 1pm to 2pm on every working day. General works, painting, carpentry, plumbing, electrical work and vinyl laying, can run 9am to 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays. Scheduling a renovation around these windows, not just the permit timeline, is what keeps a project on schedule.
Contractors
Registered Renovation Contractors
Every contractor working in an HDB flat must be listed on HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors. Engaging an unlisted contractor puts the permit itself at risk, regardless of the quality of their work.