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Document Version: 2020 Revised Edition, 1 Dec 2025

Building Control Act 1989

PART 1 PRELIMINARY

Short title

This Act is the Building Control Act 1989.

Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —
“accredited checker” means a person who is registered as an accredited checker under section 16, whether acting on his or her own behalf or on behalf of an accredited checking organisation;
“accredited checking organisation” means an accredited checking organisation registered as such under section 16;
[Deleted by Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
“amended plans” means plans showing any deviation from, or any amendment or addition to, any plans of building works approved or deemed approved under section 5(3) or 5AA(1);
[Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
“analyst” means an analyst approved by the Commissioner of Building Control;
“builder” means any person who undertakes, whether exclusively or in conjunction with any other business, to carry out any building works for the person’s own account or for or on behalf of another person but does not include a sub-contractor in relation to those building works;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
“builder’s licence” means a general builder’s licence or a specialist builder’s licence granted under Part 5A;
“building” means any permanent or temporary building or structure and includes —
1. a hut, shed or roofed enclosure;
2. an earth retaining or stabilising structure, whether permanent or temporary;
3. a dock, wharf or jetty;
  1. a floating structure, not being a boat or vessel, constructed or to be constructed on a flotation system that —
    1. is or is to be supported by water;
    2. is not intended for or useable in navigation; and
    3. is or is to be permanently moored;
4. a culvert, crossing, bridge, underpass or tunnel;
5. a sewage treatment plant, sewer, drain, swimming pool or any non‑proprietary type of concrete tank for the storage of any solid, liquid or gaseous product;
6. a shelter provided under the Civil Defence Shelter Act 1997; and
7. such other erection or structure (whether permanent or temporary) as the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, declare to be a building;
“Building and Construction Authority” means the Building and Construction Authority established under section 3 of the Building and Construction Authority Act 1999;
“building regulations” means any regulations made under section 49;
“building works” means —
1. the erection, extension or demolition of a building;
2. the alteration, addition or repair of a building;
3. the provision, extension or alteration of any air conditioning service or ventilating system in or in connection with a building,
and includes site formation works connected with or carried out for the purpose of paragraph (a), (b) or (c);
“certificate of statutory completion” means a certificate of statutory completion issued under section 12;
“Commissioner of Building Control”, in relation to this Act or any Part or provision of this Act, means any Commissioner of Building Control appointed under section 3(1) to be responsible for the operation of this Act or that Part or provision, as the case may be;
“common property” has the meaning given by the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act 2004;
“competent authority” means the competent authority appointed under section 5 of the Planning Act 1998 in respect of the development of land;
“developer”, in relation to any building works, means the person for whom or on whose behalf the building works are carried out;
“earth retaining structure” means any structure, structural system or other means used to maintain the shape of excavation during construction, earth filling or cutting;
“escalator” means a machine-powered installation comprising —
1. a stairway with continuously moving steps and handrails carrying people between different floors of a building; or
2. a continuously moving walkway for conveying people between different parts of a building or between 2 buildings,
and includes a passenger conveyor, and any supporting structure, machinery, equipment, apparatus and enclosure used or designed for use for operating the escalator;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
“exterior feature”, in relation to any building, means any permanent feature of a building that —
1. is installed on, forms part of or projects outwards from the roof or exterior of the building; and
2. is prescribed by building regulations;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
“fixed installation” means any of the following machine-powered installations:
1. an escalator;
2. a lift;
3. a mechanised car parking system,
and includes any supporting structure, machinery, equipment, apparatus and enclosure used or designed for use for operating a fixed installation;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
“fixed installation owner”, for a fixed installation, means —
1. where the fixed installation is part of any common property of a housing estate of the Housing and Development Board —
  1. the Town Council established under the Town Councils Act 1988^* with the duty to maintain that common property in that housing estate; or
  2. where there is no such Town Council — the Board;
2. where the fixed installation is part of any common property or limited common property comprised in a strata title plan — the management corporation or subsidiary management corporation having control of the common property or limited common property (as the case may be) or the person receiving any rent or charge for the maintenance and management of that common property or limited common property, as the case may be;
3. where the fixed installation is part of any common property not comprised in a strata title plan and is not described in paragraph (a) or (c) — the person whose name is entered in the Valuation List prepared under section 10 of the Property Tax Act 1960^* as the owner of the common property or a mortgagee in possession;
4. where the fixed installation is comprised in a lot of a subdivided building (whether or not in a strata title plan) and is not part of any common property — any person who is the registered proprietor or registered subsidiary proprietor (as the case may be) in the land-register under the Land Titles Act 1993^* of the fee simple, estate in perpetuity or leasehold estate of that lot;
5. where the fixed installation is not in a subdivided building and is not part of any common property but is installed or operated in, or in connection with, a building — the owner of that building; or
6. in any other case — a person with a legal or beneficial interest in the fixed installation and who is prescribed in building regulations for that fixed installation or class of fixed installations to which that installation belongs,
but excludes a supplier (or an agent of a supplier) of a fixed installation who, by reason only of a contract for the sale or installation of the fixed installation, retains the ownership of the fixed installation pending any payment of the price or other consideration for that sale or installation;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
“fixed installation works” means —
1. the installation of any fixed installation;
2. the carrying out of such major alteration or replacement works as may be prescribed in respect of any fixed installation; or
3. the testing and commissioning, following the completion of any works mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b), of any fixed installation;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
“flat” has the meaning given by the Land Titles (Strata) Act 1967;
“general builder’s licence” means a licence granted under Part 5A^* authorising the person granted the licence to carry on the business of a general builder, but excludes such a licence when it is not in force;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
“general building works” means any building works other than specialist building works;
“geotechnical aspects”, in relation to any geotechnical building works, means —
1. an analysis of the geological structure and earth materials of the site of the geotechnical building works and its influence on the geotechnical building works;
2. an analysis of the ground water regime and its influence on the wall stability and integrity of the geotechnical building works over time; and
3. such other applications of earth sciences to and engineering aspects of the geotechnical building works as may be prescribed;
“geotechnical building works” means any of the following building works:
1. any excavation or other building works to make —
  1. a tunnel with a diameter, width or height of more than 2 metres; or
  2. a caisson, cofferdam, trench, ditch, shaft or well with a depth of more than 6 metres;
2. any building works for constructing, altering or repairing any earth retaining structure in or for a trench, ditch, shaft or well with a depth or height of more than 6 metres;
3. any earthworks or other building works for constructing or stabilising a slope with a height of more than 6 metres (measured as the vertical distance between the highest level and lowest level of the slope);
4. any type of foundation works that the Minister may prescribe in the building regulations for buildings of 30 storeys or more;
“geotechnical engineer” means a professional engineer who is registered under the Professional Engineers Act 1991 as a specialist professional engineer in the specialised branch of geotechnical engineering;
“grant” or “granted”, in relation to a general builder’s licence or a specialist builder’s licence, includes grant or granted on renewal of the licence;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
“Housing and Development Board” means the Housing and Development Board established under section 3 of the Housing and Development Act 1959;
“immediate supervision”, in relation to any building works or part thereof, means personally and directly exercising oversight, control and inspection of the carrying out of the building works or part thereof;
“insignificant building works” means any building works that are prescribed under section 4(d);
“key structural elements” means the foundations, columns, beams, shear cores, structural walls, struts, ground anchors and any other parts of a building which are essential for its support and overall structural stability;
“large building works” means any building works that are prescribed for the purposes of section 7(1)(b);
“licensed general builder” means a person to whom a general builder’s licence is granted but excludes the person when the general builder’s licence is not in force;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]
“licensed specialist builder”, for any specialist building works, means a person to whom a specialist builder’s licence is granted in respect of those specialist building works but excludes the person when that specialist builder’s licence is not in force;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]
“lift” means a machine‑powered installation that —
1. is, or is intended to be, installed in or attached to a building or part of a building or without being attached to any building;
2. is designed for raising or lowering people, or people and things in combination; and
3. has a car, cage or platform, the direction or movement of which is substantially vertical and restricted by a guide or guides,
and includes any supporting structure, machinery, equipment, apparatus and enclosure used or designed for use for operating a lift, but does not include a mechanised car parking system;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]
“limited common property” has the meaning given by the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act 2004;
“limited liability partnership” has the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005;
“lodgment” means a lodgment of plans with the Commissioner of Building Control for the purpose of section 5AA;
[Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
“lodgment works” means building works which are prescribed as lodgment works in the building regulations;
[Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
“major building works” means building works other than minor building works;
“mechanised car parking system” means a machine‑powered installation that —
1. is, or is intended to be, installed independently of, or installed in or attached to, a building or part of a building; and
2. is designed solely for the automated vertical or lateral movement of vehicles connected with parking and retrieval of those vehicles,
and includes any supporting structure, machinery, equipment, apparatus and enclosure used or designed for use for operating the mechanised car parking system;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]
“minor building works” means building works (not being geotechnical building works) that are prescribed in the building regulations as building works the plans of which do not require a certification from an accredited checker for the purposes of section 5 or 5A;
“occupier”, in relation to any building, means the person in occupation of the building or having the charge, management or control thereof, either on the person’s own account or as agent of another, but does not include any lodger within the building;
“owner” —
1. in relation to any premises comprised in a strata title plan under the Land Titles (Strata) Act (Cap. 158), means —
  1. in relation to a lot — any person who is the registered subsidiary proprietor of the lot under that Act;
  2. in relation to the common property — the management corporation having control of the common property, or the person receiving any rent or charge for the maintenance and management of that common property; and
  3. in relation to any limited common property — the subsidiary management corporation established under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (Cap. 30C) having control of the limited common property, or the person receiving any rent or charge for the maintenance and management of that limited common property;
2. in relation to any building in a housing estate of the Housing and Development Board, means —
  1. in relation to a flat — any owner of the flat as defined under the Housing and Development Act 1959; and
  2. in relation to the common property of residential and commercial property in any housing estate of the Housing and Development Board — that Board;
3. in relation to any subdivided building other than a subdivided building referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), means —
  1. in relation to a lot — any person who is the registered proprietor in the land‑register under the Land Titles Act 1993 of the fee simple, estate in perpetuity or leasehold estate of that lot; and
  2. in relation to the common property — every person who is a registered proprietor in the land‑register under the Land Titles Act 1993 of the fee simple, estate in perpetuity or leasehold estate of a lot in that building, or the person receiving any rent or charge for the maintenance and management of the common property;
4. in relation to any premises which are not subdivided — means any person who is the registered proprietor of the fee simple, estate in perpetuity or leasehold estate of those premises in the land-register under the Land Titles Act 1993; and
5. where paragraphs (a) to (d) do not apply — means the person for the time being receiving the rent of the premises or building, whether on the person’s own account or as agent or trustee or as receiver, or who would receive the same if the premises or building were let to a tenant, and includes the person whose name is entered in the Valuation List prepared under section 10 of the Property Tax Act 1960 as the owner of the premises or building, or a mortgagee in possession;
“person responsible”, in relation to an exterior feature of a building, means —
1. the owner of the building which the exterior feature is installed on, forms part of or projects outwards from, unless otherwise provided by paragraph (b), (c) or (d);
2. subject to paragraph (c), where the exterior feature is part of —
  1. the common property of any housing estate of the Housing and Development Board — either that Board or the Town Council established under the Town Councils Act 1988 for that housing estate, as the Minister shall designate for that exterior feature; or
  2. the common property or limited common property of any other land (whether or not comprised in a strata title plan) — the owner thereof, unless otherwise provided by paragraph (d);
3. where the exterior feature is a window, grille or shutter that is part of a flat —
  1. in the case of a flat in any housing estate of the Housing and Development Board — the owner of the flat as defined in the Housing and Development Act 1959; or
  2. in the case of any other flat — the owner of that flat; or
4. any other person that may be prescribed under section 22C as the person responsible for the exterior feature;“plans”, in relation to any building works —
  1. includes drawings, details, diagrams, digital representations generated from building information modelling, structural details and calculations showing or relating to the building works; and
  2. if prepared in electronic form, includes the medium in which the plans of building works have been stored;
“premises” includes buildings, lands, easements and hereditaments of any tenure;
“qualified person” means a person who is registered as —
1. an architect under the Architects Act 1991 and has in force a practising certificate issued under that Act; or
2. a professional engineer under the Professional Engineers Act 1991 and has in force a practising certificate issued under that Act;
“repealed Act” means the Building Control Act (Cap. 29, 1985 Revised Edition) in force immediately before 1 May 1989;
“retrofit”, in relation to an exterior feature, means to modify or re‑install the exterior feature as if installing the exterior feature for the first time;
“short-lived materials” means any building materials which are, in the absence of special care, liable to rapid deterioration or are otherwise unsuitable for use in the construction of permanent buildings;
“site supervisor” means a person appointed (whether alone or as a member of a team of site supervisors) under section 10 to be a site supervisor in respect of any small‑scale or large building works;
“small-scale building works” means any building works that are prescribed for the purposes of section 7(1)(c);
“specialist accredited checker” means an accredited checker who is registered under section 16 to undertake the work of an accredited checker as regards the geotechnical aspects of any geotechnical building works;
[Deleted by Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
“specialist builder’s licence” means a licence granted under Part 5A^* authorising the person granted the licence to carry on the business of a specialist builder but excludes such a licence when it is not in force;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
“specialist building works” means any of the following types of building works:
1. piling works consisting of the installation and testing of any of the following:
  1. pre-cast reinforced concrete or pre-stressed concrete piles;
  2. steel piles;
  3. bored cast-in-place reinforced concrete piles;
  4. caissons;
  5. special pile types like micro-piles, barrettes piles and composite piles;
  6. embedded retaining wall piles like diaphragm walls, contiguous bored piles and secant piles;
2. ground support and stabilisation works, including installation and testing of ground anchors, soil nails, rock bolts, ground treatment like chemical grouting and jet-grouting, reinforced-earth, shotcreting and tunnel supports;
3. instrumentation and monitoring works comprising the installation and monitoring of instruments measuring forces, deformation, displacements, tilt, convergence, pore and earth pressures or ground-water levels;
4. structural steelwork consisting of any of the following:
  1. fabrication of structural steel elements;
  2. site erection of structural steel elements involving the cutting, welding or tightening of high-friction grip bolts;
  3. installation or removal of steel supports for geotechnical building works;
5. pre-cast concrete work comprising fabrication of pre-cast structural elements;
6. in-situ post-tensioning work consisting of any of the following:
  1. setting out of tendon profiles;
  2. laying of conduits, anchorages or bursting reinforcement;
  3. pulling or stressing of strands or bars;
  4. pressure grouting of conduits;
7. such other building works as the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, declare;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
“strata title plan” has the meaning given by the Land Titles (Strata) Act 1967^*;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
“structural elements” means those parts or elements of a building which resist forces and moments, and includes foundations, beams, columns, shear cores, structural walls, struts, ground anchors, slabs, trusses, staircases, load‑bearing walls and all other elements designed to resist forces and moments but does not include doors, windows and non‑load bearing walls;
“structural works” means works in relation to the structural elements of the building works;
“sub-contractor”, in relation to any general building works or specialist building works, means a person engaged (otherwise than under a contract of service) by —
1. in the case of general building works — any licensed general builder to supply any labour for or to do any part of those general building works which the licensed general builder has been engaged to do under another contract;
2. in the case of a type of specialist building works — any licensed specialist builder for that type of specialist building works to supply any labour for or to do any part of those specialist building works which the licensed specialist builder has been engaged to do under another contract with —
  1. a developer; or
  2. a licensed general builder; or
3. another person who is a sub-contractor by virtue of paragraph (a) or (b) or this paragraph to supply any labour for or to do any part of the building works which that other person has been engaged to do under another contract;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
“subsidiary management corporation”, in relation to any limited common property, means the subsidiary management corporation constituted for that limited common property under the Land Titles (Strata) Act 1967^*;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
“temporary building” means —
1. any building or structure not more than 2 storeys high constructed of short‑lived materials;
2. any other building or structure not more than 2 storeys high permitted to be used by the competent authority or Commissioner of Building Control for a period not exceeding 36 months, or any other period that may be prescribed (if 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,
but does not include any bridge, any decking for a bridge, or any earth retaining structure;
“temporary occupation licence” means a temporary occupation licence issued under section 8(1) of the repealed Act;
“temporary occupation permit” means a temporary occupation permit granted under section 12(3);
“unauthorised”, in relation to a building or building works, means any building erected, or any building works commenced or carried out, in contravention of any provision of this Act or the building regulations;
“value”, in relation to any building works, means —
1. for any geotechnical building works — the total cost to be expended in carrying out those building works estimated at the time of, and contained in, the application under section 5 for approval of the plans of those building works, including any goods and services tax payable in relation to the supply of the work; or
2. for any other building works — the total cost to be expended in carrying out the building works (including the foundations, basements, structural frame, finishes and the installation of building services) estimated at the time of, and contained in —
  1. the application under section 5 for approval of the plans of the building works; or
  2. the documents that are lodged together with the plans of the building works for the purpose of section 5AA,
  as the case may be, including any goods and services tax payable in relation to the supply of the work;
  [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
  “ventilating system” means a mechanical system for introducing or exhausting air.
  [26/2000; 18/2003; 34/2004; 47/2004; 47/2007; 22/2012; 4/2021]
  [*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to a building includes a reference to a part of a building
The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, vary any of the following referred to in the definition of “geotechnical building works” in subsection (1):
1. the diameter, width or height of any tunnel;
2. the depth of any caisson, cofferdam, trench, ditch, shaft or well;
3. the depth or height of any earth retaining structure in or for a trench, ditch, shaft or well;
  1. the height of any slope;
4. the number of storeys in a building.
Any reference in this Act to a person being an associate of another person (P) is a reference to any of the following persons:
1. any partner of P;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
2. any body corporate in which P is a substantial shareholder as defined in section 81 of the Companies Act 1967;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
3. if P is a body corporate —
  1. a person who is a substantial shareholder of that body corporate as defined in section 81 of the Companies Act 1967; or
  2. a director, secretary or similar executive officer of the body corporate;
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
4. any body corporate of which P is a director, secretary or similar executive officer;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
5. where P is a trustee — a beneficiary or an object of the discretionary trust;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
6. any employer or employee of P.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
For the purposes of subsection (4)(b) and (c)(i) —
1. section 7(5) of the Companies Act 1967 does not apply with respect to the determination of whether a person is a substantial shareholder as defined in section 81 of that Act; and
2. in applying section 7(4A) of the Companies Act 1967 to determine whether a person is a substantial shareholder as defined in section 81 of that Act, a person is an associate of another person if the firstmentioned person is —
  1. a corporation that, by virtue of section 6 of that Act, is deemed to be related to that other person;
  2. a person in accordance with whose directions, instructions or wishes that other person is accustomed or is under an obligation (whether formal or informal) to act in relation to the share mentioned in section 7(4) of that Act;
  3. a person who is accustomed or is under an obligation (whether formal or informal) to act in accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of that other person in relation to that share;
  4. a body corporate that is, or a majority of the directors of which are, accustomed or under an obligation (whether formal or informal) to act in accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of that other person in relation to that share; or
  5. a body corporate in accordance with the directions, instructions or wishes of which, or of a majority of the directors of which, that other person is under an obligation (whether formal or informal) to act in relation to that share.
    [35/2014]
Where —
1. by or under any provision of this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act an act or thing is required or directed to be done within a particular period or before a particular time, or such extended period or time as the Commissioner of Building Control may allow under subsection (6);
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
2. failure to do that act or thing within the period or before the time mentioned in paragraph (a) constitutes an offence; and
3. that act or thing is not done within the period or before the time mentioned in paragraph (a),
the obligation to do that act or thing continues, even though that period has expired or that time has passed, until that act or thing is done; and if the failure to do that act or thing within the period or before the time mentioned in paragraph (a) is an offence, a person shall be guilty of a separate offence in respect of each day (including the day of a conviction for any such offence or any later day) or part of a day during which the person continues to refuse or fail to comply with that requirement or direction.
[47/2007]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, upon an application, grant an extension of time within which the person is required by or under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act to do or not to do any thing (whether for the same or less than the period of extension applied for), upon being satisfied that there are good reasons to do so.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

Authorised officers

The Minister may appoint any person or persons that the Minister thinks fit to be the Commissioner of Building Control responsible for the operation of this Act, either generally or for any particular Part or provision of this Act or for any particular regulations made under this Act, and may in the notification specify the extent of and manner in which that responsibility is to be exercised.
[Act 5 of 2025 wef 09/03/2025]
An appointment under subsection (1) must be published in the Gazette.
[Act 5 of 2025 wef 09/03/2025]
The Commissioner of Building Control may generally or specially authorise, by name or office, any of the following persons to exercise or carry out, subject to such conditions or limitations as the Commissioner of Building Control may specify by directions, all or any of the powers conferred or duties imposed on the Commissioner of Building Control under this Act:
1. any public officer;
2. any officer of the Building and Construction Authority;
3. any officer of such other public authority constituted by any written law as the Minister may approve for this purpose.
  [2/2012]
Any person who is authorised under subsection (2) to exercise any power or carry out any duty of the Commissioner of Building Control under this Act —
1. must, when exercising that power or carrying out that duty, comply with the directions of the Commissioner of Building Control;
2. is deemed to be a public servant for the purposes of the Penal Code 1871; and
3. if the person is an officer mentioned in subsection (2)(b) or (c), is deemed to be a public officer for the purposes of this Act.
  [2/2012]

PART 2 CONTROL OF BUILDING WORKS

Division 1 — Application

Application to building works

Except as otherwise expressly provided, this Part applies to all building works except —

building works for a temporary building or the occupation of any such building;
retrofitting of exterior features referred to in Part 3;
building works that are exempted under section 30, or are in relation to a building that is so exempted; and
building works that are prescribed in the building regulations to be insignificant building works.
[47/2007]

Division 2 — Building plan approvals and permits

Application for approval of plans of building works

An application for approval of the plans of any building works must be made to the Commissioner of Building Control by the developer of those building works.
[47/2007]
An application for approval of the plans of any building works must be accompanied by —
1. the application fee prescribed, if any;
2. the names and particulars of —
  1. the appropriate qualified person whom the developer of or the builder (being either a licensed general builder or licensed specialist builder) undertaking the building works has appointed to prepare the plans of those building works; and
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
  2. where the building works comprise wholly or partly of any geotechnical building works, the geotechnical engineer whom the developer of or the builder (being either a licensed general builder or licensed specialist builder) undertaking the building works has appointed to prepare the plans relating to the geotechnical aspects of those geotechnical building works;
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
3. the plans of the building works prepared in accordance with this Act and the building regulations;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
4. in the case of major building works, a certificate from the following accredited checkers:
  1. a certificate by an accredited checker stating that he or she has checked the plans relating to those building works and that, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, the plans so checked do not show any inadequacy in the key structural elements of the building to be erected or affected by those building works; and
  2. where the building works comprise wholly or partly of any geotechnical building works, another certificate by a specialist accredited checker (who may or may not be the same accredited checker mentioned in sub‑paragraph (i)) stating that the specialist accredited checker has checked the geotechnical aspects of those geotechnical building works and that, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, there is no inadequacy in the geotechnical aspects relating to those geotechnical building works;
5. the certificate (in the form prescribed) signed by the qualified person appointed to prepare the plans of those building works, certifying that he prepared those plans; and
6. any other documents that may be prescribed in the building regulations.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
Upon receiving an application under subsection (1) for the approval of plans of any building works, the Commissioner of Building Control must consider the application and may —
1. approve any one or more of the plans submitted to the Commissioner of Building Control, with or without conditions;
2. direct the developer (in writing) to comply with any requirements that the Commissioner of Building Control may specify for the purpose of ensuring that all or any of the plans submitted to him or her comply with the provisions of this Act and the building regulations and to re-submit those plans for his or her approval, within the period specified in the direction; or
3. disapprove any one or more of the plans submitted to him or her.
  [47/2007]
If the direction given by the Commissioner of Building Control under subsection (3)(b) is not complied with within the period specified in that direction, the application for approval of those plans is, at the end of that period, deemed to be disapproved by the Commissioner of Building Control.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, without checking the plans and design calculations of any building works, approve those plans on the basis of —
1. where the plans relate to any major building works or geotechnical building works, the certificate of an accredited checker or specialist accredited checker or both (as the case may be) certifying that —
  1. the accredited checker has checked the plans relating to the major building works and that, to the best of the accredited checker’s knowledge and belief, the plans so checked do not show any inadequacy in the key structural elements of the building to be erected or affected by those major building works; and
  2. where the building works comprise wholly or partly of any geotechnical building works, the specialist accredited checker has checked the geotechnical aspects of the geotechnical building works and that, to the best of the specialist accredited checker’s knowledge and belief, there is no inadequacy in the geotechnical aspects relating to those geotechnical building works; or
2. in any other case, the certificate (in the form prescribed) signed by the qualified person appointed to prepare the plans of those building works, certifying that the qualified person prepared those plans.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
Despite subsection (5), the Commissioner of Building Control may carry out random checks on any of the detailed structural plans, design calculations or geotechnical aspects of any building works before approving those plans under that subsection.
[47/2007]

5A.

Deviations from approved building plans

Where the plans of any building works or proposed building works have been approved by the Commissioner of Building Control under section 5(3)(a) and the developer of the building works intends to depart or deviate from the plans approved, the developer must apply to the Commissioner of Building Control for his or her approval of the amended plans showing the proposed departure or deviation.
[47/2007]
An application under subsection (1) must be accompanied by —
1. the amended plans of the building works prepared in accordance with the building regulations by the appropriate qualified person mentioned in section 5(2)(b)(i) or (ii) or both, as the case may be;
  the names and prescribed particulars of —
  1. the appropriate qualified person whom the developer or builder of the building works has appointed to prepare the amended plans; and
  2. where the building works comprise wholly or partly any geotechnical building works, the geotechnical engineer whom the developer or builder of the building works has appointed to prepare the amended plans relating to the geotechnical aspects of those geotechnical building works;
    [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
2. in the case of major building works, a certificate from the following accredited checkers:
  1. a certificate by an accredited checker stating that he or she has checked the amended plans relating to those building works and that, to the best of the accredited checker’s knowledge and belief, the amended plans so checked do not show any inadequacy in the key structural elements of the building to be erected or affected by those building works; and
  2. where the building works comprise wholly or partly of any geotechnical building works, a certificate by a specialist accredited checker (who may or may not be the same accredited checker mentioned in sub‑paragraph (i)) stating that the specialist accredited checker has checked the amended geotechnical aspects of the geotechnical building works and that, to the best of the specialist accredited checker’s knowledge and belief, there is no inadequacy in the geotechnical aspects relating to those geotechnical building works;
    [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
3. the certificate (in the form prescribed) signed by the qualified person appointed to prepare the amended plans of those building works, certifying that the qualified person prepared those amended plans; and
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
  [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
4. any other documents prescribed in the building regulations.
  [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
The first approval granted under section 5 of any plans of building works ends and is superseded to the extent that the amended plans relating to those same building works are approved under this section (whether or not the approval also relates to other building works).
[47/2007]

5AA.

Plans of lodgment works deemed approved

Despite section 5, the plans of any lodgment works are deemed approved by the Commissioner of Building Control, if all of the conditions in subsection (2) are satisfied.
The conditions mentioned in subsection (1) are as follows:
1. the developer of the lodgment works has lodged the plans of the lodgment works, together with the prescribed lodgment fee (if any) and information and documents prescribed under subsection (7)(b), with the Commissioner of Building Control;
2. the plans comply with all prescribed requirements in this Act and the building regulations that are applicable to such plans;
3. the developer has obtained a written acknowledgment of the lodgment from the Commissioner of Building Control.
The Commissioner of Building Control may issue a written acknowledgment to the developer without checking the plans and design calculations of the lodgment works, on the basis of the information and documents prescribed under subsection (7)(b) that are submitted with the plans.
To avoid doubt, the written acknowledgment is only evidence that the plans of the lodgment works have been lodged with the Commissioner of Building Control, and is not evidence that the plans comply with the prescribed requirements mentioned in subsection (2)(b).
Without affecting subsection (3), if the Commissioner of Building Control is of the view that the plans of the lodgment works lodged with him or her do not comply with any prescribed requirement mentioned in subsection (2)(b), he or she may —
1. refuse to accept any further lodgment of the plans of those lodgment works; and
2. direct the developer of the lodgment works to apply under section 5 for approval of the plans instead.
Nothing in this section prevents a developer from applying under section 5 for approval of the plans of any lodgment works, instead of lodging the plans of those works with the Commissioner of Building Control under this section.
The building regulations may —
1. prescribe as lodgment works any class of building works that have been assessed as suitable to be so prescribed because they are less complex building works; and
2. prescribe the matters to be submitted with the plans for lodgment works (including any amended plans), including but not limited to —
  1. the lodgment fee, if any;
  2. the information or documents to be submitted with the plans or amended plans;
  3. the timelines for making the plans or amended plans; and
  4. the requirements that the plans or amended plans of the lodgment works must comply with.
    [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]

5AB.

Deviations from lodged building plans

Where the plans of any lodgment works are deemed approved under section 5AA and the developer of the lodgment works intends to depart or deviate from the plans, then —
1. if the departure or deviation results in the building works no longer being lodgment works, the developer must apply under section 5 for approval of the plans of the proposed departure or deviation; or
2. if paragraph (a) does not apply, the developer must —
  1. comply with the conditions in section 5AA(2) in relation to the amended plans, and section 5AA applies accordingly in relation to such plans; or
  2. apply under section 5 for approval of the plans of the proposed departure or deviation.
The first deemed approval under section 5AA of the plans of any lodgment works ends and is superseded to the extent that the plans of the proposed departure or deviation relating to those lodgment works are approved or deemed approved by the Commissioner of Building Control under section 5 or 5AA, as the case may be.
[Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]

5B.

Lapsing or revocation of building plans approval

Any approval granted under section 5 or 5A, or deemed approval under section 5AA, in respect of any building works automatically lapses —
1. when any written permission mentioned in section 12 of the Planning Act 1998 that has been granted in respect of any development of land involving the building works lapses pursuant to section 20 of that Act;
2. if no such written permission has been granted in respect of those building works, at the end of a continuous period of 6 months during which the building works are suspended; or
3. if the building works do not start within the period prescribed in the building regulations.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, at any time, revoke any approval granted in respect of any building works under section 5 or 5A if he or she is satisfied that any information given in the application for approval or any document submitted to the Commissioner of Building Control in connection with the application for approval is false in a material particular.
[47/2007]
Where the Commissioner of Building Control has under subsection (2) revoked any approval granted under section 5 or 5A in respect of any plans of building works, any permit, certificate of statutory completion and temporary occupation permit granted in respect of those building works also automatically lapses.
[47/2007]

Permit to carry out structural works

Subject to the provisions of this Act, an application for a permit to carry out structural works in any building works may be made at any time to the Commissioner of Building Control by —
1. the developer of those building works;
2. the builder (who is either a licensed general builder or licensed specialist builder) whom the developer has appointed in respect of those building works; and
3. the qualified person whom the developer or builder in paragraph (b) has appointed under section 8 or 11 to supervise those building works.
An application for a permit to carry out structural works in any building works must be accompanied by —
1. a notification, signed by the developer of the building works, stating the date on which those building works are to start;
2. the names and particulars of —
  1. the qualified person appointed under section 8 or 11 to supervise the carrying out of those building works; and
  2. where the building works comprise wholly or partly of any geotechnical building works, the geotechnical engineer who is appointed under section 8 or 11 to supervise the geotechnical aspects of those geotechnical building works;
3. the following documents signed by the builder undertaking those building works, who is either a licensed general builder or licensed specialist builder:
  1. an acceptance of the builder’s appointment in respect of the structural works; and
  2. an undertaking of responsibility for strict compliance with the provisions of this Act and the building regulations;
4. the following documents signed by the qualified person or persons mentioned in paragraph (b):
  1. a confirmation of his or her appointment in respect of the building works; and
  2. a notice of the names and particulars of the site supervisor, or all members of the team of site supervisors, he or she has appointed in respect of the structural works in accordance with section 10(1) or (2); and
5. any other documents that the Commissioner of Building Control may require.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, on an application made under subsection (1), grant a permit to carry out structural works in any building works jointly to —
1. the developer of those building works;
2. the builder whom the developer has appointed in respect of those building works if the builder is a licensed general builder or licensed specialist builder, as the case may be; and
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
3. the qualified person whom the developer or builder in paragraph (b) has appointed under section 8 or 11 to supervise those building works,
subject to any terms and conditions that the Commissioner of Building Control thinks fit to impose.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
The Commissioner of Building Control may revoke a permit to carry out any structural works if the structural works, if started, are suspended for a continuous period of more than 3 months.
[47/2007]
Any permit to carry out structural works in any building works granted under this section is not transferable, and automatically lapses if any of the following permit holders ceases to be:
1. the developer of those building works;
2. the builder whom the developer has appointed in respect of those building works; or
3. the qualified person whom the developer or builder in paragraph (b) has appointed under section 8 or 11 to supervise those building works.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
In addition to subsection (5)(b), a permit to carry out structural works in any building works that is granted to a builder who is a licensed general builder or a licensed specialist builder automatically lapses if —
1. any of the following licences of the builder ceases to be in force:
  1. the general builder’s licence;
  2. the specialist builder’s licence relating to those structural works; and
2. the Commissioner of Building Control does not waive the application of this subsection in the particular case.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]

6A.

Modification or waiver of building regulations

The Commissioner of Building Control may, on receipt of an application in relation to any particular building works, advertisements, signboards or skysigns, modify or waive, subject to any terms and conditions that he or she may impose, any of the requirements of the building regulations.
[47/2007]
Every application under subsection (1) must —
1. be made to the Commissioner of Building Control by or on behalf of the developer of the building works, advertisements, signboards or skysigns;
2. be in such form as the Commissioner of Building Control may require;
3. state the nature and extent of and the reasons for the proposed modification or waiver of those requirements; and
4. be accompanied by any plans and other particulars that may be prescribed in the building regulations.
  [47/2007]

Division 3 — Building works

Supervision of building works

Except as otherwise provided in this Act or the building regulations —
1. all building works must be carried out under the supervision of an appropriate qualified person;
2. the structural elements of all such building works as are prescribed in the building regulations (called in this Act large building works) must be carried out under the full‑time supervision of a site supervisor, or a team of site supervisors, working under an appropriate qualified person’s control and direction; and
3. concreting, piling, pre-stressing, tightening of high-friction grip bolts, the construction of earth retaining and stabilising structures, or other critical structural works of all such building works as are prescribed in the building regulations (called in this Act small-scale building works) must be carried out under the immediate supervision of —
  1. an appropriate qualified person; or
  2. a site supervisor, or a team of site supervisors, working under an appropriate qualified person’s control and direction.
    [47/2007; 22/2012]
Except as otherwise provided in this Act or the building regulations, a person must not commence or carry out the geotechnical aspects of any geotechnical building works except —
1. under the supervision of the qualified person appointed under section 8(1)(d)(ii) or 11(1)(d)(ii) or (iii)(B); or
2. under the full-time supervision of a site supervisor or a team of site supervisors appointed under section 10 by the qualified person in paragraph (a) and working under his or her control and direction.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing contravention, to an additional fine not exceeding $1,000 for each day or part of a day the contravention continues,

and if the contravention continues after the conviction, the person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which the contravention continues after conviction.

[47/2007]

7A.

Tests of and in connection with building works

Subject to subsection (3), the qualified person appointed to supervise the carrying out of any building works must carry out or cause to be carried out any tests of or in connection with the building works that may be prescribed in the building regulations or required by the Commissioner of Building Control.
[47/2007]
Any tests prescribed, or required to be carried out, under subsection (1) must be carried out in the manner and at the places and times that may be prescribed in the building regulations.
[47/2007]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, on an application in relation to any particular building works, give a direction waiving the operation of subsection (1) in relation to those building works if the Commissioner of Building Control is satisfied that the operation of that subsection in relation to that particular case would be unreasonable.
[47/2007]
An application under subsection (3) must be accompanied by any particulars that may be prescribed in the building regulations.
[47/2007]
If a qualified person fails to comply with subsection (1), the Commissioner of Building Control may, by written order served on the qualified person, every site supervisor, and the builder and specialist builder (if any) of the building works (being licensed under Part 5A^*) and the developer, require the building works to cease until the order is withdrawn.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
Without affecting the right of the Commissioner of Building Control to exercise his or her power under subsection (5), any qualified person who fails to comply with any requirement under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing contravention, to an additional fine not exceeding $1,000 for each day or part of a day the qualified person fails to comply with the requirement,
and if the failure to comply continues after the conviction, the qualified person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which the failure to comply continues after conviction.
[47/2007]
If any person on whom an order made under subsection (5) is served fails to comply with the order, the person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing contravention, to an additional fine not exceeding $500 for each day or part of a day the person fails to comply with the requirement,
and if the failure to comply continues after the conviction, the person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the failure to comply continues after conviction.
[47/2007]

Division 4 — Duties of developers, qualified persons, site supervisors and builders

Duties of developers

Subject to the provisions of this Act, every developer of building works must appoint —
1. an appropriate qualified person to prepare the plans of the building works in accordance with this Act if no such person is appointed by the builder in paragraph (c);
2. an appropriate qualified person to supervise the carrying out of those building works if no such person is appointed by the builder in paragraph (c);
3. a builder who is licensed under Part 5A^* to carry out those building works;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
  [*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
4. where the building works comprise wholly or partly of any geotechnical building works and if the builder in paragraph (c) does not appoint any of the following:
  1. a qualified person who is a geotechnical engineer to prepare the plans relating to the geotechnical aspects of the building works, who may or may not be the same qualified person mentioned in paragraph (a); and
  2. a qualified person who is a geotechnical engineer to supervise the geotechnical aspects of those building works, who may or may not be the same qualified person mentioned in paragraph (b);
5. in respect of the detailed structural plans and design calculations of major building works —
  1. an accredited checker who is either a director, partner, member or an employee of an accredited checking organisation, if the value of the building works exceeds the prescribed limit in the building regulations; or
  2. an accredited checker (whether or not a director, partner, member or an employee of an accredited checking organisation), if the value of the building works does not exceed the prescribed limit mentioned in sub‑paragraph (i); and
6. where the building works comprise wholly or partly of any geotechnical building works —
  1. a specialist accredited checker in respect of the geotechnical aspects of those building works; and
  2. in addition to appointing a builder under paragraph (c), a licensed specialist builder to monitor instruments measuring pore pressures for saturated and unsaturated levels, ground water levels, ground movements or building movements and to measure forces, deformations or displacements.
    [47/2007; 22/2012]
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
The developer of any building works must notify the Commissioner of Building Control of every appointment it makes under subsection (1)(c) and (f)(ii) (if any) within 14 days after making that appointment.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
If any qualified person, builder, licensed specialist builder, accredited checker or specialist accredited checker appointed under subsection (1) in respect of building works becomes unwilling to act or unable, whether by reason of the termination of his, her or its appointment or for any other reason, to carry out his, her or its respective duties under this Act, the developer must —
1. without delay appoint under subsection (1) another qualified person, builder, licensed specialist builder, accredited checker or specialist accredited checker (as the case may be) in his, her or its place; and
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
2. within 7 days thereafter, notify the Commissioner of Building Control of that substitute appointment.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
The developer of any building works must notify the Commissioner of Building Control of any contravention of this Act or the building regulations relating to those building works of which the developer knows or ought reasonably to know.
[47/2007]
Any developer of building works who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (1A) or (2)(b) shall be guilty of an offence.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Any developer who contravenes subsection (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
[47/2007]
It is a defence in any prosecution for a contravention of subsection (3) for the person charged to prove to the satisfaction of the court that the person did not know and could not reasonably have discovered the contravention mentioned in the charge.
[47/2007]

Duties of qualified persons and specialists

Every qualified person who is appointed under section 8 or 11 to prepare the plans of any building works must —
1. take all reasonable steps and exercise due diligence to ensure that the building works are designed in accordance with —
  1. the provisions of this Act; and
  2. subject to section 6A, the requirements prescribed in the building regulations;
2. notify the Commissioner of Building Control of any contravention of this Act or the building regulations in relation to those building works of which the qualified person knows or ought reasonably to know; and
3. supply a copy of every plan of the building works approved or deemed approved by the Commissioner of Building Control to —
  1. the site supervisor or the team of site supervisors (as the case may be) appointed under section 10;
  2. the builder of those building works; and\
  3. the qualified person appointed under section 8 or 11 to supervise those building works.
    [47/2007; 22/2012]
    [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
For the purpose of subsection (1)(a) —
1. the plans of any building works that are prepared in accordance with the acceptable solutions as set out in the Approved Document issued by the Commissioner of Building Control in respect of such building works are deemed to comply with the objectives and performance requirements that are prescribed by the building regulations in respect of such building works; and
2. where the qualified person appointed to prepare the plans of any building works intends to utilise any alternative solution (that is to say, a solution that entails the use of any design, material or construction method that differs completely or partially from those in the acceptable solution), the qualified person must —
  1. take all reasonable steps and exercise due diligence to ensure that the alternative solution satisfies the objectives and performance requirements that are prescribed by the building regulations in respect of such building works; or
  2. obtain the certification of another person who has such requisite specialist knowledge or qualification in the application of the alternative solution as the Commissioner of Building Control may approve (called in this section a specialist in the alternative solution), that the alternative solution satisfies the objectives and performance requirements prescribed by the building regulations in respect of such building works.
    [47/2007; 2/2012; 22/2012]
A specialist in the alternative solution must not issue any certification for the purposes of subsection (2)(b)(ii) unless the specialist in the alternative solution has taken all reasonable steps and exercised due diligence to ensure that the alternative solution in respect of which his or her certification is being sought satisfies the objectives and performance requirements that are prescribed by the building regulations in respect of the building works for which the alternative solution is to be applied.
[47/2007; 22/2012]
Every qualified person who is appointed under section 8 or 11 to supervise the carrying out of any building works, or the geotechnical aspects of any geotechnical building works, must —
1. take all reasonable steps and exercise due diligence in supervising and inspecting the building works or geotechnical building works (as the case may be) to ensure that those building works are being carried out in accordance with —
  1. the provisions of this Act;
  2. subject to section 6A, the building regulations;
  3. the relevant plans approved or deemed approved by the Commissioner of Building Control; and
    [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
  4. any terms and conditions imposed by the Commissioner of Building Control;
2. in the absence of a site supervisor, take all reasonable steps and exercise due diligence in giving immediate supervision to the carrying out of concreting, piling, pre‑stressing, tightening of high‑friction grip bolts or other critical structural works of the building works to ensure that those critical structural works of the building works are being carried out in accordance with —
  1. the provisions of this Act;
  2. subject to section 6A, the building regulations;
  3. the relevant plans approved or deemed approved by the Commissioner of Building Control; and
    [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
  4. any terms and conditions imposed by the Commissioner of Building Control;
3. notify the Commissioner of Building Control of any contravention of this Act or the building regulations in relation to those building works of which the qualified person knows or ought reasonably to know;
4. keep and maintain at the premises on which building works are carried out such documents, books and records as may be prescribed in the building regulations;
5. submit to the Commissioner of Building Control at the prescribed times such reports and certificates as may be prescribed in the building regulations; and
6. notify the Commissioner of Building Control if the building works have been suspended for a period of more than 3 months.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
If any qualified person who is appointed under section 8 or 11 —
1. to prepare the plans of any building works; or
2. to supervise the carrying out of any building works, or the geotechnical aspects of any geotechnical building works,
becomes unwilling or unable, whether by reason of the termination of his or her appointment or for any other reason, to carry out his or her duties under this Act, the qualified person must, within 14 days of ceasing to carry out his or her duties, notify the Commissioner of Building Control and the builder of those building works of that fact.
[47/2007; 22/2012]
If any site supervisor appointed under section 10 in respect of any building works becomes unwilling or unable, whether by reason of the termination of his or her appointment or for any other reason, to carry out his or her duties under section 10(5), the qualified person appointed under section 8 or 11 to supervise the carrying out of the building works must —
1. appoint another site supervisor in his or her place; and
2. within 7 days thereafter, notify the Commissioner of Building Control of that substitute appointment.
  [47/2007]
A qualified person who is appointed under section 8 or 11 to supervise the carrying out of any building works, or the geotechnical aspects of any geotechnical building works, must not supervise —
1. any works relating to the structural elements of any major building works; or
2. the geotechnical aspects of the geotechnical building works,
if the qualified person, or any nominee of the qualified person, is a partner, an officer or an employee of —
1. the developer of those building works;
2. the builder of those building works; or
3. an associate of the developer or builder mentioned in paragraph (c) or (d).
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
If any qualified person appointed under section 8 or 11 to prepare the plans of any building works contravenes subsection (1)(a) or (2)(b), the qualified person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing contravention, to an additional fine not exceeding $1,000 for each day or part of a day the qualified person fails to comply with the requirement,
and if the contravention continues after the conviction, the qualified person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which the contravention continues after conviction.
[47/2007; 22/2012]
If any specialist in the alternative solution mentioned in subsection (2)(b)(ii) contravenes subsection (3), the specialist in the alternative solution shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
[22/2012]
If any qualified person appointed under section 8 or 11 contravenes subsection (4)(a) or (b), the qualified person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing contravention, to an additional fine not exceeding $1,000 for each day or part of a day the qualified person fails to comply with the requirement,
and if the contravention continues after the conviction, the qualified person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which the contravention continues after conviction.
[47/2007]
If —
1. any qualified person appointed under section 8 or 11 to prepare the plans of any building works contravenes subsection (1)(b); or
2. any qualified person appointed under section 8 or 11 contravenes subsection (4)(c), (d) or (e) or (7),
the qualified person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing contravention, to an additional fine not exceeding $1,000 for each day or part of a day the qualified person contravenes subsection (1)(b) or (4)(c), (d) or (e), as the case may be,
and if the contravention continues after the conviction, the qualified person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which the contravention continues after conviction.
[47/2007]
If —
1. any qualified person appointed under section 8 or 11 to prepare the plans of any building works contravenes subsection (5); or
2. any qualified person appointed under section 8 or 11 contravenes subsection (4)(f) or (5),
the qualified person shall be guilty of an offence.
[47/2007]
It is a defence in any prosecution for a contravention of subsection (1)(b) or (4)(c) for the person charged to prove to the satisfaction of the court that the person did not know and could not reasonably have discovered the contravention mentioned in the charge.
[47/2007]

10.

Duties of site supervisors

The appropriate qualified person appointed under section 8 or 11 to supervise the carrying out of any large building works must appoint the following site supervisors in respect of the structural elements of the large building works:
1. a team of site supervisors comprising not less than any number of persons that may be prescribed in relation to the value of those large building works; or
2. at least one site supervisor, in any other case.
  [47/2007]
The appropriate qualified person appointed under section 8 or 11 to supervise the carrying out of any small‑scale building works must appoint at least one site supervisor, in respect of the critical structural elements of the small‑scale building works.
[47/2007]
A person must not be appointed under this section as a site supervisor in respect of any building works for the purposes of this Act unless —
1. he or she possesses the initial practical experience and qualifications prescribed; and
2. he or she remains accredited with the Building and Construction Authority or a prescribed organisation.
  [47/2007]
A site supervisor must not supervise any structural works of any major building works if the site supervisor, or any nominee of the site supervisor, is a partner, an officer or an employee of —
1. the developer or builder of those building works; or
2. any associate of the developer or builder of those building works.
  [47/2007]
Every site supervisor appointed under this section in respect of any building works must take all reasonable steps and exercise due diligence in giving —
1. in the case of large building works — full‑time supervision to the carrying out of the structural elements of the building works; and
2. in the case of small-scale building works — immediate supervision to the carrying out of the critical structural elements of the building works,
to ensure that the structural elements or critical structural elements (as the case may be) of the building works in question are carried out in accordance with the plans of the building works supplied to him or her in accordance with section 9(1)(c) by a qualified person, and with any terms and conditions imposed by the Commissioner of Building Control.
[47/2007]
If a site supervisor appointed in respect of any building works becomes unwilling or unable, whether by reason of the termination of his or her appointment or for any other reason, to carry out his or her duties under subsection (5), the site supervisor must, within 7 days of ceasing to carry out those duties, notify the Commissioner of Building Control of that fact.
[47/2007]
Any site supervisor who contravenes subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
[47/2007]
Any site supervisor who contravenes subsection (5) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing contravention, to an additional fine not exceeding $1,000 for each day or part of a day the site supervisor fails to comply with the requirement,
and if the contravention continues after the conviction, the site supervisor shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which the contravention continues after conviction.
[47/2007]
Any site supervisor or qualified person who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (6) shall be guilty of an offence.
[47/2007]

11.

Duties of builders

A builder undertaking any building works must —
1. ensure that the building works are carried out in accordance with —
  1. the provisions of this Act;
  2. subject to section 6A, the building regulations;
  3. the relevant plans approved or deemed approved by the Commissioner of Building Control and supplied to the builder by a qualified person under section 9(1)(c); and
    [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
  4. any terms and conditions imposed by the Commissioner of Building Control in accordance with the provisions of this Act and, subject to section 6A, the building regulations;
2. notify the Commissioner of Building Control of any contravention of this Act or the building regulations relating to those building works of which the builder knows or ought reasonably to know;
3. keep at the premises on which the building works are carried out, and make available on request (at a reasonable time) by any licensed specialist builder appointed in respect of specialist building works comprised in those same building works, all plans of those building works approved or deemed approved by the Commissioner of Building Control and supplied to the builder by a qualified person under section 9(1)(c);
  [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
4. where no such qualified person has been appointed by the developer in respect of those building works, appoint —
  1. an appropriate qualified person to prepare the plans of the building works;
  2. an appropriate qualified person to supervise the carrying out of those building works; and
  3. where the building works comprise wholly or partly of any geotechnical building works —
    1. a geotechnical engineer (who may or may not be the same person mentioned in sub‑paragraph (i)) to prepare the plans relating to the geotechnical aspects of the geotechnical building works; and
    2. a geotechnical engineer (who may or may not be the same person mentioned in sub‑paragraph (ii)) to supervise the geotechnical aspects of the geotechnical building works;
5. have an adequate number of construction supervisors working under the builder’s direction to assist the builder to ensure that paragraph (a) is complied with;
6. within 7 days of the completion of the building works, certify that the new building has been erected or the building works have been carried out in accordance with the provisions of this Act and, subject to section 6A, the building regulations and deliver that certificate to the Commissioner of Building Control;
  at all times before the completion of the building works the builder is undertaking, hold a licence under Part 5A^* authorising the builder to carry out those building works;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
  [*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
7. no later than the 14th day after the appointment or termination of any licensed specialist builder (including the builder undertaking the building works) in respect of any specialist building works comprised in those building works, notify the Commissioner of Building Control of that appointment or termination, as the case may be; and
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
8. comply with any other duties that may be prescribed in the building regulations.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
A licensed specialist builder undertaking any specialist building works must —
1. ensure that the specialist building works are carried out in accordance with —
  1. the provisions of this Act;
  2. subject to section 6A, the building regulations;
  3. the relevant plans approved or deemed approved by the Commissioner of Building Control; and
    [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
  4. any terms and conditions imposed by the Commissioner of Building Control in accordance with the provisions of this Act and, subject to section 6A, the building regulations;
  no later than the 7th day after the completion of the specialist building works —
  1. certify that the specialist building works have been carried out in accordance with paragraph (a); and
  2. submit the certificate in respect of the matters in sub-paragraph (i) to the Commissioner of Building Control;
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
2. notify the Commissioner of Building Control of any contravention of this Act or the building regulations relating to those specialist building works, being a contravention which the licensed specialist builder knows or ought reasonably to know; and
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
3. comply with any other duties that may be prescribed in the building regulations.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Without limiting subsection (2), a licensed specialist builder who is appointed by the developer under section 8(1)(f)(ii) in respect of any building works must not carry out any work monitoring instruments measuring pore pressures for saturated and unsaturated levels, ground water levels, ground movements or building movements and to measure forces, deformations or displacements in connection with those building works if the licensed specialist builder, or any nominee of the licensed specialist builder, is a partner, an officer or an employee of —
1. the developer or builder of those building works; or
2. any associate of the developer or builder of those building works.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
If any builder or licensed specialist builder appointed under this section or section 8 in respect of building works becomes unwilling to act or unable, whether by reason of the termination of the builder’s or specialist builder’s appointment or for any other reason, to carry out the builder’s or specialist builder’s duties under subsection (1) or (2), the builder or licensed specialist builder (as the case may be) must, within 14 days of ceasing to carry out the builder’s or specialist builder’s duties, notify the Commissioner of Building Control of that fact.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
If any qualified person who is appointed under section 8 or this section —
1. to prepare the plans of any building works; or
2. to supervise any building works,
becomes unwilling or unable, whether by reason of the termination of his or her appointment or for any other reason, to carry out his or her duties under this Act, the builder and licensed specialist builder of those building works must cease or must not commence carrying out the building works until the developer or the builder appoints another appropriate qualified person in respect of those building works.
[47/2007]\
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
A builder who contravenes subsection (1)(a), or a licensed specialist builder who contravenes subsection (2)(a) or (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
If —
1. a builder contravenes subsection (1)(b) or (c); or
2. a licensed specialist builder contravenes subsection (2)(b),
the builder or licensed specialist builder (as the case may be) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing contravention, to an additional fine not exceeding $1,000 for each day or part of a day the builder or licensed specialist builder contravenes subsection (1)(b) or (c) or (2)(b),
and if the contravention continues after the conviction, the builder or licensed specialist builder (as the case may be) shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which the contravention continues after conviction.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
It is a defence in any prosecution for a contravention of subsection (1)(b) or (2)(b) for the builder or licensed specialist builder to prove to the satisfaction of the court that the builder or licensed specialist builder did not know nor could reasonably have discovered the contravention or non‑compliance mentioned in the charge.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
If —
1. a builder, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1)(d), (e), (f), (g) or (h) or (4); or
2. a licensed specialist builder, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (2)(aa) or (c) or (4),
the builder or licensed specialist builder (as the case may be) shall be guilty of an offence.
[47/2007]
Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Any builder or licensed specialist builder who contravenes subsection (5) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing contravention, to an additional fine not exceeding $1,000 for each day or part of a day the contravention continues,
and if the contravention continues after the conviction, the builder or licensed specialist builder (as the case may be) shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which the contravention continues after conviction.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
To avoid doubt —
1. a builder undertaking any building works is responsible for complying with subsection (1)(a); and
2. a licensed specialist builder undertaking any specialist building works is responsible for complying with subsection (2)(a),
despite the builder or licensed specialist builder (as the case may be) entering into a contract or an arrangement with a sub-contractor to execute the whole or any part of those building works or specialist building works, as the case may be.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]

Division 5 — Building occupancy

12.

Occupation of buildings

Except as otherwise provided in this Act, a person must not occupy, or permit or cause to be occupied, any building where any building works have been carried out unless the Commissioner of Building Control has issued a certificate of statutory completion in respect of that building.
[47/2007; 22/2012]
An application for a certificate of statutory completion in respect of any building must be made to the Commissioner of Building Control in the prescribed manner and accompanied by any certificates or written approvals required to be obtained in respect of the building that may be prescribed.
[22/2012]
Nothing in subsection (1) prohibits —
1. the occupation by any person of any building for the sole purpose of preventing any damage to the building or any theft of any property therein; or
2. the occupation by any person of any building in respect of which a temporary occupation permit has been granted.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
An application for a temporary occupation permit in respect of any building must be made to the Commissioner of Building Control in the prescribed manner and accompanied by any certificates or written approvals required to be obtained in respect of the building that may be prescribed.
[22/2012]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, on an application in the prescribed manner in relation to any building, grant a temporary occupation permit in respect of the building subject to any written directions that the Commissioner of Building Control may specify and, in particular, those written directions may —
1. limit the period for which the temporary occupation permit is granted;
2. require any work or alteration to the building to be carried out that may be specified to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Building Control; and
3. provide for the completion of the work or alteration before the expiration of a specified period.
  [47/2007]
A temporary occupation permit is only prima facie evidence that a building is suitable for occupation and is not to be taken to be evidence of compliance with the provisions of this Act, the building regulations or any other written law.
[47/2007]
The Commissioner of Building Control may amend, suspend or, in the event of failure to comply with any written direction issued under subsection (3), revoke any temporary occupation permit.
[47/2007]
Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or fails to comply with any written direction issued under subsection (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing contravention or failure to comply, to an additional fine not exceeding $1,000 for each day or part of a day the contravention or failure to comply continues,
and if the contravention or failure to comply continues after the conviction, the person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which the contravention or failure to comply continues after conviction.
[47/2007]

Division 6 — Accredited checkers

13.

Unlawful undertaking work as accredited checker, etc.

Any person who —
1. undertakes work which is required by this Act or the building regulations to be performed by an accredited checker when the person is not an accredited checker under this Division or when the person’s registration as such is suspended; or
2. undertakes work which is required by this Act or the building regulations to be performed by a specialist accredited checker when the person is not a specialist accredited checker under this Division or when the person’s registration as such is suspended,
shall be guilty of an offence.
[47/2007]
Any person who undertakes any work on behalf of an organisation, being work which is required by this Act or the building regulations to be undertaken by an accredited checker who is either a director, partner, member or an employee of an accredited checking organisation when —
1. it is not registered as an accredited checking organisation under this Division; or
2. its registration as such is suspended,
shall be guilty of an offence.
[47/2007]
If —
1. an accredited checker undertakes work on the accredited checker’s own behalf as an accredited checker in relation to building works the value of which is more than —
  1. $10 million, if no other sum is prescribed under paragraph (b); or
  2. any other sum that the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, specify; or
2. a specialist accredited checker undertakes work on the specialist accredited checker’s own behalf as a specialist accredited checker in relation to building works the value of which is more than the sum specified by the Minister by notification in the Gazette,
the accredited checker or specialist accredited checker (as the case may be) shall be guilty of an offence.
[47/2007]
If an organisation which is not registered as an accredited checking organisation under this Division advertises or holds itself out or describes itself in any way to be an accredited checking organisation, that organisation shall be guilty of an offence.
[47/2007]

14.

Register of accredited checkers, etc.

The Commissioner of Building Control must keep and maintain the following registers:
1. a register of accredited checkers registered under section 16;
2. a register of specialist accredited checkers registered under section 16; and
3. a register of accredited checking organisations registered under section 16,
in which must be entered the names and prescribed particulars of the persons and organisations so registered.
[47/2007]
The absence of the name of any person or organisation from the registers kept under subsection (1) is prima facie evidence that —
1. in the case of the register of accredited checkers, that the person is not so registered or that the person’s registration has been suspended or cancelled;
2. in the case of the register of specialist accredited checkers, that the person is not so registered or that the person’s registration has been suspended or cancelled; and
3. in the case of the register of accredited checking organisations, that the organisation is not so registered or that its registration has been suspended or cancelled.
  [47/2007]
The registers mentioned in subsection (1) must be kept and maintained at the office of the Commissioner of Building Control and must be available for inspection by any person without charge during office hours.
[47/2007]

15.

Who may be registered as accredited checker, etc., or accredited checking organisation

Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person who applies to be registered, or to renew the person’s registration, as an accredited checker or as a specialist accredited checker (as the case may be) is eligible to be so registered or have the person’s registration so renewed if, and only if the person —
1. has paid the prescribed fee for the registration or renewal;
2. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the person has the qualifications and the practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) prescribed for an accredited checker, or the specialist qualifications and the specialist practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) prescribed for a specialist accredited checker, as the case may be; and
3. satisfies any other requirements that may be prescribed for such registration or renewal.
  [47/2007]
Without limiting subsection (1), the Commissioner of Building Control may refuse to register, or to renew the registration of, a person as an accredited checker or as a specialist accredited checker if, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Building Control —
1. the person is not of good character and reputation; or
2. there are reasonable grounds for believing that the person will not carry out the duties of an accredited checker or a specialist accredited checker (as the case may be) in accordance with this Act or the building regulations.
  [47/2007]
Subject to the provisions of this Act, a partnership or corporation which applies to be registered, or to renew its registration, as an accredited checking organisation is eligible to be so registered or have its registration so renewed if, and only if —
1. it is —
  1. a partnership consisting wholly of professional engineers registered under the Professional Engineers Act 1991 or which is licensed under that Act to supply professional engineering services in Singapore; or
  2. a corporation licensed under the Professional Engineers Act 1991 to supply professional engineering services in Singapore; and
2. it satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that it meets any requirements that may be prescribed for such registration or renewal.
  [47/2007]

16.

Registration of accredited checkers, etc., or accredited checking organisations

An application for registration, or to renew any registration, as —
1. an accredited checker;
2. a specialist accredited checker; or
3. an accredited checking organisation,
must be made in such manner and must be accompanied by such documents and particulars as the Commissioner of Building Control may determine.
[47/2007]
Upon receiving an application under subsection (1), or an application to renew such registration, the Commissioner of Building Control must consider the application and may —
1. register or renew the registration of (as the case may be) the applicant as an accredited checker, a specialist accredited checker or an accredited checking organisation, with or without conditions; or
2. refuse the registration or renewal.
  [47/2007]
Where the Commissioner of Building Control has registered a person, or renewed the person’s registration, as an accredited checker, a specialist accredited checker or an accredited checking organisation, he or she must issue to that person a certificate of such accreditation.
[47/2007]
Every registration as an accredited checker, a specialist accredited checker or an accredited checking organisation is, unless earlier cancelled under section 17, valid for the period specified therein (being not longer than 12 months), and upon its expiry, that registration may be renewed for the period specified (being also not longer than 12 months).
[47/2007]
The Commissioner of Building Control may appoint a committee of persons to assist him or her in considering applications for registration, or renewal of registration, as an accredited checker, a specialist accredited checker or an accredited checking organisation.
[47/2007]

17.

Cancellation, etc., of registration

Subject to section 22, the Commissioner of Building Control may by order cancel, or suspend for a period not exceeding 6 months, the registration of an accredited checker or a specialist accredited checker if the Commissioner of Building Control is satisfied that the accredited checker or specialist accredited checker, as the case may be —
1. obtained his or her registration or renewed registration by fraud or misrepresentation;
2. no longer satisfies any of the requirements in section 15(1) by virtue of which he or she was so registered;
3. is convicted of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty or an offence under this Act or the building regulations;
4. is for any medical reason or any other reason no longer in a position to carry out the duties of an accredited checker or a specialist accredited checker (as the case may be) effectively under this Act or the building regulations;
5. has contravened or failed to comply with section 18(4) or (5);
6. has for any reason been censured or ordered to pay a financial penalty by a Disciplinary Committee under the Professional Engineers Act 1991 or has had his or her registration as a professional engineer under that Act revoked or suspended; or
7. has failed to meet any standards of performance that may be prescribed in the building regulations.
  [47/2007]
The Commissioner of Building Control may by order cancel, or suspend for a period not exceeding 6 months, the registration of an accredited checking organisation if the Commissioner of Building Control is satisfied that —
1. it obtained its registration or renewal of registration by fraud or misrepresentation;
2. it has contravened or failed to comply with section 18(4) or (5);]
3. it has been convicted of an offence under this Act or the building regulations;
4. any accredited checker who is —
  1. a partner or an employee of the accredited checking organisation which is a partnership; or
  2. a director or manager or an employee of the accredited checking organisation which is a corporation,
  has been convicted of an offence under this Act or the building regulations;
5. it is no longer in a position to carry out the duties of an accredited checking organisation under this Act or the building regulations;
6. it no longer satisfies any of the prescribed requirements by virtue of which it was so registered; or
7. its performance as an accredited checking organisation, or the performance of any accredited checker who is a director, partner, member or an employee of the accredited checking organisation and acting on its behalf, fails to meet any standards of performance that may be prescribed in the building regulations.
  [47/2007]
The Commissioner of Building Control must not exercise his or her powers under subsection (1) or (2) unless an opportunity of being heard has been given to the accredited checker, specialist accredited checker or accredited checking organisation against whom the Commissioner of Building Control intends to exercise his or her powers.
[47/2007]
The Commissioner of Building Control may appoint —
1. a committee of persons; and
2. an advocate and solicitor,
to assist the Commissioner of Building Control in considering any representation that may be made to him or her under subsection (3).
[47/2007]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, in addition to any order made under subsection (1) or (2), order the accredited checker, specialist accredited checker or accredited checking organisation that is the subject of the order to pay to the Commissioner of Building Control any sum that he or she thinks fit, not exceeding $10,000, in respect of costs and expenses of and incidental to any proceedings before the committee appointed under subsection (4)(a).
[47/2007]
The costs and expenses mentioned in subsection (5) include —
1. the costs and expenses of any advocate and solicitor appointed under subsection (4)(b);
2. any reasonable expenses that the Commissioner of Building Control may pay to witnesses; and
3. any reasonable expenses that are necessary for the conduct of proceedings before the committee appointed under subsection (4)(a).
  [47/2007]
Where the Commissioner of Building Control suspends or cancels the registration of an accredited checker, a specialist accredited checker or an accredited checking organisation under this section, the Commissioner of Building Control must —
1. cancel any certificate of accreditation issued to the person or organisation concerned under section 16(3); and
2. remove the name and particulars of that person or organisation from the register of accredited checkers, the register of specialist accredited checkers or the register of accredited checking organisations, as the case may be.
  [47/2007]
If the registration of an accredited checker, a specialist accredited checker or an accredited checking organisation is suspended under this section for any period, then at the end of the period of suspension, his, her or its name and particulars are to be reinstated on the respective register under section 14, and his, her or its certificate of accreditation is to be restored.
[47/2007]
The person whose registration as an accredited checker, a specialist accredited checker or an accredited checking organisation is suspended or cancelled under this section must, within 14 days of being notified of the suspension or cancellation of registration, surrender to the Commissioner of Building Control the certificate of accreditation issued under section 16(3), failing which the person or organisation shall be guilty of an offence.
[47/2007]
The Commissioner of Building Control must cancel the registration of an accredited checker or a specialist accredited checker who has died or whose registration has been cancelled under subsection (11).
[47/2007]
If the Commissioner of Building Control has cancelled the registration of a person as an accredited checker under subsection (1), he or she must also cancel the registration of the person as a specialist accredited checker.
[47/2007]

18.

Duties and independence of accredited checkers, etc., and accredited checking organisations

An accredited checker who —
1. is appointed in respect of any major building works; or
2. is acting on behalf of an accredited checking organisation,
must check the detailed structural plans and design calculations of the building works in accordance with the building regulations and must carry out any other duties that may be prescribed by those regulations.

[47/2007]

The specialist accredited checker appointed under section 8(1) in respect of any geotechnical building works must check the geotechnical aspects of those building works in accordance with the building regulations and must carry out any other duties that may be prescribed by those regulations.

[47/2007; 22/2012]

An accredited checker or a specialist accredited checker who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

[47/2007]

An accredited checker must not issue a certificate under section 5(2)(d) or 5A in respect of the plans of any building works —
1. if the accredited checker has any professional or financial interest in the building works shown in the plans described in the certificate; or
2. in the case where the accredited checker is a director, partner, member or an employee of an accredited checking organisation and acting on behalf of the accredited checking organisation —
  1. if the accredited checking organisation that is a corporation and any of its directors; or
  2. if any partner of the accredited checking organisation that is a partnership,
  has a professional or financial interest in the building works shown in the plans described in the certificate by the accredited checking organisation under section 5(2)(d) or 5A.

[47/2007]

A specialist accredited checker must not issue a certificate under section 5(2)(d) or 5A in respect of the geotechnical aspects of any geotechnical building works if the specialist accredited checker has any professional or financial interest in the geotechnical building works shown in the plans described in the certificate.

[47/2007; 22/2012]

An accredited checker is regarded as having a professional or financial interest in any building works if —
1. he or she is or has been responsible for the design or construction of the building or any of the building works in any capacity except building works relating to the alterations of the building which —
  1. do not affect any key structural element; or
  2. affect any structural element but the effects are localised in nature and do not require any strengthening of any key structural element;
2. he or she or any nominee of his or hers is a member or an officer or employee of a company or other body which has a professional or financial interest in the building works; or
3. he or she is a partner or is in the employment of a person who has a professional or financial interest in the building works.

[47/2007]

An accredited checking organisation is regarded as having a professional or financial interest in any building works if —
1. any of its directors, partners, members or employees is or has been responsible for the design or construction of the building or any of the building works in any capacity except building works relating to the alterations of the building which —
  1. do not affect any key structural element; or
  2. affect any structural element but the effects are localised in nature and do not require any strengthening of any key structural element;
2. any nominee of the organisation is a member or an officer or employee of a company or other body which has a professional or financial interest in the building works; or
3. the organisation or any of its directors or partners is a partner or is in the employment of a person who has a professional or financial interest in the building works.

[47/2007]

For the purposes of this Act —
1. a person is treated as having a professional or financial interest in the building works even if the person has that interest only as trustee for the benefit of some other person; and
2. in the case of married people living together, the interest of one spouse is, if known to the other, deemed to be also an interest of the other.

[47/2007]

For the purposes of this Act —
1. involvement in the building works as an accredited checker or a specialist accredited checker; and
2. entitlement to any fee paid for his or her function as an accredited checker or a specialist accredited checker,
is not regarded as constituting a professional or financial interest.

[47/2007]

If a person who is —
1. an accredited checker;
2. a specialist accredited checker;
3. an accredited checking organisation that is a corporation; or
4. a partner of an accredited checking organisation that is a partnership, or a director of an accredited checking organisation that is a corporation,
contravenes subsection (4) or (5) (as the case may be), the person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to —
1. where the person is a corporation — a fine not exceeding $100,000; and
2. in any other case — a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.

[47/2007]

Division 7 — Enforcement and administration

19.

Demolition, etc., of unauthorised building works

Where, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Building Control, any building has been erected, or any building works are or have been carried out, in contravention of the provisions of this Act or the building regulations, the Commissioner of Building Control may by written order require —
1. the cessation of the building works until the order is withdrawn;
2. the demolition of the building; or
3. any work or alteration to the building or building works to be carried out that may be necessary to cause the same to comply with the provisions of this Act and the building regulations or otherwise to put an end to the contravention thereof.
  [47/2007]
An order made under subsection (1) must specify all or any of the following:
1. the manner in which the demolition, work or alteration specified in the order is to be carried out;
2. the time within which the demolition, work or alteration must commence;
3. the time within which the demolition, work or alteration must be completed;
4. that the demolition, work or alteration must be carried out with due diligence to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Building Control, and at the cost of the person on whom the order is served under subsection (3).
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
An order made under subsection (1) must be served —
1. where a building has been erected — on the owner or occupier of the building; and
2. where building works are being carried out — on the developer of the building works or the builder carrying out the building works.
  [47/2007]
If an order made under subsection (1) is not complied with, the Commissioner of Building Control may —
1. demolish, remove or alter, or cause to be demolished, removed or altered, any building or building works or take any other steps that appear to the Commissioner of Building Control to be necessary, including ordering the closure of the building; and
2. recover all expenses reasonably incurred by the Commissioner of Building Control in the exercise of his or her powers under this section from the person in default.
  [47/2007]
Without affecting the right of the Commissioner of Building Control to exercise his or her powers under subsection (4), if any person on whom an order made under subsection (1) is served fails to comply with the order, that person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing failure to comply, to an additional fine not exceeding $500 for each day or part of a day the failure to comply continues,
and if the failure to comply continues after the conviction, the person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the failure to comply continues after conviction.
[47/2007]
The Commissioner of Building Control may seize any materials resulting from the carrying out of any work under subsection (4).
[47/2007]
This section applies to any building works, whether or not for or connected with any temporary building.
[47/2007]

20.

Building offences

Any person who commences or carries out, or permits or authorises the commencement or carrying out of —
1. any building works (including geotechnical building works) the plans of which have not been approved or deemed approved by the Commissioner of Building Control under section 5, 5A or 5AA; or
  [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
2. any building works (including geotechnical building works) for which there is no permit under section 6 in force,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing contravention, to an additional fine not exceeding $1,000 for each day or part of a day the contravention continues,
and if the contravention continues after the conviction, the person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which the contravention continues after conviction.
[47/2007; 22/2012]
In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) in relation to any lodgment works the plans of which —
1. have been lodged with the Commissioner of Building Control for the purpose of section 5AA; but
2. were not deemed approved because section 5AA(2)(b) was not complied with,
it is a defence to the charge for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the accused reasonably believed that section 5AA(2)(b) had been complied with.
[Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
Any person who contravenes any term or condition of —
1. an approval of plans of any building works under section 5 or 5A; or
2. a permit to carry out any building works under section 6,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing contravention, to an additional fine not exceeding $1,000 for each day or part of a day the contravention continues,
and if the contravention continues after the conviction, the person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which the contravention continues after conviction.
[47/2007]
Any person directly concerned with the building works who, in carrying out the building works deviates, or permits or authorises the building works to deviate, in any material way from any plans of the building works approved or deemed approved by the Commissioner of Building Control under section 5, 5A or 5AA shall each be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
[Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
In proceedings for an offence under subsection (3) —
1. it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that an accused knew that the building works concerned deviate in any material way from any plans of the building works approved or deemed approved by the Commissioner of Building Control under section 5, 5A or 5AA; but
  [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
2. it is a defence to the charge for the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that the accused did not know and could not reasonably have known the plans of those building works approved or deemed approved by the Commissioner of Building Control under section 5, 5A or 5AA.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
  [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]

21.

Pecuniary penalty

Whether or not proceedings have been instituted against any person for an offence under section 20 in respect of any building works, the Commissioner of Building Control may require the person to pay a sum not exceeding 10 times the prescribed fees for the approval of plans of the building works or which would have been payable had each approval been obtained, for those building works, where it appears to the Commissioner of Building Control that such an offence has been committed.
[47/2007]
Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of the Commissioner of Building Control under subsection (1) may, within 14 days of being notified of the decision, appeal to the Minister against the decision.
[47/2007]
Where an appeal is made to the Minister under subsection (2), the Minister may confirm, vary or reverse the decision of the Commissioner of Building Control, or give any directions in the matter that he or she thinks fit, and the decision of the Minister is final.
[47/2007]
Every pecuniary penalty or part thereof outstanding is recoverable as a debt due to the Building and Construction Authority.
[47/2007]
All sums collected under this section must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
On acceptance by the Commissioner of Building Control of the pecuniary penalty imposed under this section, the unauthorised building works in respect of which the penalty is paid are deemed to have been carried out without contravening section 20.
[47/2007]

22.

Appeals

Where an application made under —
1. section 5 or 5A for approval of plans of any building works;
2. section 6 for a permit to carry out any structural works;
3. section 6A for any modification or waiver of the requirements of the building regulations in relation to any particular building works;
4. section 7A(3) for a waiver of the operation of section 7(1) in relation to any building works;
5. section 15 for registration, or for the renewal of registration, as an accredited checker, a specialist accredited checker or an accredited checking organisation; or
6. section 22FG for registration, or for the renewal of registration, as an energy auditor,
is refused, or is granted by the Commissioner of Building Control subject to terms and conditions, the applicant may, if aggrieved by the decision of the Commissioner of Building Control, appeal to the Minister against the decision within 14 days after being served with the notice of the decision.
[47/2007; 22/2012]
Where the Commissioner of Building Control has made a decision under section 5AA(5)(a) and (b), the developer concerned may appeal to the Minister against the decision within 14 days after being served with the notice of the decision.
[Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
If the Commissioner of Building Control has made an order under section 17 in respect of an accredited checker, a specialist accredited checker or an accredited checking organisation, the accredited checker, specialist accredited checker or accredited checking organisation concerned may appeal to the Minister against the order within 14 days after being served with the notice of the order.
[47/2007]
If the Commissioner of Building Control has cancelled or suspended the registration of an energy auditor under section 22FI, the energy auditor concerned may appeal to the Minister against the cancellation or suspension within 14 days after being served with the notice of the cancellation or suspension.
[22/2012]
In any appeal under this section in relation to the conviction of an accredited checker, a specialist accredited checker, an accredited checking organisation or an energy auditor for a criminal offence, the Minister on appeal from any order or decision of the Commissioner of Building Control is to accept the conviction as final and conclusive.
[47/2007; 22/2012]
Where an appeal is brought under this section from a decision of the Commissioner of Building Control, the Minister may, after giving the aggrieved appellant an opportunity to make written representations, dismiss or allow the appeal, unconditionally or subject to any conditions that he or she thinks fit.
[47/2007]
The decision of the Minister in any appeal under this section is final.
[47/2007]

PART 3 RETROFITTING OF EXTERIOR FEATURES

22A.

Application and interpretation of this Part

This Part applies to all exterior features on any building except —
1. exterior features on any detached house, semi-detached house, terrace house or linked house, none of which are comprised in any strata title plan; and
2. exterior features located on the lowest level of any building.
  [34/2004]
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires —
“applicable date”, in relation to an exterior feature, means the date that is prescribed under section 22C to be the applicable date for that exterior feature;
“grace period”, in relation to an exterior feature, means the period starting from the applicable date for the exterior feature and ending after the time that is prescribed under section 22C for that exterior feature;
“prescribed age”, in relation to an exterior feature, means the age that is prescribed under section 22C to be the prescribed age for that exterior feature.
[34/2004]

22B.

Duty to retrofit exterior feature

Where an exterior feature of a prescribed building has been installed on, forms part of, or projects outwards from the building at any time before the applicable date prescribed for the exterior feature, the person responsible for the exterior feature must carry out or cause to be carried out retrofitting of that exterior feature in such manner, by such person and using such material as may be prescribed in relation to that exterior feature —
1. where there is no prescribed age for that exterior feature, or the exterior feature is, on that applicable date, of the prescribed age or older — within the grace period prescribed for that exterior feature; or
2. where the exterior feature is, on that applicable date, less than the prescribed age — within the grace period prescribed for that exterior feature or within the period before the exterior feature attains the prescribed age, whichever period is the longer.
  [34/2004]
Any person who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $500 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
[34/2004]
If a person is charged with an offence under subsection (2), it is a defence for the person to prove that the person was not the person responsible for the exterior feature at any time during that grace period or before the exterior feature attained that prescribed age, as the case may be.
[34/2004]
For the purposes of this Act, the age of an exterior feature of a building is to be reckoned from the date of its first installation on that building as determined in accordance with the date that is prescribed under section 22C for that exterior feature.
[34/2004]
Nothing in this section is to be construed as —
1. prohibiting or preventing the Commissioner of Building Control from exercising any of his or her powers under any other provision of this Act or the building regulations; or
2. derogating from the effect of any other provision of this Act or the building regulations or any other written law for the time being in force.
  [34/2004]

22C.

Retrofitting orders

The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, prescribe any matter which is required or permitted to be prescribed by this Part.
[34/2004]
Without limiting subsection (1), the Minister may, in an order made under that subsection, prescribe —
1. the duties and responsibilities of any person authorised to carry out retrofitting of an exterior feature, including providing that any failure or neglect to comply with any such duty or responsibility shall be an offence;
2. different applicable dates, prescribed ages, grace periods and persons responsible for an exterior feature in relation to different exterior features;
3. different qualifications and training for persons authorised to carry out retrofitting in relation to different exterior features; and
4. that any contravention of any provision of the order shall be an offence punishable with a fine not exceeding $5,000 or with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or with both and, in the case of a continuing offence, with a further fine not exceeding $500 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
  [34/2004]
All orders made under this section must be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after publication in the Gazette.
[34/2004]

PART 3A DISABILITY AND OTHER PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS

22D.

Interpretation of this Part

In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires —
“building” does not include a temporary building;
“performance requirement” means a performance requirement in the building regulations that —
1. is to facilitate the access to, and use of, a building and its facilities by persons with disabilities; or
2. is prescribed in the building regulations for the purposes of this Part;
“person with disability” means an individual who has an impairment of hearing or sight, or an impairment which limits his ability to walk, or which restricts him or her to using a wheelchair;
“physical feature”, in relation to a building, includes the following physical features (permanent or temporary):
1. any feature arising from the design or construction of the building;
2. any feature of any approach to, exit from or access to such a building;
3. any fixtures, fittings or facility in or on the premises of the building; or
4. any other physical element or quality of the land on which the building stands.
  [47/2007]
A physical feature of a building satisfies the relevant performance requirement for the purposes of this Part where the physical feature is constructed or installed in or in connection with the building in accordance with the performance requirement that —
1. is relevant in relation to that physical feature; and
2. is in effect at the following time:
  1. the day upon which the works to construct or install the physical feature started; or
  2. in the case of a physical feature provided as part of building works to which Part 2 applies, the day a certificate of statutory completion is issued in respect of the building on the completion of those building works.
    [47/2007]
To avoid doubt, this Part applies to the physical features of any building, whether constructed before, on or after 15 February 2008.
[47/2007]

22DA.

Requiring works to be done upon trigger application

Where the Commissioner of Building Control receives, on or after the date of commencement of section 17 of the Building Control (Amendment) Act 2020, a trigger application relating to a relevant building, the Commissioner of Building Control may, by written notice, require the owner of the relevant building (who may or may not be the applicant of a trigger application relating to the same relevant building) to do the following:
1. to prepare and submit for approval the plans of relevant building works specified by the Commissioner of Building Control in the notice in relation to that relevant building;
2. where the plans of the relevant building works mentioned in paragraph (a) are approved, to complete those relevant building works in relation to the relevant building within the time specified in the notice.
An owner of a relevant building given a notice under subsection (1) who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the notice —
1. shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
  1. to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both; and
  2. to a further fine not exceeding $250 for each day or part of a day the owner fails to comply with the notice; and
2. in the case of a continuing failure to comply with the notice after conviction, shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction to a further fine not exceeding $500 for each day or part of a day during which the failure to comply continues after conviction.
In this section —
“factory” means any building that is used or allowed to be used —
1. for handling, sorting, packing, storing, altering, repairing, constructing, processing or manufacturing any goods;
2. for the repair, construction or manufacturing of any vessel or vehicle; or
3. for any building operation or work of engineering construction,
and includes any building associated with a building used or allowed to be used for a purpose in paragraph (a), (b) or (c);
“relevant building” means a building —
1. the gross floor area of which is more than 500 square metres, or such other smaller minimum area prescribed in substitution;
2. to which members of the public have access as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission, whether or not on payment of a fee, and whether or not access to the building may be restricted at particular times or for particular purposes; and
3. that is not comprised in any development which is used or allowed to be used solely for residential purposes or as a factory;
“relevant building works”, in relation to a relevant building, means building works to erect any physical feature —
1. in any corridor, lobby, washroom or other common area in the relevant building to which occupiers of the relevant building have general access; and
2. towards satisfying the relevant performance requirement for the purposes of this Part;
“trigger application” means an application for approval of the plans of any building works under section 5(1) for the alteration, addition or repair of a relevant building.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/06/2023]

22E.

Duty of building owner, etc., not to alter

Every owner or occupier of a building must not remove, alter or obstruct, or cause the removal, alteration or obstruction of, any physical feature of the building where —
1. he physical feature satisfies the relevant performance requirement for the purposes of this Part; and
2. the removal, alteration or obstruction will cause the physical feature to cease to satisfy the relevant performance requirement.
  [47/2007]
Where, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Building Control, any physical feature of a building mentioned in subsection (1)(a) has been removed, altered or obstructed so as to cease to satisfy the relevant performance requirement, the Commissioner of Building Control may, by written notice, require such repairs, work or alteration to the physical feature or the building or other remedial action as he or she thinks fit to be carried out to reinstate the physical feature so as to satisfy the relevant performance requirement.
[47/2007]
A notice to reinstate under subsection (2) must specify —
1. the manner in which the repairs, work, alteration or remedial action specified in the notice is to be carried out;
2. the time within which the repairs, work, alteration or remedial action must commence;
3. the time within which the repairs, work, alteration or remedial action must be completed; and
4. that the repairs, work, alteration or remedial action must be carried out with due diligence to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Building Control.
  [47/2007]
A notice to reinstate under subsection (2) must be made in respect of any building or any physical feature thereof and must be served —
1. on the owner of the building;
2. where that owner is not known or cannot be found by reasonable inquiry, on the occupier of the building;
3. in the case of a physical feature comprised in any common property or limited common property of any subdivided building, on the owner thereof; or
4. in the case of a physical feature comprised in any common property of residential or commercial property in any housing estate of the Housing and Development Board —
  1. on the Town Council receiving any rent or charge for the maintenance of that common property; or
  2. where there is no Town Council with the function and duty to maintain that common property, on the Housing and Development Board.
    [47/2007]
If any person on whom a notice under subsection (2) is served fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the requirements of that notice, that person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both;
2. to a further fine not exceeding $250 for each day or part of a day the person fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the requirements of that notice; and
3. in the case of a continuing offence after conviction, to a further fine not exceeding $500 for every day or part of a day during which the failure to comply continues after conviction.
  [47/2007]

22F.

Appeal against notice to reinstate

Any person on whom a notice to reinstate under section 22E(2) is served may, within 21 days after the date of receipt of the notice, appeal in writing to the Minister against the notice in the prescribed manner.
[47/2007]
Even though an appeal is lodged under subsection (1), the notice appealed against takes effect and must be complied with unless otherwise ordered by the Minister.
[47/2007]
The Minister may determine an appeal under this section by confirming, varying or cancelling the notice of the Commissioner of Building Control under section 22E(2).
[47/2007]
The decision of the Minister in any appeal under this section is final.
[47/2007]

PART 3B ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS

Division 1 — Preliminary to Division 4 — Energy efficiency improvement plan

PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST PDF FILE.

22FA.

Interpretation of this Part

In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires —

“as-built score”, in relation to an existing building which has undergone a major energy‑use change, means the Green Mark score awarded to that building upon the completion of the major energy‑use change;

“design score”, in relation to an existing building for which a major energy‑use change is proposed, means the Green Mark score projected for that building upon the completion of the major energy‑use change, assessed based on the design of the proposed major energy-use change;

“energy auditor” means a person registered as an energy auditor under section 22FG;

“existing building” means any building in respect of which a certificate of statutory completion or a temporary occupation permit is issued;

“Green Mark score” means a numerical score to assess the environmental sustainability of a building, calculated using the prescribed scoring methodology;

“major energy-use change”, in relation to an existing building, means —

the installation, substantial alteration or replacement of a prescribed cooling system of the building; or
any other change to the energy requirements of the building that may be prescribed;

“mechanical engineer” means a professional engineer registered under the Professional Engineers Act 1991 in the branch of mechanical engineering who has in force a practising certificate issued under that Act;

“minimum environmental sustainability standard”, in relation to any building, means the prescribed minimum standard of environmental sustainability applicable to that building, or to a building of that type or class, expressed in terms of a Green Mark score and other specified requirements;

“prescribed building” means an existing building in any class or type of buildings for the time being prescribed for the purposes of this Part.

[22/2012]

22FB.

Submission of design score for building undergoing major energy-use change

An owner of any prescribed building must not carry out, or permit or authorise the carrying out of, any major energy‑use change to that building, unless the owner has first —
1. appointed a mechanical engineer to assess the design score for the major energy-use change to the building;
2. submitted the design score assessed by the mechanical engineer appointed under paragraph (a) to the Commissioner of Building Control for approval, in the prescribed form and manner and accompanied by such documents and fee as may be prescribed; and
3. obtained the approval of the Commissioner of Building Control for the design score, which approval has not lapsed at the time of commencement of the major energy‑use change.
  [22/2012]
Subject to subsection (5), the Commissioner of Building Control must not approve the design score in relation to a prescribed building unless the design score meets the prevailing minimum environmental sustainability standard for that building or a building of that class or type.
[22/2012]
Upon receiving the submission of a design score relating to a prescribed building for approval under subsection (1), the Commissioner of Building Control may direct the owner of the building in writing —
1. to comply with any requirements in relation to the major energy‑use change that the Commissioner of Building Control may specify so that the design score meets the minimum environmental sustainability standard applicable to the building; and
2. to re-submit the design score for the approval of the Commissioner of Building Control within the period specified in the direction.
  [22/2012]
If the direction given by the Commissioner of Building Control under subsection (3) is not complied with within the period specified in that direction, the application for approval of the design score is, at the end of that period, deemed to be disapproved by the Commissioner of Building Control.
[22/2012]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, on the application of an owner of a prescribed building in any particular case, modify or waive any requirement in relation to the minimum environmental sustainability standard applicable to the building, subject to any conditions that the Commissioner of Building Control may impose.
[22/2012]
The Commissioner of Building Control may approve the design score on the basis of a declaration by the mechanical engineer who assessed the score certifying the correctness of the design score.
[22/2012]
A mechanical engineer appointed under subsection (1)(a) in relation to a prescribed building must —
1. design the proposed major energy-use change to the building so that the design score meets the minimum environmental sustainability standard applicable to the building;
2. assess the design score for the major energy‑use change to the building in the manner prescribed; and
3. provide to the owner of the building —
  1. the design score and the documents on which the design score was assessed;
  2. a declaration as to whether the design score meets the minimum environmental sustainability standard applicable to the building; and
  3. any other documents that the Commissioner of Building Control may require.
    [22/2012]
Any owner of a prescribed building who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
[22/2012]
Any mechanical engineer who —
1. without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (7); or
2. provides any information or makes any statement in relation to the design score, or in any other document required under subsection (7)(c), which the mechanical engineer knows or has reason to believe is false,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
[22/2012]

22FC.

Deviation from approved design score

Where the design score in relation to any major energy‑use change to a prescribed building has been approved by the Commissioner of Building Control under section 22FB and the owner of the building, in carrying out the major energy‑use change, intends to depart or deviate from the design on which the approved design score was assessed, the mechanical engineer appointed under section 22FB(1)(a) —

must ensure that the design score for the major energy‑use change with such departure or deviation still meets the minimum environmental sustainability standard, subject to any modification or waiver under section 22FB(5); but
need not re-submit the design score to the Commissioner of Building Control for approval.
[22/2012]

22FD.

Lapsing or revocation of approval of design score

Unless earlier revoked under subsection (2), any approval granted under section 22FB in respect of a design score for a major energy-use change lapses if no works in respect of that major energy-use change have started within the prescribed period after the approval is granted.
[22/2012]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, at any time, revoke any approval granted in respect of a design score if he or she is satisfied that any information or document submitted to him or her in connection with the design score is false in a material particular.
[22/2012]
Where the approval of a design score is revoked under subsection (2), the owner of the prescribed building must not carry out or continue the major energy‑use change to which the revoked approval relates unless the owner has first re‑submitted the design score to the Commissioner of Building Control and obtained the approval of the Commissioner of Building Control therefor.
[22/2012]
Any owner of a prescribed building who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000.
[22/2012]

22FE.

Completion of major energy-use change and submission of as‑built score

The owner of a prescribed building must, not later than 3 years after the approval of the design score for a major energy‑use change to that building by the Commissioner of Building Control —
1. complete the major energy-use change in accordance with the design score approved by the Commissioner of Building Control, subject to any departure or deviation which complies with section 22FC; and
2. submit to the Commissioner of Building Control in the form and manner and within the time that may be prescribed —
  1. the as-built score of the building assessed by the mechanical engineer appointed under section 22FB(1)(a) or, if that mechanical engineer has vacated his or her appointment, another mechanical engineer appointed under subsection (5), for approval by the Commissioner of Building Control;
  2. a declaration by the mechanical engineer who assessed the as‑built score certifying the correctness of the as‑built score; and
  3. any other documents that may be prescribed.
    [22/2012]
The Commissioner of Building Control may approve the as‑built score on the basis of a declaration by the mechanical engineer who assessed the score certifying the correctness of the as‑built score.
[22/2012]
A mechanical engineer appointed to assess the as-built score in relation to a prescribed building must, within 7 days after the completion of the major energy‑use change —
1. assess the as-built score of the building in the manner prescribed; and
2. provide to the owner of the building —
  1. the as-built score and the documents on which the as‑built score was assessed;
  2. a declaration as to whether the as‑built score meets the minimum environmental sustainability standard applicable to the building;
  3. any document certifying the completion of the major energy‑use change that the Commissioner of Building Control may specify; and
  4. any other documents that the Commissioner of Building Control may require.
    [22/2012]
If the owner of the prescribed building ceases to be the owner thereof before the submission of the as‑built score under subsection (1)(b), the owner must notify the Commissioner of Building Control of that fact not later than 7 days after the owner ceases to be the owner thereof.
[22/2012]
If any mechanical engineer appointed under section 22FB(1)(a) in relation to a prescribed building vacates his or her appointment before the submission of the as‑built score under subsection (1)(b) for that building, the owner of the building must —
1. appoint another mechanical engineer to assess the as‑built score; and
2. within 7 days thereafter, notify the Commissioner of Building Control of that substitute appointment.
  [22/2012]
Any owner of a prescribed building who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
[22/2012]
Any owner of a prescribed building who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (4) or (5) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
[22/2012]
Any mechanical engineer who —
1. without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (3); or
2. provides any information or makes any statement in relation to the as‑built score, or in any other document required under subsection (3)(b), which the mechanical engineer knows or has reason to believe is false,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.

[22/2012]

22FF.

Periodic audit of energy efficiency of building cooling system

Subject to subsection (2), the Commissioner of Building Control may, by notice served on the owner of any of the following buildings, require an audit to be carried out as to whether the cooling system of the building meets the prescribed energy efficiency standard applicable to such cooling system (called in this Part an energy audit):
1. any building in respect of which an application for planning permission is submitted to the competent authority under the Planning Act 1998 on or after 1 December 2010;
2. any prescribed building which has undergone a major energy-use change under this Part.
  [22/2012]
A notice under subsection (1) may be issued —
1. to the owner of any building in respect of which the application for planning permission is submitted to the competent authority under the Planning Act 1998 on or after 1 December 2010 —
  1. at any time after the temporary occupation permit or, if no temporary occupation permit is issued, the certificate of statutory completion is issued in respect of that building; and
  2. thereafter at intervals of not less than 3 years after the date of the last notice under this section; and
2. to the owner of any prescribed building which has undergone a major energy‑use change —
  1. at any time on or after the third anniversary of the date of the approval of the as‑built score mentioned in section 22FE(1)(b)(i); and
  2. thereafter at intervals of not less than 3 years after the date of the last notice under this section.
    [22/2012]
The owner of a building on whom a notice is served under subsection (1) must, within the period specified in the notice under that subsection —
1. appoint a person mentioned in section 22FG to carry out the energy audit;
2. if the cooling system does not meet the applicable prescribed energy efficiency standard, carry out any maintenance work or take any other measures in relation to the cooling system to ensure that it meets the applicable prescribed energy efficiency standard; and
3. submit the report of the energy audit to the Commissioner of Building Control in such form and manner as the Commissioner of Building Control may specify.
  [22/2012]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
Any owner of a building who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $500 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
[22/2012]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, on the application of an owner of a building in any particular case, modify any requirement in relation to the prescribed energy efficiency standard for the cooling system of the building, subject to any conditions that the Commissioner of Building Control may impose.
[22/2012]

22FG.

Persons who may carry out energy audit

The following persons may be appointed to carry out an energy audit under section 22FF:
1. a mechanical engineer;
2. an energy auditor registered under this section;
3. any other class or classes of persons that may be prescribed.
  [22/2012]
An application to be registered as an energy auditor must be made to the Commissioner of Building Control in the prescribed manner and must be accompanied by such other documents or information and such application fee as may be prescribed.
[22/2012]
An individual is eligible to be registered as an energy auditor if the individual has the prescribed qualifications or experience in relation to assessing the energy efficiency of cooling systems of buildings.
[22/2012]
The Commissioner of Building Control must consider the application and may register the applicant if he or she is satisfied that the applicant has the requisite qualifications and is capable of carrying out the duties of an energy auditor under this Act and the building regulations.
[22/2012]
The registration of an energy auditor is valid for the period prescribed, being at least one year.
[22/2012]
The Commissioner of Building Control may appoint a committee of persons to assist him or her in considering applications for registration, or renewal of registration, as an energy auditor.
[22/2012]
The Commissioner of Building Control must keep a register of energy auditors in which must be entered the names of all persons registered under this section as energy auditors.
[22/2012]

22FH.

Duties of person carrying out energy audit

Any person appointed to carry out an energy audit under section 22FF of a cooling system of a building —
1. must carry out the energy audit in the prescribed manner;
2. may, if the cooling system of the building fails to attain the prescribed energy efficiency standard applicable to such a cooling system, recommend to the owner of the building any measures that may be necessary to attain the prescribed energy efficiency standard; and
3. must, on completion of the energy audit of the cooling system (including of any maintenance work or other measures taken to meet the prescribed energy efficiency standard), prepare and sign a report of the result of the energy audit in the form that the Commissioner of Building Control may specify.
  [22/2012]
Any person appointed to carry out an energy audit who —
1. without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (1); or
2. provides any information or makes any statement in relation to the energy audit report required under subsection (1)(c), which the person knows or has reason to believe is false,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
[22/2012]

22FI.

Cancellation or suspension of registration of energy auditor

Subject to section 22, the Commissioner of Building Control may cancel, or suspend for a period not exceeding 6 months, the registration of an energy auditor if the Commissioner of Building Control is satisfied that —
1. the person obtained the person’s registration or renewal of registration by fraud or misrepresentation;
2. the person has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Building Control, renders the person unfit to remain registered as an energy auditor;
3. the person is no longer capable of carrying out the duties of an energy auditor;
4. the person no longer satisfies the prescribed requirements by virtue of which the person was so registered; or
5. for prescribed reasons, the person is no longer suitable to be registered as an energy auditor.
  [22/2012]
The Commissioner of Building Control must not cancel or suspend the registration of any energy auditor under subsection (1) without giving the energy auditor an opportunity to be heard.
[22/2012]
Where the Commissioner of Building Control cancels or suspends the registration of an energy auditor under this section, the Commissioner of Building Control must remove the name and particulars of that person from the register of energy auditors.
[22/2012]
If the registration of an energy auditor is suspended under this section for any period, then at the end of the period of suspension, the name and particulars of the energy auditor must be reinstated in the register of energy auditors.
[22/2012]

22FJ.

Power to obtain energy consumption and other information

For the purpose of monitoring the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of any building, the Commissioner of Building Control may do all or any of the following:
1. by written notice to the owner of the building require the owner to provide the Commissioner of Building Control with all or any of the following information in respect of the building:
  1. the electricity consumption by users of the building as a whole or any part of the building or by different users in the building;
  2. the consumption of other types of energy by users of the building as a whole or any part of the building or by different users in the building;
  3. the consumption of chilled water supplied to the cooling system of the building;
  4. such other information relating to the building, the users of the building and their energy usage as the Commissioner of Building Control may specify in the notice;
2. by written notice to a supplier of electricity, gas or any other type of energy (called in this section an energy supplier), require the energy supplier to provide the Commissioner of Building Control with information in the possession of the energy supplier relating to the energy consumption of any building or buildings specified in the notice;
3. by written notice to a supplier of any cooling system to buildings, require that person to provide the Commissioner of Building Control with information specified in the notice relating to the supply of cooling systems by that person to any building or buildings.
  [22/2012]
The person to whom a notice is directed under subsection (1) must provide the data required in the form and manner and within the time specified in the notice.
[22/2012]
Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
22/2012]

PART 4

DANGEROUS BUILDINGS AND OCCURRENCES

22G.

Interpretation of this Part

[47/2007]

In this Part, “building” includes a building or any part thereof in respect of which building works are being carried out.

[18/2003]

23.

Dangerous building works

If the Commissioner of Building Control is of the opinion that any building works are being carried out in such a manner as —
1. will cause, or will be likely to cause, a risk of injury to any person or damage to any property;
2. will cause, or will be likely to cause, or may have caused a total or partial collapse of —
  1. the building in respect of which the building works are or have been carried out; or
  2. any building, street, slope or natural formation opposite, parallel, adjacent or in otherwise close proximity to those building works, or any part of any such building, street or land; or
3. will render, or will be likely to render, or may have rendered the building in respect of which the building works are or have been carried out or any building, street, slope or natural formation opposite, parallel, adjacent or in otherwise close proximity to those building works, or any part of any such building, street or land, so unstable or so dangerous that it will collapse or be likely to collapse (whether totally or partially),
the Commissioner of Building Control may do either or both of the following:
1. engage a qualified person or a specialist to carry out such investigations and tests as may be necessary and to advise the Commissioner of Building Control on all matters relating to the safety of the building in respect of which the building works are or have been carried out or the building, street, slope or natural formation opposite, parallel, adjacent or in otherwise close proximity to those building works (as the case may be), the reasons for its collapse (if applicable) and the measures that should be taken to obviate any possible danger that might arise from the condition of the building;
2. make all or any of the orders in subsection (2).
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, for the purpose of obviating any danger or preventing any situation mentioned in subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) from happening, order the developer of those building works —
1. to immediately stop the building works;
2. to carry out or cause to be carried out (at the developer’s cost) any inspection that the Commissioner of Building Control may specify of either or both of the following:
  1. the building in respect of which the building works are or have been carried out;
  2. the building, street, slope or natural formation opposite, parallel, adjacent or in otherwise close proximity to those building works;
3. to execute or cause to be executed (at the developer’s cost) any building works that the Commissioner of Building Control may specify (which may include retrofitting under Part 3); or
4. to demolish or cause to be demolished (at the developer’s cost) the building in respect of which the building works are or have been carried out or any part thereof, and remove any rubbish resulting from the demolition.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
Where the building works mentioned in subsection (1) comprise structural works, the Commissioner of Building Control may, in lieu of or in addition to any engagement or order in subsection (1) or (2), revoke any permit granted under section 6 to carry out those structural works.
[47/2007]
If the person to whom an order in subsection (2) is given fails to comply with the order within the time specified, the Commissioner of Building Control may execute the order in any manner that he or she thinks fit and recover in a court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due to him or her all expenses reasonably incurred by him or her in doing so from the person in default.
[47/2007]
Without affecting the right of the Commissioner of Building Control to exercise his or her powers under subsection (4), any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any order in subsection (2) that the person is given shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to —
1. where the order is to immediately stop the building works —
  1. a fine not exceeding $500,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or both; and
  2. in respect of a continuing failure to comply, an additional fine not exceeding $10,000 for each day or part of a day the person fails to comply with the order; or
2. in the case of any other order in subsection (2) —
  1. a fine not exceeding $100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both; and
  2. in respect of a continuing failure to comply, an additional fine not exceeding $2,500 for each day or part of a day the person fails to comply with the order,
and if the failure to comply continues after the conviction, the person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding —
1. where the order is to immediately stop the building works — $20,000 for each day or part of a day the person fails to comply with the order after conviction; or
2. in the case of any other order in subsection (2) — $5,000 for each day or part of a day the person fails to comply with the order after conviction.
  [47/2007]
Any person to whom any order in subsection (2) is given must, while the order is in force, display a copy of the order at every entrance to the building to which the order relates, and that copy must be displayed in a way that it can be easily read by people outside the building.
[47/2007]
Any person who contravenes subsection (6) shall be guilty of an offence.
[47/2007]
The Commissioner of Building Control may also order the developer of the building works concerned to pay or reimburse the Commissioner of Building Control, all or a specified part of the expenses he or she has incurred in engaging a qualified person or a specialist under subsection (1)(d).
[47/2007]
The Commissioner of Building Control may recover in a court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due to him or her so much of the amount payable under an order made under subsection (8) as is not paid in accordance with that order.
[47/2007]
Any person on whom an order under subsection (8) is served may, within 14 days after the date of receipt of the order, appeal in writing to the Minister against the order in the prescribed manner.
[47/2007]
The Minister may determine an appeal under subsection (10) by confirming, varying or cancelling the order of the Commissioner of Building Control under subsection (8); and the decision of the Minister in any such appeal is final.
[47/2007]

24.

Dangerous buildings

If the Commissioner of Building Control is of the opinion that a building is in such a condition, or is used to carry such loads, as to be or likely to be dangerous, the Commissioner of Building Control may, for the purpose of obviating any danger, order the owner of the building to do all or any of the following:
1. to appoint an appropriate qualified person to carry out (at the owner’s cost) any inspection of the building that the Commissioner of Building Control may specify;
2. to execute or cause to be executed (at the owner’s cost) any building works that the Commissioner of Building Control may specify (which may include retrofitting under Part 3);
3. to demolish or cause to be demolished (at the owner’s cost) the building or any part thereof, and remove any rubbish resulting from the demolition;
4. to cause (at the owner’s cost) the building to be shored up or otherwise secured and a proper hoarding or fence to be put up for the protection of the public from danger, or arranging for the building to be watched.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, in lieu of or in addition to any order under subsection (1), make —
1. an order (called in this Part an occupancy order) directing the owner or occupier of the building to not allow more than the number of people stated in the occupancy order to be in the building at any time or to otherwise restrict the use of the building, until the Commissioner of Building Control, being satisfied that any inspection or building works mentioned in subsection (1) are completed, withdraws the order; or
2. an order (called in this Part a closure order) directing the closure of the building, and that every owner and occupier of the building must quit the building and must not allow anyone else to occupy the building except as permitted under this Part.
  [47/2007]
Before exercising any of his or her powers under subsection (2), the Commissioner of Building Control must, if it is reasonably practicable to do so, give notice of his or her intention to make an occupancy order or a closure order, as the case may be.
[47/2007]
If the person to whom an order in subsection (1) is given fails to comply with the order within the time specified, the Commissioner of Building Control may ––
1. execute the order in any manner that he or she thinks fit; and
2. recover in a court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due to him or her all expenses reasonably incurred by him or her in doing so from the person in default,
except that so far as the expenses incurred under this section consist of expenses of fencing off the building, or arranging for it to be watched, the expenses are not recoverable in respect of any period after the danger has been removed by other steps under this section.
[47/2007]
Without affecting the right of the Commissioner of Building Control to exercise his or her powers under subsection (4), any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any order in subsection (1) that the person is given shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing failure to comply, to an additional fine not exceeding $2,500 for each day or part of a day the person fails to comply with the order,
and if the failure to comply continues after the conviction, the person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $5,000 for each day or part of a day the person fails to comply with the order after conviction.
[47/2007]
Any person to whom any occupancy order or closure order under subsection (2) is given must, while the order is in force, display a copy of the order at every entrance to the building to which the order relates, and that copy must be displayed in a way that it can be easily read by people outside the building.
[47/2007]
Any person who contravenes subsection (6) shall be guilty of an offence.
[47/2007]

24A.

Dangerous slopes

If the Commissioner of Building Control is of the opinion that any natural, formed or man‑made land or slope which abuts or is in close proximity to any building is in such a condition as to be dangerous or likely to be dangerous to the building, the Commissioner of Building Control may, for the purpose of obviating any danger, order the owner of the land or slope to do all or any of the following:
1. to appoint an appropriate qualified person to carry out (at the owner’s cost) any investigation in relation to the land or slope that the Commissioner of Building Control may specify;
2. to submit to the Commissioner of Building Control the findings of the investigation by the qualified person under paragraph (a);
3. to execute or cause to be executed (at the owner’s cost) any building works or other works that the Commissioner of Building Control may specify to obviate the danger.
  [22/2012]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, in lieu of or in addition to any order under subsection (1), make a closure order in relation to either or both of the following:
1. the building that is endangered by the land or slope;
2. the land or slope.
  [22/2012]
Before exercising any of his or her powers under subsection (2), the Commissioner of Building Control must, if it is reasonably practicable to do so, give notice of his or her intention to make the closure order.
[22/2012]
Any person to whom a closure order under subsection (2) is given must, while the order is in force, display a copy of the order in a way that it can be easily read by people —
1. at every entrance to any building to which the order relates; and
2. on any hoarding, fence, cordon, barricade or other physical barrier to entry upon any land or slope to which the order relates.
  [22/2012]
If the person to whom an order in subsection (1) is given fails to comply with the order within the time specified, the Commissioner of Building Control may —
1. execute the order in any manner that he or she thinks fit; and
2. recover in a court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due to him or her all expenses reasonably incurred by him or her in doing so from the person in default.
  [22/2012]
Without affecting the right of the Commissioner of Building Control to exercise his or her powers under subsection (5), any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any order in subsection (1) that the person is given shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and
2. in respect of a continuing failure to comply, to an additional fine not exceeding $2,500 for each day or part of a day the person fails to comply with the order,
and if the failure to comply continues after the conviction, the person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $5,000 for each day or part of a day the person fails to comply with the order after conviction.
[22/2012]

25.

Closure orders

Where the Commissioner of Building Control makes any closure order, the order must be served on the owner and every occupier of the building or the land or slope, as the case may be.
[47/2007; 22/2012]
A closure order in respect of a building may require the owner or occupier of the building to which the order relates to cease to inhabit the building and to remove all goods, furniture and effects from the building before the order comes into force.
[22/2012]
A closure order in respect of land or a slope may do one or more of the following:
1. require the owner or occupier of the land or slope to which the order relates to secure the area within or around the land or slope to prevent access into the area;
2. specify the means by which the area is to be secured, including the installation of any hoarding, fence, cordon, barricade or other physical barrier to entry;
3. require the installation of safety features within or around the land or slope, including adequate lighting and warning signs or lights.
  [22/2012]
Except with the written permission of the Commissioner of Building Control, a person, other than a public officer in the course of his or her duty, must not —
1. enter or be in a building at any time while a closure order is in force in respect of the building; or
2. enter or be on any land or slope at any time while a closure order is in force in respect of the land or slope.
  [22/2012]
Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with subsection (3) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $200 for every day during which the offence continues after conviction.
[47/2007]
Where the Commissioner of Building Control thinks fit, he or she may, subject to such conditions as he or she may impose, by written notice permit any person to enter and be in a building or on any land or slope while a closure order is in force in respect of the building or land or slope, as the case may be.
[22/2012]
Any permission granted under subsection (4) may be cancelled by the Commissioner of Building Control at any time and for any reason.
Where a closure order is in force in respect of a building or any land or slope —
1. any police officer may, with such force or assistance as may be necessary, remove any person who is in the building or on the land or slope in contravention of subsection (3);
2. the Commissioner of Building Control may seal or cause to be sealed, all or any of the entrances to or exits from the building or the means of access to or egress from the land or slope, as the case may be; and
3. the Commissioner of Building Control or any police officer may remove all goods, furniture and effects from the building
  [22/2012]
A closure order remains in force in respect of a building until the Commissioner of Building Control has served a notice of expiry of the order on the owner of the building by causing the notice to be posted upon a conspicuous part of the building to which it relates and by serving a copy of the notice upon the owner.
A closure order remains in force in respect of any land or slope until the Commissioner of Building Control has served a notice of expiry of the order on the owner of the land or slope.
[22/2012]
Every notice of expiry of a closure order must specify the building or the land or slope to which it relates and the date upon which the order expires.
[22/2012]

25A.

Investigations into dangerous occurrences

Where the Commissioner of Building Control becomes aware of any dangerous occurrence in any premises at which building works are carried out or in any other premises, the Commissioner of Building Control may direct any person authorised on his or her behalf to investigate the circumstances of the dangerous occurrence.
[47/2007]
A person must not, without the prior consent of the Commissioner of Building Control —
1. alter, replace, remove or add to any building element, machinery, equipment, plant or article at any premises in respect of which the Commissioner of Building Control has made any direction under subsection (1); or
2. modify any premises in respect of which the Commissioner of Building Control has made any direction under subsection (1).
  [47/2007]
Any person who contravenes subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
[47/2007]
Nothing in subsection (2) operates to interfere with rescue work or work necessary for the general safety of life and property.
[47/2007]
In this section, “dangerous occurrence” means —
1. the collapse or structural failure of any building (completed or otherwise);
2. any structural distress that is likely to lead to the instability of any building (completed or otherwise); or
3. the instability or failure of any land or slope which abuts or is in close proximity to a building,
whether or not the collapse, structural failure or structural distress of the building or the instability or failure of the land or slope results in any death, bodily injury or injury to health.
[47/2007; 22/2012]

PART 5

INSPECTION OF BUILDINGS AND BUILDING FAÇADES

[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

26.

Interpretation of this Part

In this Part —
“competent person”, in relation to a façade inspection, means a qualified person who satisfies such requirements as may be prescribed for the purposes of this Part;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
“façade”, in relation to a building, means —
1. the exterior of the building;
2. any exterior feature attached to the building, including any bracket or similar installation attaching the exterior feature to the building; and
3. any other part of the building as may be prescribed;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
“façade inspection” means an inspection mentioned in section 28(1)(b);
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
“façade inspector”, in relation to a façade inspection, means an individual who —
1. is appointed to assist a competent person in carrying out a façade inspection, or to carry out a façade inspection under the direct supervision and control of a competent person;
2. has the prescribed qualifications and experience; and
3. is accredited with the Building and Construction Authority or a prescribed organisation;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
“inspect” includes examine and test, with or without the aid of equipment;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
“owner” —
1. in relation to a subdivided building comprised in a strata title plan, means —
  1. the management corporation having control of the common property of the building, or the person receiving any rent or charge for the maintenance and management of that common property; and
  2. in relation to any limited common property of the building, the subsidiary management corporation established under the Building (Strata Management) Act 2004 having control of the limited common property, or the person receiving any rent or charge for the maintenance and management of that limited common property;
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
2. in relation to any subdivided building which is not comprised in a strata title plan, means —
  1. in relation to the common property of residential and commercial property in any housing estate of the Housing and Development Board, that Board; and
  2. in relation to the common property of any other subdivided building, every person who is a registered proprietor in the land-register under the Land Titles Act 1993 of the fee simple, estate in perpetuity or leasehold estate of a lot in that building, or the person receiving any rent or charge for the maintenance and management of the common property of the building;
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
3. in relation to any premises which are not subdivided, means any person who is the registered proprietor of the fee simple, estate in perpetuity or leasehold estate of those premises in the land-register under the Land Titles Act 1993; and
4. where paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) do not apply, means the person for the time being receiving the rent of the premises or building, whether on his own account or as agent or trustee or as receiver, or who would receive the same if the premises or building were let to a tenant and includes the person whose name is entered in the Valuation List prepared under section 10 of the Property Tax Act 1960 as the owner of the premises or building, or a mortgagee in possession;
“special building” means any building of which not less than 90% of its floor area is used solely for residential purposes, and in this definition, “floor area” means the total area of floor space within the building measured between party walls including the thickness of external walls;
“structural engineer” means a person who is registered under the Professional Engineers Act 1991 in the civil or structural engineering discipline and who has in force a practising certificate issued under that Act authorising him or her to engage in civil or structural engineering work;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
“structural inspection” means an inspection mentioned in section 28(1)(a).
[34/2004; 47/2004; 22/2012; 4/2021]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
Despite subsection (1), in relation to the common property of any residential or commercial property (within the meaning of the Town Councils Act 1988*) in a public housing estate of the Housing and Development Board, a reference to the owner of a building in this Part for the purposes of any façade inspection of the façade of a building which is such common property, is a reference to —
1. the Town Council of the Town within which the public housing estate is comprised; or
2. in any other case, the Board.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
  [*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
For the purposes of this Part, a building which is physically connected with another building —
1. must although so connected, be treated as a separate building if it is so constructed as to be capable of remaining in position and being used independently of the other building or as to require only minor modification as to render it so capable; and
2. must not be treated as other than a separate building merely because it is so connected with the other building at or below ground level or by means of a bridge or similar structure (whether affording access or accommodation to both).

27.

Application of this Part

Subject to subsection (2), this Part applies to buildings other than —
1. detached houses, semi-detached houses, terraced or linked houses which are used solely by the owners or occupiers thereof solely as their residence; and
2. temporary buildings.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
The requirements of this Part for the inspection of a building to ensure its structural stability or integrity apply to and in relation to fixed installations (whether or not associated with another building) as if the fixed installation is a building, with the prescribed exceptions, modifications and adaptations in the building regulations as the differences between a fixed installation and a building require.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
However, the requirements under this Part for the inspection of the façade of any building do not apply to —
1. a building mentioned in subsection (1); and
2. a building the highest point of which (whether or not a roof) is 13 metres or lower when measured from the ground.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
For the purposes of this Part, the age of a building in respect of which a temporary occupation permit or certificate of statutory completion is granted is counted —
1. from the date the last temporary occupation permit was granted in respect of the whole building; or
2. where no such temporary occupation permit was granted, the date the last certificate of statutory completion was issued for the whole building.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

28.

Periodic inspection of buildings and building façades

Subject to subsections (2), (2A) and (2B), the Commissioner of Building Control may, by written notice, require either or both of the following inspections to be carried out in accordance with this section:
1. an inspection of a building to ensure its structural stability or integrity;
2. an inspection of the façade of a building to identify —
  1. any part of the façade that may be subject to excessive erosion, corrosion, wear, fatigue, stress or strain; or
  2. any other situation or circumstance,
  that may give rise to a probability of the occurrence or potential occurrence of the collapse (wholly or partly) of the façade and death or injury to individuals, or damage to other property, within or outside the building.
A notice under subsection (1) may be given —
1. where the building (other than a special building) is used other than solely for residential purposes — after the 5th year commencing from the date the first temporary occupation permit or first certificate of statutory completion was issued in respect of the building, whichever was issued earlier, and thereafter at intervals of not less than 5 years from the date of the last notice under this section; or
2. where the building is a special building or is used solely for residential purposes — after the 10th year commencing from the date the first temporary occupation permit or first certificate of statutory completion was issued in respect of the building, whichever was issued earlier, and thereafter at intervals of not less than 10 years from the date of the last notice under this section.
Subject to subsection (2B), where a notice requiring a structural inspection under subsection (1) is made in relation to a building in respect of which no temporary occupation permit or certificate of statutory completion has been issued, the notice may be given at any time that the Commissioner of Building Control considers appropriate, and thereafter —
1. at intervals of not less than 5 years from the date of the last notice under this section for a building (other than a special building) used other than solely for residential purposes; or
2. at intervals of not less than 10 years from the date of the last notice under this section for a building which is a special building or used solely for residential purposes.
  [22/2012]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
A notice under subsection (1) requiring a façade inspection to be carried out may be given —
1. if the building is more than 20 years of age on the relevant date — at any time after that date;
2. if the building first attains more than 20 years of age at any time after the relevant date — at any time after the building first attains more than 20 years of age;
3. for a building in respect of which no temporary occupation permit or certificate of statutory completion has been issued for the whole building — at any time after the relevant date; or
4. at any time during the 7th or later year after the year during which the last notice requiring a façade inspection to be carried out was given.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
A notice under subsection (1) must —
1. be given to the owner of the building, or the building the façade of which is (as the case may be) required to be inspected under the notice; and
2. specify the building or the façade of the building (as the case may be) which is required to be inspected, and the period within which the inspection must be completed.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
Where a notice is given under subsection (1), the owner mentioned in subsection (2C)(a) —
1. must appoint —
  1. for the purpose of a structural inspection, a structural engineer; or
  2. for the purpose of a façade inspection, a competent person,
  to carry out the inspection in accordance with subsection (6)(a); and
2. must submit to the Commissioner of Building Control, within the period specified in the notice under subsection (2C)(b), a copy of the report of the inspection by the structural engineer or competent person (as the case may be) prepared under subsection (6)(b).
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
Where a building comprising 2 or more flats is not subdivided and there are subsisting leases for those flats registered under the Registration of Deeds Act 1988 or the Land Titles Act 1993, the owners of those flats must, on receipt of a notice under subsection (1), jointly appoint a structural engineer to carry out a structural inspection, or a competent person to carry out a façade inspection (as the case may be) within the time specified in the notice and in the prescribed manner.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
Each of the following persons has a right of access at any reasonable time in the day to any part of the building in order for that person to carry out an inspection under this section:
1. a structural engineer who is appointed to carry out a structural inspection;
2. a competent person who is appointed to carry out a façade inspection and any façade inspector assisting the competent person in carrying out the façade inspection.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
A person who hinders, obstructs or delays a structural engineer, competent person or façade inspector in the performance of that person’s duty under subsection (5) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $5,000; and
2. in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $500 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
A structural engineer appointed to carry out a structural inspection, or a competent person appointed to carry out a façade inspection (as the case may be), must —
1. carry out the structural inspection or façade inspection (as the case may be) in the prescribed manner;
2. prepare, in such form as the Commissioner of Building Control may specify, a report on the results of the inspection mentioned in paragraph (a) and the assessment of the condition of the building or façade, as the case may be;
3. give a copy of the report mentioned in paragraph (b) to the owner of the building mentioned in subsection (2C)(a) without delay, and in any case, to enable the owner to comply with subsection (3)(b); and
4. comply with any written directions by the Commissioner of Building Control in respect of the report mentioned in paragraph (b).
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
Without limiting subsection (6)(d), the Commissioner of Building Control may direct the structural engineer or competent person (as the case may be) to —
1. carry out, within the period specified in the direction, such further steps as the Commissioner of Building Control considers necessary to ensure that the structural inspection or façade inspection (as the case may be), and the assessment of the condition of the building or façade (as the case may be), is complete; and
2. supplement the report mentioned in subsection (6)(b) to include the results of the further steps mentioned in paragraph (a), and such further information or documents as the Commissioner of Building Control may require to clarify those results.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
Where a report mentioned in subsection (6)(b) also contains a recommendation on any measures or other building works necessary —
1. to ensure the structural stability or integrity of the building; or
2. to prevent the occurrence or potential occurrence of collapse (wholly or partly) of the façade of the building,
the owner of the building must carry out, or cause to be carried out, such of the measures or building works within such period, and subject to such conditions, as the Commissioner of Building Control may specify.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
Any owner of a building who contravenes or fails to comply with a notice under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000.
[47/2007]
Any owner of a building who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (3), (4) or (7) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, and in respect of a continuing contravention, to an additional fine not exceeding $500 for each day or part of a day during which the contravention continues, and if the contravention continues after the conviction, the person shall be guilty of a further offence and shall be liable on conviction of this further offence to a further fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day or part of a day during which the contravention continues after conviction.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
A person who fails to comply with subsection (6) or (6A) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
The Minister may, by order, provide for the application of this section with such adaptations or modifications as may be specified therein to buildings in respect of which no certificate of fitness for occupation has been issued under regulations made under the repealed Act.
In this section, “relevant date” means the date of commencement of section 25 of the Building Control (Amendment) Act 2020.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

29.

Independence of structural engineers and competent persons

A structural engineer must not be appointed by the Commissioner of Building Control or owner of a building for the purpose of carrying out a structural inspection if the structural engineer has any professional or financial interest in the building.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
A competent person must not be appointed by an owner of a building the façade of which is required to be inspected, for the purpose of carrying out a façade inspection if the competent person has any professional or financial interest in the building or its façade.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
A structural engineer or competent person is to be regarded as having a professional or financial interest in any building if —
1. he or she is or has been responsible for the design or construction of the building or any of the building works in any capacity except building works relating to the alterations of the building which —
  1. do not affect any key structural element; or
  2. affect any structural element but the effects are localised in nature and do not require any strengthening of any key structural element;
2. he or she or any nominee of his or hers is a member, officer or employee of a company or other body which has a professional or financial interest in the building or any part thereof;
3. he or she is a partner or is in the employment of a person who has a professional or financial interest in the building or any part thereof; or
4. he or she holds any interest in the building or any part thereof.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
A competent person has a professional or financial interest in the façade of a building if the competent person is or has been responsible for the design or construction of the façade of the building.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
For the purposes of this section —
1. a person is to be treated as having a professional or financial interest in the building even if he or she has that interest only as trustee for the benefit of some other person; and
2. in the case of married people living together, the interest of one spouse is, if known to the other, deemed to be also an interest of the other.
For the purposes of this section —
1. involvement in any structural inspection or façade inspection; and
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
2. entitlement to any fee paid for carrying out any structural inspection or façade inspection,
is not to be regarded as constituting a professional or financial interest.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
The Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, exempt from subsection (1) any building owned by any public authority constituted by any public Act.
[22/2012]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

PART 5A

LICENSING OF BUILDERS

[47/2007]

29A.

Interpretation of this Part

In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires —
[Deleted by Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
“building works” does not include —
1. any building works in respect of or for the occupation of a temporary building;
2. any insignificant building works;
3. any fixed installation works; or
4. any building works that are in respect of a building which is exempted under section 30 from this Part;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
  [Deleted by Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
“corporation” excludes a limited liability partnership;
“licensee” means a licensed general builder or a licensed specialist builder;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
“minor specialist building works” means any of the following specialist building works:
1. any specialist building works associated with minor building works;
2. any structural steelwork which comprises fabrication or erection work for structures with a cantilever length of not more than 6 metres, a clear span of not more than 15 metres and a plan area not exceeding 150 square metres;
3. any pre-cast concrete work comprising casting of pre-cast reinforced concrete slabs or planks on site;
4. any other specialist building works declared by the Minister by notification in the Gazette to be minor specialist building works;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
“partnership” includes a limited liability partnership;
“prescribed” means prescribed in the regulations made under section 29L.
[47/2007; 30/2008]
For the purposes of this Part —
1. a person carries on the business of a general builder if the person carries out or undertakes to carry out (whether exclusively or in conjunction with any other business) general building works for or on behalf of another person for a fixed sum, percentage, or valuable consideration, or reward other than wages;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
2. a person carries on the business of a specialist builder if the person carries out or undertakes to carry out (whether exclusively or in conjunction with any other business) any specialist building works for or on behalf of another person for a fixed sum, percentage, or valuable consideration, or reward other than wages;
3. a person carries out general building works or specialist building works whether that person carries it out personally, or directly or indirectly causes it to be carried out; and
4. a person is deemed to carry on the business of a general builder or specialist builder if the person carries out general building works or specialist building works (as the case may be) on or in respect of a building for himself, herself or itself.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
However, for the purposes of this Part a person (A) is not regarded —
1. as carrying on the business of a general builder if A is always doing so as a sub-contractor of another person with respect to all or any part of the general building works that is to be carried out by the other person under another contract; and
2. as carrying on the business of a specialist builder if A is always doing so as a sub-contractor of another person who carries on the business of a specialist builder, by entering into a contract with respect to all or part of the same type of specialist building works that is to be carried out by the other person under another contract.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
To avoid doubt, nothing in this Part prohibits or prevents —
1. [Deleted by Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
2. any site supervisor or team of site supervisors appointed under section 10 from carrying on any activity solely for the purpose of that section; or
3. a qualified person, or any person under the direction or supervision of such a qualified person, from carrying on any activity within the practice of architecture or professional engineering which the qualified person is authorised to carry on under any written law other than this Act.
  [47/2007]

29B.

Prohibition against unlicensed builders

Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person must not —
1. advertise or hold himself, herself or itself out or conduct himself, herself or itself in any way or by any means as a person who is authorised to carry on the business of a general builder or a specialist builder in Singapore; or
2. assume, take or use (either alone or in combination with any other word, letter or device) the name or title of “licensed general builder” or “licensed specialist builder” (as the case may be), or any name, title or description calculated to lead others to believe the person is so licensed, or by words or conduct hold himself, herself or itself out as being so licensed,
unless the person is granted a general builder’s licence or a specialist builder’s licence, respectively.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person must not —
1. carry on the business of a general builder in Singapore unless the person is granted a general builder’s licence;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
2. carry on a business carrying out or undertaking to carry out (whether exclusively or in conjunction with any other business) general building works and minor specialist building works or minor specialist building works only, unless the person is granted a general builder’s licence; or
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
3. carry on the business of a specialist builder in Singapore unless the person is granted a specialist builder’s licence.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to —
1. a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both;
2. a further fine not exceeding $500 for each day or part of a day the person fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the requirements of that subsection; and
3. in the case of a continuing offence after conviction, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
  [47/2007]
Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person who carries out any general building works or specialist building works in contravention of subsection (2) is not entitled to recover in any court any charge, fee or remuneration for the general building works or specialist building works so carried out.
[47/2007]
Nothing in this section applies to prevent a corporation or limited liability partnership that ceases to have in force a licence from carrying on any activity necessary to the winding up of the corporation or limited liability partnership.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]

29C.

Classes of builder’s licences

A licence may be granted under this Part to a person authorising the person —
1. to carry on the business of a general builder generally, known as a Class 1 general builder’s licence;
2. to carry on the business of a general builder restricted to contracts or engagements for an estimated final price each of not more than $3 million, or any other amount that the Minister may by order in the Gazette specify in lieu thereof, known as a Class 2 general builder’s licence; or
3. to carry on the business of a specialist builder specified therein, known as a specialist builder’s licence of that class.
  [47/2007; 30/2008]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
In this section, any reference to the estimated final price in relation to any building works is a reference to the total fee chargeable at practical completion for the building works, including any goods and services tax payable in relation to the supply of the work, and —
1. where a number of distinct contracts or engagements to perform building works are entered into in connection with the same building by the same person, the estimated final price is the moneys payable in respect of the performance of all the contracts or engagements in the aggregate, even though some or all of such contracts or engagements taken severally do not exceed the sum specified in subsection (1)(b); and
2. in any case where the Commissioner of Building Control is satisfied that the contracts or engagements are substantially in respect of the same undertaking or that they were entered into with a view to evading the provisions of this Act, the estimated final price is the moneys payable in respect of the performance of such of the contracts or engagements in the aggregate as the Commissioner of Building Control determines.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]

29D.

Register of licensed general builders and licensed specialist builders

The Commissioner of Building Control must keep a register of licensees in which must be entered the names of all licensed general builders and licensed specialist builders, and any other particulars in relation thereto that may be prescribed.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
A person may, on payment of the prescribed fee, if any —
1. inspect the register of licensees during the ordinary hours of business of the Commissioner of Building Control; or
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
2. obtain from the Commissioner of Building Control a certificate as to the licence or non-licence of a named person on a specified date or during a specified period.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
A certificate purporting to be signed by the Commissioner of Building Control certifying that a person was or was not licensed under this Part on a specified date or during a specified period is admissible in any proceedings as evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]

29E.

Application for builder’s licence

An application for a licence must be made to the Commissioner of Building Control in the prescribed manner and accompanied by the appropriate application fee that may be prescribed.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
An applicant for a licence must, at the request of the Commissioner of Building Control, provide any further information or evidence that the Commissioner of Building Control may require to decide the application.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Subject to sections 29F and 29G, upon receiving an application for a licence under subsection (1), the Commissioner of Building Control must consider the application and may —
1. where the application is for a general builder’s licence —
  1. grant a Class 1 or Class 2 builder’s licence, with or without conditions; or
  2. refuse to grant any such licence; or
2. where the application is for a specialist builder’s licence —
  1. grant a specialist builder’s licence for the appropriate class of specialist building works, with or without conditions; or
  2. refuse to grant any such licence.
    [47/2007]
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
In deciding whether to grant a licence, the Commissioner of Building Control may make inquiries and investigations that are reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances so as to be satisfied as to —
1. the good character of the applicant or, if the applicant is a corporation or partnership, the general character of the management of the corporation or of the partners, as the case may be;
2. the financial condition of the applicant; and
3. whether the public interest will be served by the granting of the licence,
including —
1. seeking confirmation about the experience of applicants through site inspections and referee checks; and
2. carrying out checks with the Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health appointed under section 7 of the Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006 and the Official Assignee.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
The Commissioner of Building Control may refuse to grant a licence under this section to any corporation or partnership if, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Building Control, the past conduct of any director, manager or employee of the corporation or any partner, manager or employee of the partnership provides reasonable grounds for believing that the corporation or partnership (as the case may be) will not carry on the business of a general builder or specialist builder in accordance with any written law and with honesty and integrity.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Every licence is, unless earlier revoked, valid for the period specified therein (being not longer than 3 years), and upon its expiry, the licence may be renewed.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]

29F.

Who may be licensed as general builder

Subject to subsections (4) and (5), an individual carrying on business as a sole proprietor (P) who applies for a general builder’s licence is eligible to be granted such a licence if, and only if, P —
1. has paid the prescribed fees for a general builder’s licence;
2. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that P is of good character, and intends to carry on business on P’s own account;
3. satisfies either of the following requirements:
  1. P has completed the prescribed course of training and has the prescribed practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) in the work of a general builder or as a supervisor of general building works;
  2. P otherwise satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that P has had such practical experience in the work of a general builder or as a supervisor of general building works as to render P competent to carry on the business of a general builder in Singapore; and
4. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the execution and performance of any general building works in Singapore that P undertakes is under the personal supervision of —
  1. P, where P has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed; or
  2. one or more employees of P, each of whom has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed.
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Subject to subsections (4) and (5), a corporation carrying on business as a sole proprietor (called in this subsection the applicant) which applies for a general builder’s licence is eligible to be granted such a licence if, and only if, the applicant —
1. has paid the prescribed fees for a general builder’s licence;
2. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the management of the applicant’s business, insofar as it relates to general building works in Singapore, is at all times under the charge and direction of a director or member of the board of management of the applicant who —
  1. has completed the prescribed course of training and has the prescribed practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) in the work of a general builder or as a supervisor of general building works; or
  2. otherwise satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the director or member has had such practical experience in the work of a general builder or as a supervisor of general building works as to render the director or member competent to manage the business of a general builder in Singapore; and
3. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the execution and performance of any general building works in Singapore that the applicant undertakes is under the personal supervision of —
  1. the director or member of the board of management mentioned in paragraph (b), who has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed; or
  2. one or more employees of the applicant, each of whom has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed.
Subject to subsections (4) and (5), a partnership which applies for a general builder’s licence is eligible to be granted such a licence if, and only if, the partnership —
1. has paid the prescribed fees for a general builder’s licence;
2. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the partnership includes one or more individuals who satisfy subsection (2A) (called in this section an approved person);
3. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the management of the partnership’s business, insofar as it relates to general building works in Singapore, is at all times under the charge and direction of an approved person who —
  1. has completed the prescribed course of training and has the prescribed practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) in the work of a general builder or as a supervisor of general building works; or
  2. otherwise satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the approved person has had such practical experience in the work of a general builder or as a supervisor of general building works as to render the approved person competent to manage the business of a general builder in Singapore; and
4. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the execution and performance of any general building works in Singapore that the partnership undertakes is under the personal supervision of —
  1. an approved person who has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed; or
  2. one or more employees of the partnership, each of whom has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed.
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
For the purposes of subsection (2), an approved person is —
1. where the partnership comprises 2 or more individuals, a partner who satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the partner is a person of good character;
2. where the partnership comprises 2 or more corporations, a director or member of the board of management of any such corporation who satisfies the requirements in subsection (1A)(b);
3. where the partnership comprises both individuals and corporations, any individual mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b); and
4. where the partnership is a limited liability partnership, the manager mentioned in section 23(1) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act1 who has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed.
  ¹Section 23(1) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act is to be construed as section 29(1) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005, according to section 20(1) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Subject to subsection (4), a corporation which applies for a general builder’s licence is eligible to be granted such a licence if, and only if, the corporation —
1. has paid the prescribed fees for a general builder’s licence;
2. is not a company limited by guarantee or a corporation sole;
3. has a paid-up capital of —
  1. not less than $25,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency), where it is applying for a Class 2 general builder’s licence; or
  2. not less than $300,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency), where it is applying for a Class 1 general builder’s licence;
4. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that it is duly authorised to carry on the business of a general builder;
5. is accredited or registered with a prescribed professional or technical body or organisation;
6. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the management of the corporation’s business, insofar as it relates to general building works in Singapore, is at all times under the charge and direction of a director or member of the board of management of the corporation who —
  1. has completed the prescribed course of training and has the prescribed practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) in the work of a general builder or as a supervisor of general building works; or
  2. otherwise satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the director or member of the board of management (as the case may be) has had such practical experience in the work of a general builder or as a supervisor of general building works as to render the director or member of the board of management (as the case may be) competent to manage the business of a general builder in Singapore; and
7. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the execution and performance of any general building works in Singapore that the corporation undertakes is under the personal supervision of —
  1. a director or member of the board of management of the corporation who has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed; or
  2. one or more employees of the corporation, each of whom has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed.
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Despite subsection (1), (1A), (2) or (3), the Commissioner of Building Control may require an applicant under that subsection to satisfy him or her that the applicant has sufficient material and financial resources available to enable the applicant to meet the applicant’s financial obligations as and when they become due, and may refuse to grant a licence to an applicant who fails to so satisfy the Commissioner of Building Control.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
No sole proprietor and no partnership is eligible for a Class 1 general builder’s licence.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]

29G.

Who may be licensed as specialist builder

Subject to subsection (4), an individual carrying on business as a sole proprietor who applies for a specialist builder’s licence for any type of specialist building works is eligible to be granted such a licence if, and only if, the individual —
1. has paid the prescribed fee for the specialist builder’s licence;
2. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the individual is of good character, and intends to carry on business on the individual’s own account;
3. satisfies either of the following:
  1. the individual has completed the prescribed course of training and has the prescribed practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) in the work of a licensed specialist builder for that type of specialist building works or as a supervisor of those specialist building works;
  2. the individual otherwise satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that he has had such practical experience in the work of a licensed specialist builder for that type of specialist building works or as a supervisor of those specialist building works as to render the individual competent to carry on the business of a specialist builder in Singapore for that type of specialist building works; and
4. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the execution and performance of specialist building works of that type in Singapore that the individual undertakes is under the personal supervision of —
  1. the individual, where he has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works; or
  2. one or more employees of the individual, each of whom has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works.
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Subject to subsection (4), a corporation carrying on business as a sole proprietor (called in this subsection the applicant) who applies for a specialist builder’s licence for any type of specialist building works is eligible to be granted such a licence if, and only if, the applicant —
1. has paid the prescribed fees for a specialist builder’s licence;
2. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the management of the applicant’s business, insofar as it relates to specialist building works of that type in Singapore, is at all times under the charge and direction of a director or member of the board of management of the applicant who —
  1. has completed the prescribed course of training and has the prescribed practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) in the work of a specialist builder for that type of specialist building works; or
  2. otherwise satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the director or member of the board of management has had such practical experience in the work of a licensed specialist builder for that type of specialist building works or as a supervisor of those specialist building works as to render the director or member of the board of management competent to manage the business of a specialist builder in Singapore for that type of specialist building works; and
3. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the execution and performance of that type of specialist building works in Singapore that the applicant undertakes is under the personal supervision of —
  1. the director or member of the board of management mentioned in paragraph (b), who has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works; or
  2. one or more employees of the applicant, each of whom has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works.
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Subject to subsection (4), a partnership that applies for a specialist builder’s licence for any type of specialist building works is eligible to be granted such a licence if, and only if, the partnership —
1. has paid the prescribed fees for a specialist builder’s licence;
2. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the partnership includes one or more individuals who satisfy subsection (2A) (called in this section an approved person);
3. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the management of the partnership’s business, insofar as it relates to specialist building works of that type in Singapore, is at all times under the charge and direction of an approved person who —
  1. has completed the prescribed course of training and has the prescribed practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) in the work of a specialist builder for that type of specialist building works; or
  2. otherwise satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the approved person has had such practical experience in the work of a specialist builder for that type of specialist building works or as a supervisor of those specialist building works as to render the approved person competent to manage the business of a specialist builder in Singapore for that type of specialist building works; and
4. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the execution and performance of that type of specialist building works in Singapore that the partnership undertakes is under the personal supervision of —
  1. an approved person who has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works; or
  2. one or more employees of the partnership, each of whom has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works.
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
For the purposes of subsection (2)(b), an approved person is —
1. where the partnership comprises 2 or more individuals, a partner who satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the partner is a person of good character;
2. where the partnership comprises 2 or more corporations, a director or member of the board of management of any such corporation who satisfies the requirements in subsection (1A)(b);
3. where the partnership comprises both individuals and corporations, any individual mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b); and
4. where the partnership is a limited liability partnership, the manager mentioned in section 23(1) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act1 who has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed.
  ¹Section 23(1) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act is to be construed as section 29(1) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005, according to section 20(1) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act 1983.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Subject to subsection (4), a corporation which applies for a specialist builder’s licence for any type of specialist building works is eligible to be granted such a licence if, and only if, the corporation —
1. has paid the prescribed fees for a specialist builder’s licence;
2. is not a company limited by guarantee or a corporation sole;
3. has a paid-up capital of not less than $25,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency);
4. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that it is duly authorised to carry on the business of a specialist builder;
5. is accredited or registered with a prescribed professional or technical body or organisation;
6. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the management of the corporation’s business, insofar as it relates to specialist building works of that type in Singapore, is at all times under the charge and direction of a director or member of the board of management of the corporation who —
  1. has completed the prescribed course of training and has the prescribed practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) in the work of a specialist builder for that type of specialist building works; or
  2. otherwise satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the director or member of the board of management (as the case may be) has had such practical experience for that type of specialist building works as to render the director or member of the board of management (as the case may be) competent to manage the business of a specialist builder in Singapore for that type of specialist building works; and
7. satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the execution and performance of that type of specialist building works in Singapore that the corporation undertakes is under the personal supervision of —
  1. a director or member of the board of management of the corporation who has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works; or
  2. one or more employees of the corporation, each of whom has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works.
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Despite subsection (1), (1A), (2) or (3), the Commissioner of Building Control may require an applicant under that subsection to satisfy him or her that the applicant has sufficient material and financial resources available to enable the applicant to meet the applicant’s financial obligations as and when they become due, and may refuse to grant a licence to an applicant who fails to so satisfy the Commissioner.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]

29H.

Conditions of builder’s licence relating to construction personnel

From 16 June 2009, it is a condition of every Class 1 general builder’s licence (whether granted before the appointed day or otherwise) that the licensee holding that licence —
1. must lodge with the Commissioner of Building Control a manpower programme that satisfies the requirements in subsection (2) in respect of each significant general building work project to be undertaken in Singapore by the licensee on or after that date; and
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
2. must at all times when carrying on the general building works in connection with that significant general building work project, take all practicable steps to ensure that the registered construction personnel employed by or on the licensed general builder’s behalf or engaged in connection with that significant general building work project comply with the manpower programme lodged under paragraph (a) in respect of that significant general building work project.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
A manpower programme in respect of any particular significant general building work project is a programme or scheme specifying all or any of the following:
1. the number (which must not be less than the number prescribed) of different classes of registered construction personnel to be employed by or on behalf of the licensed general builder or to be engaged in connection with that significant general building work project;
2. the proportion (which must not be less than the proportion prescribed) of different classes of registered construction personnel to be employed by or on behalf of the licensed general builder or to be engaged in connection with that significant general building work project.
  [47/2007]
If there is any change in the number or proportion of registered construction personnel —
1. specified in a manpower programme lodged by a licensed general builder under subsection (1)(a) in respect of any particular significant building work project; or
2. employed by or on behalf of the licensed general builder or to be engaged in connection with that particular significant building work project,
the licensed general builder must notify the Commissioner of Building Control of the change within 7 days after that change.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
In this section, “take all practicable steps”, in relation to any result in any circumstances, means taking all steps to achieve the result that it is reasonably practicable to take in the circumstances; and to avoid doubt, a person required by this section to take all practicable steps is required to take those steps only in respect of circumstances that the person knows or ought reasonably to know about.
[47/2007]
In this section, unless the context otherwise requires —
“construction foreman” means a natural person who carries out, or undertakes to carry out, for or on behalf of another person for a fixed sum, percentage, or valuable consideration, wages or other reward, the supervision and coordination of construction tradesmen or other workmen in any prescribed class of work connected with any building works, and a construction foreman is to be classified according to the class of work he or she so supervises for reward;
“construction personnel” means any natural person who is —
1. a construction foreman of any class;
2. a construction supervisor of any class; or
3. a construction tradesman of any class;
“construction supervisor” means a natural person, not being a builder, who oversees the execution or performance of building works for or on behalf of another person for a fixed sum, percentage, or valuable consideration, wages or other reward, but does not include a construction foreman or other person employed in a like or less responsible capacity;
“construction tradesman” means a natural person, not being a builder, who carries out, or undertakes to carry out, for or on behalf of another person, for a fixed sum, percentage, or valuable consideration, wages or other reward, any prescribed class of work connected with any building works, and a construction tradesman is to be classified according to the class of work he so carries out for reward;
“engaged” means engaged under a contract of service or a contract for services;
“registered” means registered with the Building and Construction Authority;
“significant general building work project” means any building works the value of which is $10 million or any other amount that the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, specify in lieu thereof, or more.
[47/2007; 30/2008]

29I.

Other conditions of builder’s licence

It is a condition of every Class 2 builder’s licence that the licensee holding such a licence must not enter into any contract or engagement to carry out general building works for an estimated final price which exceeds the amount specified under section 29C(1)(b).
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
A licensed general builder or licensed specialist builder who is a sole proprietor must ensure that —
1. the execution and performance of any general building works or specialist building works that the licensed general builder or licensed specialist builder is carrying out is personally supervised by —
  1. an individual mentioned in section 29F(1)(d) or 29G(1)(d), as the case may be; or
  2. an individual mentioned in section 29F(1A)(c) or 29G(1A)(c), as the case may be; and
2. the name of the licensed general builder or licensed specialist builder (as the case may be) appears in any sign affixed or erected at the site where the general building works or specialist building works are carried out.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
A licensed general builder or licensed specialist builder which is a partnership or a corporation must ensure that the execution and performance of the general building works or specialist building works that licensed general builder or licensed specialist builder is carrying out is personally supervised by —
1. an individual mentioned in section 29F(2)(d) or 29G(2)(d), as the case may be; or
2. an individual mentioned in section 29F(3)(g) or 29G(3)(g), as the case may be.
3. [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
It is a condition of every general builder’s licence that the management of the business of the licensed general builder holding that licence, insofar as the business relates to general building works, must at all times be under the charge and direction of an individual mentioned in —
1. section 29F(1A)(b), if the licensed general builder is a sole proprietor;
2. section 29F(2)(c), if the licensed general builder is a partnership; or
3. section 29F(3)(f), if the licensed general builder is a corporation.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
It is a condition of every specialist builder’s licence for a type of specialist building works that the management of the business of the licensed specialist builder holding that licence, insofar as it relates to that type of specialist building works, must at all times be under the charge and direction of an individual mentioned in —
1. section 29G(1A)(b), if the licensed specialist builder is a sole proprietor;
2. section 29G(2)(c), if the licensed specialist builder is a partnership; or
3. section 29G(3)(f), if the licensed specialist builder is a corporation.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Without limiting subsections (1) to (5), the Commissioner of Building Control may grant a licence subject to such other conditions as the Commissioner of Building Control thinks fit and may at any time vary any existing conditions (other than those specified in subsections (1) to (5)) of such a licence or impose additional conditions thereto.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Before making any modification to the conditions of a licence under this section, the Commissioner of Building Control must give notice to the licensee concerned —
1. stating that he or she proposes to make the modification in the manner specified in the notice; and
2. specifying the time (being not less than 14 days from the date of service of notice on the licensee concerned) within which written representations with respect to the proposed modification may be made.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Upon receipt of any written representation mentioned in subsection (7)(b), the Commissioner of Building Control must consider the representation and may reject the representation or amend the proposed modification in accordance with the representation, or otherwise and, in either event, must thereupon issue a written direction to the licensee concerned requiring that effect be given to the proposed modification specified in the notice or to any modification as subsequently amended by the Commissioner of Building Control within a reasonable time.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]

29J.

Revocation of licences, etc.

Subject to subsection (3), the Commissioner of Building Control may by order revoke any general builder’s licence or specialist builder’s licence if he or she is satisfied that —
1. the licensee fails to comply with any of the relevant requirements of section 29H(1) or (3) or 29I(1) or (5), as the case may be;
2. the licensee has failed to comply with any condition imposed by the Commissioner of Building Control under subsection (2)(e) or section 29I(6);
  1. the licensee has contravened a direction under subsection (2)(d);
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
3. for a period exceeding 28 days, the licensee ceases to, or ceases to have the individual required under section 29I(2) or (3), personally supervise the execution and performance of any general building works or specialist building works in Singapore undertaken by the licensee;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
4. the licence had been obtained by fraud or misrepresentation;
5. the licensee has ceased to carry on business as a general builder or specialist builder (as the case may be) in Singapore;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
6. the licensee has been declared bankrupt or has gone into compulsory or voluntary liquidation other than for the purpose of amalgamation or reconstruction;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
7. the licensee has been convicted of an offence under this Act;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
8. the conduct of any director, manager or employee of the corporation, or any partner or employee of the partnership, that is a licensee provides grounds for believing that the corporation or partnership (as the case may be) will not carry on the business of a general builder or specialist builder (as the case may be) in Singapore in accordance with any written law and with honesty and integrity;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
9. the public interest or national security of Singapore so requires; or
10. the licensee has refused or failed to comply with an order of the Commissioner of Building Control made under subsection (2)(b) or (d).
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
The Commissioner of Building Control may, in any case in which he or she considers that no cause of sufficient gravity for revoking any general builder’s licence or specialist builder’s licence exists, by order —
1. suspend the licence for a period not exceeding 6 months;
2. impose on the licensee concerned a financial penalty not exceeding $20,000 where the ground for doing so is subsection (1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (h) or (j);
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
3. censure the licensee concerned;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
4. direct that, for a period specified by the Commissioner of Building Control, the licensee —
  1. must not enter into or undertake any contract or engagement to carry out all or any general building works or specialist building works; or
  2. may enter into or undertake any further contract or engagement to carry out any general building works or specialist building works, provided that the value of the further contracts or engagements must not exceed an amount specified in the order; or
    [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
5. modify the conditions of the licence, immediately or upon renewal of the licence in question.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
The Commissioner of Building Control must not exercise his or her powers under subsection (1) or (2) unless an opportunity of being heard by a representative in writing or by counsel had been given to the licensee against which the Commissioner of Building Control intends to exercise its powers, being a period of not more than 14 days.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Where the Commissioner of Building Control has revoked a licence under this section, he must serve on the former licensee concerned a notice of the order made under this section.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Any order by the Commissioner of Building Control revoking or suspending a licence, or imposing a financial penalty, direction or restriction does not take effect until the expiry of 14 days after the Commissioner of Building Control has served the order on the licensee concerned.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Where the licensee concerned has appealed under section 29K to the Minister against an order by the Commissioner of Building Control under this section, the order does not take effect unless the order is confirmed by the Minister or the appeal is for any reason dismissed by the Minister or withdrawn.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Where an order of revocation becomes effective —
1. the Commissioner of Building Control must cause notice of the revocation to be published in the Gazette; and
2. the former licensee concerned must, as from the date of the notice, cease to carry on business as a general builder or specialist builder (as the case may be) in Singapore except as the Commissioner of Building Control may approve.
  [47/2007]
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Subsection (7)(b) does not prejudice the enforcement by any person of any right or claim against the corporation, partnership or limited liability partnership or by the corporation, partnership or limited liability partnership of any right or claim against any person.
[47/2007]
In any proceedings under this section in relation to the conviction of a licensee for a criminal offence, the Commissioner of Building Control is to accept the conviction as final and conclusive.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
A licensed general builder or licensed specialist builder that enters into or undertakes any contract or engagement to carry out any building works in contravention of a direction made under subsection (2)(d) is not entitled to recover any charge, fee or remuneration under such a contract or engagement.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
A direction made under subsection (2)(d) continues to have effect despite the renewal of the licence held by the licensee under section 29E(6).
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]

29K.

Appeal to Minister

Any person whose application for a licence or for the renewal of a licence has been refused by the Commissioner of Building Control may, within 14 days after being notified of such refusal, appeal in the prescribed manner to the Minister whose decision is final.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
Where a licence is granted by the Commissioner of Building Control subject to conditions (other than those specified in section 29H or 29I), the licensee concerned may, within 14 days after being notified of such conditions, appeal in the prescribed manner to the Minister whose decision is final.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
If the Commissioner of Building Control has made —
1. an order of revocation or suspension of a licence under section 29J; or
2. an order imposing any pecuniary penalty on, or a direction or restriction on the business of a licensed corporation, partnership or limited liability partnership under section 29J(2),
the person whose licence is revoked or suspended, on whom such a penalty, direction or restriction is imposed (as the case may be) may, within 14 days after being served with the notice of the order, appeal to the Minister against the order, and the decision of the Minister is final.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
In any appeal under this section in relation to the conviction of a licensee for a criminal offence, the Minister on appeal from any order of the Commissioner of Building Control is to accept the conviction as final and conclusive.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]

29L.

Power of Minister to make regulations

The Minister may make regulations for giving effect to the provisions of this Part and for the due administration thereof, and, in particular, for or with respect to all or any of the following matters:

prescribing the form and procedure for applications for licences;
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 15/06/2024]
varying the minimum paid-up capital of a corporation specified in section 29F(3)(c) or 29G(3)(c) in connection with applications for a general builder’s licence or specialist builder’s licence;
prescribing the different classes of construction tradesmen and construction foremen for the purposes of section 29H;
prescribing offences in respect of the contravention of any regulations made under this section, and prescribing fines, not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment which may not exceed 12 months or both, that may, on conviction, be imposed in respect of any such offence;
prescribing any matter which is required under this Part to be prescribed.
[47/2007]

PART 5

REGULATING FIXED INSTALLATION CONTRACTORS*

[Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]

[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]

29M.

Interpretation of this Part

In this Part —

“applicant” means an applicant for or to renew a registration;

“basic rate of pay” means the total amount of money (including wage adjustments and increments) to which an employee is entitled under the employee’s contract of service for working for one month, but does not include —

additional payments by way of overtime payments;
additional payments by way of bonus payments or annual wage supplements;
any sum to reimburse the employee for special expenses incurred during his employment;
productivity incentive payments; and
any allowance however described;

“basic wage” means wage calculated at the basic rate of pay for one month;

“prescribed date” means a date prescribed by building regulations made in relation to all registrable activity or a class of registrable activity;

“progressive wage model bonus” means a discretionary amount of money payable to an employee that is in addition to all of the following paid to the employee:

any basic wage;
any overtime payment;
any sum to reimburse the employee for special expenses incurred during his employment;
any allowance however described;

“registered” or “registration” means registered or registration under this Part authorising the person registered to carry on any registrable activity or a class of registrable activity specified in the registration;

“registrable activity” means providing in the course of business a service of carrying out —

fixed installation works in Singapore; or
maintenance, inspection or testing of fixed installations in Singapore;

“registrant” means a person who is registered.

[Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]

29N.

Unauthorised undertaking of registrable activity

A person commits an offence if the person carries on any registrable activity when the person —
1. is not authorised to do so by a registration under this Part; and
2. is not exempt from this section under subsection (6) or section 30 or 30A in relation to that activity.
The offence under subsection (1) is a strict liability offence.
A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction —
1. to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both; and
2. in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is not entitled to recover in any court any charge, fee or remuneration for any service provided by the person in the course of committing that offence.
For the purpose of subsection (1), a person is not regarded as registered during any period the person’s registration is suspended under section 29R.
To avoid doubt, nothing in this section requires any of the following individuals to be registered in order to carry out a registrable activity:
1. a qualified person carrying out any registrable activity in the course of engaging in professional engineering work in Singapore;
2. an individual who carries out any registrable activity under the direction or supervision of an individual mentioned in paragraph (a).
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]

29O.

Application for registration

An application for or to renew a registration under this Part must be made to the Building and Construction Authority in accordance with this section.
An application for or to renew a registration must —
1. be in the form and manner the Building and Construction Authority specifies;
2. be accompanied by an application fee, if prescribed; and
3. be accompanied by the prescribed information and any other additional information that the Building and Construction Authority requires to decide on the application.
In addition to subsection (1) —
1. an application for or to renew a registration that is made on or after the prescribed date for the registrable activity to which the application relates, must be accompanied by a progressive wage plan in respect of the applicant’s business undertaking that registrable activity; and
2. an application to renew a registration must be made no later than a prescribed period before the date of expiry of the registration, unless otherwise allowed by the Building and Construction Authority in any particular case which must then be treated as a late renewal application.
The Building and Construction Authority may refuse to consider an application for or to renew a registration that is incomplete or not made in accordance with this section.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]

29P.

Registration and renewal of registration of persons to carry on a registrable activity may be granted or refused by the Building and Construction Authority —
1. in accordance with the procedure in this Part and the building regulations made for the purposes of this Part; and
2. subject to such conditions as prescribed in the building regulations made for the purposes of this Part and, in the absence of anything prescribed, any conditions the Building and Construction Authority thinks fit.
An applicant who is aggrieved by the decision of the Building and Construction Authority refusing to register or renew the registration of the person may, within 14 days after the person is notified of that decision, appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.
The Building and Construction Authority may subdivide registration under this Part into classes of registrable activity, according (and not limited) to any of the following:
1. the type of registrable activity;
2. the type of fixed installation with respect to which the registrable activity may involve.
Every registration under this Part is valid for a period specified in the registration, unless earlier cancelled or suspended under section 29R.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]

29Q.

Progressive wages as condition of registration

Without limiting section 29P, the registration of a person for any class of registrable activity is subject to the following conditions:
1. on or after the prescribed date for that class of registrable activity, for every citizen of Singapore or permanent resident of Singapore who is employed or is to be employed by the person to carry out the registrable activity in the course of the person’s business (called an employee), there must be a contract of service in writing that —
  1. contains terms not inconsistent with the requirements in subsection (2) for the progressive wage plan in respect of that person’s business of carrying out registrable activity in the course of business;
  2. provides for the payment to that employee a basic wage that is not less than the minimum amount specified under subsection (3) for the class of employees to which that employee belongs;and
  3. provides for the payment to that employee a progressive wage model bonus that is not less than the minimum amount, and at the frequency, specified under subsection (3) if the employee belongs to the eligible class of employees who carry out that registrable activity specified under that subsection;
    [Act 31 of 2023 wef 31/12/2024]
2. the person registered must issue to each employee mentioned in paragraph (a) that the person registered employs a pay slip containing such particulars of that employee’s basic wage and such other payment received by that employee from the person, and at such frequency, as may be prescribed.
Every progressive wage plan in respect of any class of registrable activity carried out in the course of business by a person registered or an applicant for registration in relation to that registrable activity must —
1. relate to every citizen of Singapore or permanent resident of Singapore the person registered or applicant employs or proposes to employ to carry out that registrable activity in the course of business (called employees);
  [Act 31 of 2023 wef 31/12/2024]
2. specify the basic wage payable to every employee in paragraph (a) that is on an increasing scale depending on seniority, responsibilities, work experience and training received in carrying out that class of registrable activities;
3. specify an amount as the basic wage for each class of employees in paragraph (a) that is not less than the amount specified under subsection (3)(a) for that class; and
4. specify that where the employee in paragraph (a) belongs to a class of employees specified as eligible for a progressive wage model bonus under subsection (3)(b), the employee will be paid a progressive wage model bonus.
The Commissioner of Building Control must, by order, specify —
1. the amount of the basic wage mentioned in subsection (1)(a)(ii) and when that amount takes effect; and
2. the minimum amount of the progressive wage model bonus, the frequency of payment, and the eligible class of employees for the purposes of subsection (1)(a)(iii).
An order under subsection (3) may specify different basic wages or minimum amounts (as the case may be) for different classes of employees, and may be varied from time to time.
In making an order under subsection (3), the Commissioner of Building Control must consider the recommendations by the Tripartite Cluster for Lift and Escalator Industry, if any.
In respect of an order made under subsection (3) —
1. the Commissioner of Building Control must publish every such order made in any way which the Commissioner of Building Control thinks appropriate to bring the order to the notice of persons who, in his opinion, ought to have notice of the order; but
2. a failure to publish any order in compliance with paragraph (a) does not invalidate that order.
A specified amount takes effect for the purposes of this Part, even though the basic wage that would have been payable to an employee under any collective agreement as defined in section 2 of the Industrial Relations Act 1960* is lower than the specified amount.
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
Where, immediately before the prescribed date for a class of registrable activity, a person is registered to carry out that registrable activity in the course of business, the Commissioner of Building Control may require the person to submit a progressive wage plan in respect of the person’s business that is in conformity with subsection (2) within a time specified by the Commissioner of Building Control.
In this section, “Tripartite Cluster for Lift and Escalator Industry” means the body, comprising the representatives from employers, service buyers, the trade unions of employees and the Government, which is responsible for making recommendations on progressive wages for lift and escalator maintenance personnel.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]

29R.

Regulatory action

Subject to subsections (3), (4) and (5), the Building and Construction Authority may by order (without compensation), cancel the registration of a person if the Building and Construction Authority is satisfied that —
1. (a) the person obtained the registration by fraud or misrepresentation;
2. (b) the person is contravening or not complying with, or has contravened or failed to comply with —
  1. (i) any condition of the person’s registration;
  2. any provision of this Act or the building regulations applicable to the person as a registrant, contravention of or non-compliance with which is not an offence under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act; or
  3. a direction given under subsection (2)(c), (d) or (e);
3. the person is convicted of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty, or an offence under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act, committed during the term of the registration;
4. the person is likely to go or has gone into compulsory or voluntary liquidation other than for the purpose of amalgamation or reconstruction;
5. the person is not carrying out registrable activity in a safe and effective manner; or
6. the cancellation of registration is in the public interest.
However, the Building and Construction Authority may, in lieu of cancelling a person’s registration under subsection (1), do (without compensation) any one or more of the following:
1. suspend the registration of the person for not more than 6 months;
2. modify any condition of the person’s registration except those in section 29Q;
3. direct the person to pay, within a period specified in a direction, a financial penalty of an amount the Building and Construction Authority thinks fit, being not more than $20,000, where the ground for regulatory action is subsection (1)(a), (b), (d) or (e);
4. direct that, for a period specified in the order, the person —
  1. must not enter into or undertake any contract or engagement to carry out all or any registrable activity; or
  2. may enter into or undertake any further contract or engagement to carry out any registrable activity, provided that the number of fixed installations (of the same type or different types) in relation to which registrable activity may be undertaken under the further contracts or engagements must not exceed the number specified in the order;
5. direct that the person —
  1. do, or refrain from doing, such things as are specified in a direction to rectify any contravention or non-compliance mentioned in subsection (1)(b); or
  2. ensure that any employee of the person who carries out registrable activities undergoes the training or retraining specified in the order;
6. censure the person concerned.
Before taking any regulatory action under subsection (1) or (2), the Building and Construction Authority must give written notice to the registrant concerned —
1. stating that the Building and Construction Authority intends to take regulatory action against the registrant;
2. specifying the type of regulatory action in subsection (1) or (2) the Building and Construction Authority proposes to take, and each instance of contravention or non-compliance (where applicable) that is the subject of the action; and
3. specifying the time (being not less than 14 days from the date of service of notice on the registrant) within which written representations may be made to the Building and Construction Authority with respect to the proposed regulatory action.
The Building and Construction Authority may, after considering any written representation under subsection (3)(c), decide to take such regulatory action in subsection (1) or (2) as it considers appropriate.
Where the Building and Construction Authority has made any decision under subsection (4) against any registrant, the Building and Construction Authority must serve on the registrant concerned a notice of its decision.
Subject to subsection (7), a decision to cancel a registration under subsection (1), or to take a regulatory action in subsection (2), which is specified in the notice given under subsection (5), takes effect from the date on which that notice is given, or on such other date as may be specified in the notice.
A person given a notice under subsection (5) who is aggrieved by the decision in the notice may appeal to the Minister against the decision, within the time and in the manner prescribed by building regulations; and the Minister’s decision on appeal is final.
A registrant who enters into or undertakes any contract or engagement to carry out any registrable activity in contravention of a direction made under subsection (2)(d) is not entitled to recover any charge, fee or remuneration under such a contract or engagement.
All financial penalties imposed under subsection (2) must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]

PART 6

MISCELLANEOUS

30.

Class exemption from Act

The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, exempt any class of persons, premises or buildings or building works from the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act, the building regulations or other subsidiary legislation made under this Act.

[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

30A.

Administrative exemption from Act

The Commissioner of Building Control may exempt, for a period specified in the exemption, a particular person from the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act or the building regulations where the Commissioner of Building Control is personally satisfied that all of the following apply:
1. the risk to public safety in providing the exemption is negligible;
2. there are other sufficient safeguards under this Act or any other written law, or by other means, to minimise any risk to public safety in providing the exemption;
3. there are requirements in other written law or there are other means that deal with the matter to be exempted besides the applicable requirements of this Act.
An exemption under this section —
1. must be in writing and given to the particular person concerned; and
2. need not be published in the Gazette.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

31.

Offences by bodies corporate, etc.

Where an offence under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act has been committed by a body corporate, every officer of the body corporate shall also be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly unless the officer proves that —
1. the offence was committed without the consent or connivance of the officer; and
2. the offence was not attributable to any neglect on the officer’s part.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, subsection (1) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with the member’s functions of management as if the member were a director of the body corporate.
[47/2007]
Where an offence under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act has been committed by a partnership, each partner of the partnership shall also be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly unless the partner proves that —
1. the offence was committed without the consent or connivance of the partner; and
2. the offence was not attributable to any neglect on the partner’s part.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
Where an offence under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act has been committed by an unincorporated association (other than a partnership), every officer of the unincorporated association and every member of its governing body shall also be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly unless the officer or member (as the case may be) proves that —
1. the offence was committed without the consent or connivance of the officer of the unincorporated association or member of its governing body, as the case may be; and
2. the offence was not attributable to any neglect on the part of that officer or member.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]
In this section —
“body corporate” includes a limited liability partnership;
“officer” —
1. in relation to a body corporate, means any director, partner, member of the committee of management, Chief Executive, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate and includes any person purporting to act in any such capacity; or
2. in relation to an unincorporated association (other than a partnership), means the president, the secretary, or any member of the committee of the unincorporated association, or any person holding a position analogous to that of president, secretary or member of a committee and includes any person purporting to act in any such capacity;
“partner” includes a person purporting to act as a partner.
[47/2007]
The Minister may make regulations providing for the application of any provision of this section, with such modifications as the Minister considers appropriate, to any body corporate or unincorporated association formed or recognised under the law of a territory outside Singapore.
[47/2007]

32.

Protection from liability

No liability shall lie against any public officer by reason of the fact that any building works are carried out in accordance with the provisions of and any subsidiary legislation made under this Act or that such building works or plans of the building works are subject to inspection or approval by the Commissioner of Building Control or the public officer.
[2/2012]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
Nothing in this Act and any subsidiary legislation made under this Act makes it obligatory for the Commissioner of Building Control to inspect any building or building works or the site of any proposed building to ascertain whether the provisions of this Act and any subsidiary legislation made under this Act are complied with or whether any plans, certificates, notices or other documents submitted to him or her are accurate.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
No liability lies personally against the Commissioner of Building Control or any person authorised under section 3(2) for anything which is done or purported to be done, or omitted to be done, in good faith and with reasonable care in the execution or purported execution of this Act and any subsidiary legislation made under this Act.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
Where the Commissioner of Building Control provides any information to any person in respect of any building or building works by electronic or other means, the Government, the Commissioner of Building Control and any public officer are not liable for any loss or damage suffered by any person by reason of any error or omission of whatever nature or howsoever caused, including any defect or breakdown in the electronic equipment used for providing the information, if the error or omission is made in good faith and in the ordinary course of duties of the Commissioner of Building Control or public officer.

33.

Powers of entry, etc.

The Commissioner of Building Control, or any person authorised by the Commissioner of Building Control under section 3(2) for the purposes of this section (called in this section the authorised officer) may enter any premises at all reasonable hours for the purpose of —

ascertaining whether there is, or has been, on or in connection with the premises, a contravention of this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act;
ascertaining whether circumstances exist that would authorise the Commissioner of Building Control or any person appointed by him or her for this purpose to take any action or execute any work under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act;
taking any action or carrying out any work, authorised or required by this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act; or
inspecting the documents, books or records kept and maintained by any person under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act.
[18/2003; 47/2007; 22/2012]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

The Commissioner of Building Control or an authorised officer may do all or any of the following for any purpose in subsection (1) in or on any premises entered under that subsection:

make such openings as may be necessary;
inspect, test, examine, remove and detain (without compensation) reasonable samples of any building materials found in the premises;
analyse, or cause to be analysed, any sample of building materials mentioned in paragraph (b);
make copies of or take extracts from, or require the person having the management or control of the premises to provide copies of or extracts from, any document, book or record;
make any still or moving image or any recording of the premises or any thing in the premises;
subject to subsection (4B), seize any document, book, record, equipment, instrument or other article which the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer reasonably believes to be the subject matter of, or to be connected with the commission of, an offence under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act;
take onto the premises such equipment and materials as the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer requires for the purpose of exercising powers in relation to the premises;
operate a fixed installation or any electronic equipment in or on the premises, or require a person on the premises to operate any fixed installation or electronic equipment, in order to access evidential material;
seize and detain any machinery, equipment or plant which the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer reasonably believes to be connected or used in connection with a contravention of this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act;
place a cordon around the premises or fixed installation concerned or otherwise secure the premises or fixed installation against unauthorised entry or use.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

Where any document, book, record, equipment, instrument or other article has been seized under subsection (1A) —

the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer who seized the document, book, record, equipment, instrument or other article must give written notice of the seizure to the person from whom it was seized, if the name and address of that person are known;
the document, book, record, equipment, instrument or other article may be kept or stored in the premises where it was seized or may, at the direction of the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer, be removed to any other place —
1. to be kept or stored; o
2. for testing or examination; and
in any case under paragraph (b), the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer may —
1. mark, seal or label the document, book, record, equipment, instrument or other article in such manner as the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer thinks fit for the purpose of indicating that it is under detention; and
2. lock or seal the whole or part of the premises in which the document, book, record, equipment, instrument or other article is being detained.
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

The power under subsection (1A)(h) to operate electronic equipment in or on the premises includes the power —

to use a disk, tape or other storage device that is in or on the premises and can be used with the equipment or in association with the equipment;
to operate electronic equipment in or on the place to put the relevant data in documentary form and remove the documents so produced from the premises; and
to operate electronic equipment in or on the premises to transfer the relevant data to a disk, tape or other storage device that —
1. is brought to the premises for the exercise of the power; or
2. is in or on the premises and the use of which for that purpose has been agreed in writing by the occupier of the premises,
and to remove the disk, tape or other storage device from that premises.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

A person who, without the permission of the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer —

interferes, tampers with, removes or otherwise disposes of any article or document seized under subsection (1A);
alters, counterfeits, defaces, destroys, erases or removes any mark, seal or label placed by the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer under subsection (1B)(c)(i); or
opens, breaks or otherwise tampers with the lock or seal placed by the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer on the whole or part of any premises under subsection (1B)(c)(ii),

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

The results of any analysis of a sample of building materials taken under subsection (1A)(c) are not admissible as evidence in any proceedings under this Act or the building regulations unless the samples were taken in the prescribed manner.

[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

A certificate of the results of an analysis of a part of a sample taken under subsection (1A)(c) must be signed by the analyst but the analysis may be made by a person acting under the direction of the analyst.

[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

For the purposes of any inspection under subsection (1)(d), the person concerned must —

allow the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer to access, and must produce on request, the documents, books or records; and
give such information and facilities as the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer may require.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence.

[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

The documents, books, records, equipment, instrument or other article mentioned in subsection (1A)(f) must not be seized at such times or at such places as could pose to any person risk of death or serious injury.

[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

The documents, books or records mentioned in subsection (4) are not required to be produced at any time or at any place that would interfere with the proper execution of the building works.

Any person who wilfully obstructs the Commissioner of Building Control or an authorised officer in the performance of any matter or thing which he or she is authorised to do by this section shall be guilty of an offence.

[47/2007]

[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

34.

Presumptions and defences

In any proceedings instituted under this Act for the commencement or carrying out of any building works on any premises in contravention of the provisions of this Act or the building regulations, the owner of the premises at the time the building works were commenced or carried out is presumed, until the contrary is proved, to be the person commencing or carrying out the building works.
Where anything is required under this Act to be done by the owner of a building, and there is more than one owner of the building, it is a defence to any prosecution for failing to do that thing —
1. that the thing was done by another owner of the building; or
2. that any notice or order in respect of the thing required under this Act to be served on the owner was served on another owner of the building and not on the person charged.

35.

Occupier may execute work in default of owner

Whenever default is made by an owner of any premises in the execution of any work required under this Act to be executed by the owner, an occupier of the premises may, with the approval of the Commissioner of Building Control, cause the work to be executed.
The costs and expenses thereof are recoverable by the occupier from the owner or the amount may be deducted out of the rent from time to time becoming due from the occupier to the owner.
The occupier may, in the absence of any special agreement to the contrary, retain possession of the premises until the costs and expenses incurred by the occupier have been fully reimbursed.

36.

Proceedings if occupier opposes execution of works

Where —
1. the owner of any premises is required under any provision of this Act or the building regulations to carry out any work or make any provision in respect of the premises;
2. (b) the owner has given written notice to the occupier of the premises of the owner’s intention to carry out the work or make such provision; and
3. (c) the occupier prevents the owner from carrying out the work or making such provision in respect of the premises,
a Magistrate’s Court, upon proof thereof and upon application by the owner, may make a written order requiring the occupier to permit the owner to execute all such work or to make any provision with respect to the premises that may be required by the provisions of this Act or the building regulations and may also, if the Court thinks fit, order the occupier to pay to the owner the costs relating to the application or order.
If, after the expiry of 8 days from the date of the order, the occupier continues to refuse to permit the owner to execute such work or make any provision that may be required by the provisions of this Act or the building regulations, the occupier shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 for every day during which he so continues to refuse.
[47/2007]
Every such owner is, during the continuance of such refusal, discharged from any penalties to which the owner might otherwise have become liable by reason of the owner’s default in executing the work or making provision in respect of the premises or building.

37.

Recovery of costs and expenses payable by owners

All expenses incurred by the Commissioner of Building Control in or about the execution of any work pursuant to any provision of this Act, together with interest accruing in accordance with subsection (3), are recoverable from the person who is the owner of the premises on the date on which the works are completed.

As from the date of the completion of the work, the expenses and interest accrued due thereon are, until recovered, a first charge on the premises and on all estates and interests therein, exercisable against the premises and the estates and interests therein and all movable property or crops for the time being found thereon, despite any change in the ownership or occupation of the premises subsequent to that date.

The Commissioner of Building Control may certify under his or her hand the expenses due and the names of the persons liable therefor and may by that certificate apportion the expenses among those persons.

A copy of the certificate must be served upon each of those persons mentioned in subsection (2), but where no such persons may be found, the certificate is deemed to have been duly served if a copy thereof is posted at the office of the Commissioner of Building Control and another copy is affixed to some conspicuous part of the premises in respect of which the expenses have been incurred.

Interest at the rate of 9% per annum from the expiry of one month from the date of service of a certificate under subsection (2A) is recoverable as part of the expenses incurred by the Commissioner of Building Control.

A certificate purporting to be under the hand of the Commissioner of Building Control and to be made under subsection (2) and setting forth the amount claimed as due to the Commissioner of Building Control and the persons as liable for the payment thereof is prima facie evidence of the facts certified therein and of the signature of the Commissioner of Building Control thereto.

If any sum or any part thereof due to the Commissioner of Building Control under this Act remains unpaid at the expiry of one month commencing from the date of service of the certificate under subsection (2A), or any further period as the Commissioner of Building Control may allow, it is deemed to be arrears.

38.

Recovery of costs and expenses by instalments

Where the Commissioner of Building Control has incurred expenses in or about the execution of any work which are recoverable from any person, the Commissioner of Building Control may either recover such expenses in the manner provided in section 37 or, if he or she thinks fit, obtain an undertaking from the person for the payment of such instalments as will be sufficient to defray the whole amount of such expenses with interest thereon at a rate not exceeding 9% per annum within a period of 10 years.
Upon default in payment of any instalment upon the date appointed for payment thereof by any such undertaking, the whole of the balance then outstanding of such amount immediately becomes due and payable and, despite any change in the ownership or occupation of the premises since the date of the undertaking, may be recovered by the same means and in the like manner as provided in section 37

39.

Power to vary interest rates

The Minister may, at any time by notification in the Gazette, vary the rates of interest specified in sections 37(3) and 38(1).

40.

Liability of transferor of property in respect of expenses incurred by Commissioner of Building Control

Where a person sells or transfers any premises in respect of which expenses have been incurred by the Commissioner of Building Control in or about the execution of any work required to be done under this Act which are recoverable from the owner thereof, the person continues to be liable for the payment of all such expenses payable in respect of the premises and for the performance of all other obligations imposed by this Act upon the owner of those premises which became payable or were required to be performed prior to the transfer.
Nothing in subsection (1) affects the liability of the purchaser or transferee to pay such expenses in respect of the premises or affects the right of the Commissioner of Building Control to recover such expenses or to enforce any obligation under this Act.

41.

Property and materials seized or removed by Commissioner of Building Control

Any property or materials seized or removed by the Commissioner of Building Control, in the exercise of his or her powers under section 19(6) or 25(6)(c), may be forfeited to the Government and sold or otherwise disposed of by the Commissioner of Building Control unless a claim is made by the person to whom the property or materials belong within 2 weeks of the seizure or removal in which case the property or materials may be returned to the person on any terms and conditions that the Commissioner of Building Control may impose.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
Where the Commissioner of Building Control sells any property or materials under subsection (1), the Commissioner of Building Control must pay on demand the proceeds of the sale to the owner to whom the property or materials belonged after deducting the amount of any expenses recoverable by the Commissioner of Building Control from the owner.
Any proceeds of the sale of property or materials under this section not claimed within 2 years of the sale must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

42.

Service of documents

Any notice, order or document required or authorised to be served under this Act (including any subsidiary legislation made under this Act) is deemed to be sufficiently served —

by delivering a copy thereof personally or by leaving it with any adult person at the last known place of abode of the person on whom the notice, order or document is to be served;
by leaving it at the usual or last known place of abode or business of the person on whom the notice, order or document is to be served in a cover addressed to that person or by posting it upon a conspicuous part of those premises;
by sending it by registered post addressed to the person on whom the notice, order or document is to be served at that person’s usual or last known place of abode or business;
1. by sending it by fax to the fax number operated at the usual or last known address of the place of residence or business of the individual, or the last fax number given to the Commissioner of Building Control by the individual as the fax number for the service of documents on the individual; or
in the case of an incorporated company, a partnership or a body of persons —
1. by delivering it to the secretary or other like officer of the company, partnership or body of persons at its registered office or principal place of business;
2. by sending it by registered post addressed to the company, partnership or body of persons at its registered office or principal place of business; or
3. by sending it by fax to the fax number operated at the registered office or principal place of business of the company, partnership or body of persons.
  [47/2007; 22/2012]

Any notice or document (other than an order) required or authorised to be served under this Act (including any subsidiary legislation made under this Act) is, in addition to any mode of service under subsection (1), deemed to be sufficiently served —

by sending it by ordinary post addressed to the person on whom the notice or document is to be served at the person’s usual or last known place of abode or business;
by electronic communication, by sending an electronic communication of the notice or document to the last email address given to the Commissioner of Building Control by the individual as the email address for the service of documents on the individual; or
in the case of an incorporated company, a partnership or a body of persons —
1. by sending it by ordinary post addressed to the company, partnership or body of persons at its registered office or principal place of business; or
2. by electronic communication, by sending an electronic communication of the notice or document to the last email address given to the Commissioner of Building Control by the company, partnership or body of persons as the email address for the service of documents on it.
  [22/2012]

Any notice, order or document required or authorised to be served under this Act on the owner or occupier of any premises or building is also deemed to be sufficiently served by delivering a copy thereof personally to any adult person on the premises or building or, if there is no such person to whom it can with reasonable diligence be delivered, by affixing the notice, order or document to a conspicuous part of the premises or building.

Any notice, order or document required or authorised by this Act to be served on the owner or the occupier of any premises is deemed to be properly addressed if addressed by the description of the “owner” or “occupier” of the premises without further name or description.

Any notice, order or document to be issued by the Commissioner of Building Control under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act may be issued in any form that the Commissioner of Building Control may determine and every such notice, order or document is valid if the signature of the Commissioner of Building Control or any officer authorised under this Act is duly printed or written thereon.

[22/2012]

Where any notice, order or other document to be served on any person is —

sent by fax to the fax number operated at the last known place of residence or business or registered office or principal place of business in accordance with subsection (1) — it is deemed to be duly served on the person to whom it is addressed on the day of transmission, subject to receipt on the sending fax machine of a notification (by electronic or other means) of a successful transmission to the place of residence or business or registered office or principal place of business, as the case may be;
sent by registered post to any person in accordance with subsection (1) — it is deemed to be duly served on the person at the time when it would, in the ordinary course of post, be delivered, whether or not it is returned undelivered, and in proving service of the notice, order or document, it is sufficient to prove that the envelope containing the same was properly addressed, stamped and posted by registered post;
sent by ordinary post to any person in accordance with subsection (1A) — it is deemed to be duly served on the person to whom it is addressed on the day succeeding the day on which it would, in the ordinary course of post, be delivered; and
sent by electronic communication to an email address in accordance with subsection (1A) — it is deemed to be duly served on the person to whom it is addressed at the time of entering the information system addressed to the email address.
[22/2012]

Service of any notice or document under this Act on a person by electronic communication may be effected only if the person gives as part of the person’s address for service an email address.

[22/2012]

This section does not apply to notices, orders or documents to be served in proceedings in court.

[22/2012]

42AA.

Use of electronic service for making applications, etc.

The Commissioner of Building Control may permit an application to or a lodgment with him or her under this Act to be made through an electronic service that is —
1. administered by a public authority to facilitate the sending of documents under this Act and any other written law in connection with building works; and
2. prescribed by the Minister by notification in the Gazette.
Where a person uses the electronic service mentioned in subsection (1) to make an application to or a lodgment with the Commissioner of Building Control, the Commissioner of Building Control may serve on the person any acknowledgment, approval, certificate, direction, notice, permit or other document in connection with the application or lodgment, by sending it to the person’s account with the electronic service.
Service of a document on a person under subsection (2) takes effect at the time when an electronic record of the document reaches the person’s account with the electronic service.
This section applies despite anything to the contrary in this Act.
In this section, “electronic record” has the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Electronic Transactions Act 2010.
[Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]

42A.

Inaccuracies in notices, etc.

No misnomer or inaccurate description of any person, premises, building or building works or any other thing named or described in any notice or order issued or served under or for the purposes of this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act renders invalid the notice or order or affect the operation of this Act or its subsidiary legislation if the person, premises, building or building works or other thing named or described in the notice or order is so designated or described as to be identifiable.
[22/2012]
No proceedings taken under or by virtue of this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act are rendered invalid merely by reason of want of form, which otherwise would be valid.
[22/2012]

43.

Providing of information

The Commissioner of Building Control, or any person authorised by the Commissioner of Building Control under section 3(2) for the purpose of this section (called in this section the authorised officer), may exercise the powers in this section for the purpose of —
1. ascertaining whether there is, or has been, a contravention of this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act;
2. ascertaining whether circumstances exist that would authorise the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer to take any action or execute any work under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act; or
3. taking any action or carrying out any work authorised or required by this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act.
For the purposes of subsection (1), the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer may —
1. require any person —
  1. to answer any question (to the best of that person’s knowledge, information and belief) and provide any information; and
  2. to produce, for inspection by the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer, any book, document, record, still or moving image, recording, article or thing within the person’s possession, or to provide the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer with copies of such book, document, still or moving image, recording or other record; and
2. require any person in Singapore whom the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer has reason to believe to be acquainted with any facts or circumstances relevant to such purposes to attend before the Commissioner of Building Control or authorised officer to answer any question (to the best of that person’s knowledge, information and belief) and to provide any document or information.
Any statement made by an individual in answer to a question under subsection (2)(a)(i) or (b) must —
1. be reduced to writing;
2. be read over to the individual;
3. if the individual does not understand English, be interpreted in a language that the individual understands; and
4. after correction (if necessary) be signed by that individual.
If —
1. a person provides a document or gives a statement or information (whether orally or in writing) to the Commissioner of Building Control or an authorised officer for the purposes of this section;
2. the document, statement or information is false or misleading, or the statement or information omits any matter or thing without which the statement or information (as the case may be) is misleading; and
3. the person knows, or ought reasonably to know, that the document is false or misleading, or that the statement or information is as described in paragraph (b),
the person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Subsection (4) does not apply if the document, statement or information is not false or misleading in a material particular, or if the statement or information does not omit any matter or thing without which the statement or information (as the case may be) is misleading in a material particular.
A person —
1. who intentionally alters, suppresses or destroys any document or information which the person has been required by or under subsection (2) to produce or provide; or
2. who, in providing any document or information required by or under subsection (2), makes any statement which the person knows or ought reasonably to know that, or is reckless as to whether, it is false or misleading in a material particular,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to do anything required of the person under subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
A person is not excused from giving any information required under this section on the ground that the giving of the information might tend to incriminate the person or expose the person to a punishment.
However, where a person claims, before giving any information that the person is required under this section to give, that the giving of the information might tend to incriminate the person —
1. that information;
2. the giving of the information; and
3. any information, document or thing obtained as a direct or indirect consequence of the giving of the information,
is not admissible in evidence against the person in any criminal proceedings other than proceedings for an offence under subsection (4) or (6)(b) or section 43A.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

43A.

Providing documents false in a material particular

Any person who, being required by or by virtue of this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act to make or produce to the Commissioner of Building Control any plan, declaration, certificate, report, record, notice or other document, or who, for the purpose of obtaining any licence, permit, registration, waiver or approval from the Commissioner of Building Control, or for the purpose of the lodgment of any plans with the Commissioner of Building Control, under this Act or its subsidiary legislation or for the purpose of establishing any fact relevant to the administration of this Act or its subsidiary legislation —

makes or produces any plan, declaration, certificate, report, record, notice or other document which is false in a material particular; or
produces any plan, declaration, certificate, report, record, notice or other document which is false in a material particular, or has not been made by the person by whom it purports to have been made, or has been in any way altered or tampered with,

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

[22/2012]

[Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]

[Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]

44.

Powers of arrest

A police officer may arrest without warrant any person who has committed, or whom the police officer reasonably suspects to have committed, an offence under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act —
1. if the person declines to give the person’s name and address; or
2. (b) if there is reason to doubt the accuracy of the name and address, if given.
  [22/2012]
A person arrested under this section may be detained until the person’s name and address are correctly ascertained except that no person so arrested is to be detained longer than is necessary for bringing the person before a court unless the order of a court for the person’s detention is obtained.

45.

Evidence

Subject to this section, the contents of any document prepared, issued or served under, by virtue of or for the purposes of this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act is until the contrary is proved presumed to be correct.
The production of any document purporting to contain any apportionment made under section 37(2) shall, without any other evidence, be received as prima facie proof of the making and validity of the apportionment mentioned therein.
In any proceedings under this Act or the building regulations, a certificate of analysis under section 33 purporting to be signed by an analyst is, on its production by the prosecution without proof of the signature of the analyst, sufficient evidence of the facts stated therein unless the defendant requires the analyst to be called as a witness, in which case the defendant must give notice thereof to the prosecution not less than 3 clear days before the day fixed for the hearing of the summons.
All records and other documents required by this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act to be kept by the Commissioner of Building Control are deemed to be public documents, and copies thereof or extracts therefrom certified by the officer responsible for the custody thereof to be true copies or extracts (as the case may be) subscribed by that officer with his or her name and official title are admissible in evidence as proof of the contents of the documents or extracts.
[22/2012]
Where any information in respect of any building or building works is provided by the Commissioner of Building Control by electronic means, the production of any document under the hand of a public officer responsible for providing such information purporting to be a hard copy transcript of all or any such information is, in all courts and in all proceedings, sufficient evidence of the information provided electronically and all courts are in all proceedings to take judicial notice of the signature of the public officer.

46.

Jurisdiction of Courts

Despite the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, a District Court or a Magistrate’s Court has power to impose the maximum penalties provided for an offence under this Act.

47.

General penalty

Any person who is guilty of an offence under this Act for which no penalty is expressly provided shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

[47/2007]

47A.

Disposal of articles, documents, etc.

Any article or document detained or seized under this Act —
1. where the article or document is produced in any criminal trial, must be dealt with in accordance with section 364(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010*;
2. where the owner of the article or document consents to its disposal, is deemed to be forfeited; or
3. in any other case, must be returned to the owner or reported to a Magistrate’s Court.
  [*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]
Where the report of any article or document is made to a Magistrate’s Court under subsection (1)(c), the Magistrate’s Court may order the article or document —
1. to be forfeited; or
2. to be disposed of in such manner as the Magistrate’s Court thinks fit.
Subject to any order to the contrary by the Magistrate’s Court, any article or document forfeited or deemed to be forfeited under this section must be delivered to the Commissioner of Building Control and may be disposed of in such manner as the Commissioner of Building Control thinks fit.
This section does not affect any right to retain or dispose of property which may exist in law apart from this section.
To avoid doubt, this section applies to an article or a document whenever produced, detained or seized under this Act, whether before, on or after the date of commencement of section 43 of the Building Control (Amendment) Act 2020.
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

48.

Composition of offences

The Commissioner of Building Control may compound any offence under this Act or any subsidiary legislation made under this Act which is prescribed as a compoundable offence by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum not exceeding the lower of the following:
1. one half of the amount of the maximum fine that is prescribed for the offence;
2. (b) $5,000.
  [47/2007]
On payment of the sum of money, no further proceedings are to be taken against that person in respect of the offence.
[47/2007]
The Minister may make regulations to prescribe the offences which may be compounded.
[47/2007]
All sums collected under this section must be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
[47/2007]
[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

49.

Regulations

The Minister may make regulations for carrying out the purposes of this Act and for any matter which is required under this Act to be prescribed.

Without limiting subsection (1), the Minister may make regulations for or in respect of all or any of the following matters:

the regulation or prohibition of the exhibition of advertising signs, skysigns, aerial signs and projected advertisement in or on any premises and the regulation of the size and construction of those signs and advertisements;
the submission of plans of building works, the authorisation of persons qualified to submit the same and their duties and responsibilities, and the nature or classification of plans which each person may submit;
1. the minimum or maximum number of qualified persons required or permitted to prepare the plans of any description of building works;
  [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
the manner of making applications for and granting of approval of plans of building works and permits to carry out building works;
1. the manner of lodgment of plans of lodgment works;
  [Act 23 of 2023 wef 18/12/2023]
2. the establishing of objectives and performance requirements for the design and construction of buildings;
the structural strength and stability of buildings or proposed buildings, including —
1. precautions against overloading;
2. measures to safeguard adjacent buildings;
3. underpinning;
the design and construction of buildings, including —
1. the preparation of sites for building works;
2. exterior features;
3. the design and installation of any fixed installation;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]
4. the natural lighting and ventilation of buildings;
5. the headroom of rooms, cubicles and staircases and other spaces within buildings;
6. the suitability and use of materials and components;
7. environmental sustainability measures that improve the total quality of life and minimises adverse effects to the environment, both now and in the future;
1. the minimum standards of environmental sustainability for buildings or classes or types of buildings, and the method by which such standards may be assessed;
2. the manner in which an assessment of environmental sustainability of a building or an audit of the energy efficiency of a cooling system of a building is to be carried out;
3. the qualifications required, and the application process, to be registered as an energy auditor and the grounds on which such registration may be cancelled or suspended;
4. the preparation and submission of reports, certifications or other documents in relation to a design score, an as-built score or an energy audit under Part 3B;
the demolition of buildings and the safety precautions to be taken in respect thereof;
1. the reporting of dangerous occurrences (as defined in section 25A) in premises at which building works are carried out;
prohibiting or regulating the occupation of buildings;
the control and regulation of measures for energy conservation in buildings;
the provision of embankments and retaining walls;
measures to improve efficiency and standardisation in the construction industry relating to design, processes, construction techniques, products and materials;
the regulation of persons authorised to carry out installation or retrofitting of any exterior feature, including prescribing the qualifications and training of such persons, and their duties and responsibilities in connection with installing or retrofitting the exterior feature;
the regulation of the carrying out of any registrable activity within the meaning of Part 5B* with the aim of ensuring that such activity is carried out safely and competently, including —
1. requiring persons performing specified functions in relation to fixed installation works to be the holders of certain qualifications, and providing for the grant, issue, cancellation, suspension or variation of such licences, permits, certificates, authorisations or approvals; and
2. applying the provisions of Parts 2 and 5* and the building regulations to fixed installation works and persons who carry out these works with such prescribed exceptions, modifications and adaptations as the differences between fixed installation works and other building works require;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]
1. the regulation of the operation and maintenance of any fixed installation, with the aim of ensuring that the fixed installation is operated safely and competently, including —
  1. requiring periodic maintenance, inspection and testing of the fixed installation; and
  2. prohibiting or restricting, pending investigation, continued operation or access to or interference with any premises where any safety incident associated with a fixed installation has occurred
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]
2. the maintenance of buildings, exterior features and façades of buildings (whether or not common property or limited common property) with the aim of ensuring that the building, exterior feature or façade is safe;
  [Act 12 of 2020 wef 09/12/2022]
the control, regulation and supervision by registration, licensing, inspection or otherwise of places to which the public has access;
the prescribing of documents, books or records to be kept and reports or certificates to be made under this Act;
the time and manner of making, and the information and documents to be provided in respect of, an application for a temporary occupation permit and a certificate of statutory completion;
the manner in which the duties and responsibilities of accredited checkers and specialist accredited checkers are to be discharged;
the manner in which appeals may be made to and determined by the Minister under this Act and the information to be supplied by the Commissioner of Building Control in connection therewith;
the granting of permits for the erection, demolition and occupation and the control of buildings required for a limited time or constructed of short lived materials;
the procedure for the sampling of building materials under section 33;
the prescribing of forms necessary for the administration of this Act; and
the prescribing of fees and charges for the purposes of this Act.
[18/2003; 34/2004; 47/2007; 22/2012]
[*Updated to be consistent with the 2020 Revised Edition]

Regulations made under this section may provide that —

any particular objective and performance requirement for the design and construction of any building is deemed to be complied with if the building is constructed with such specifications, materials, designs or methods of construction as may be specified by the Commissioner of Building Control; and
the Commissioner of Building Control may issue in any form that he or she thinks fit, and from time to time amend, one or more Approved Documents setting out the specifications, materials, designs or methods of construction which are, without affecting any alternative means of achieving compliance, deemed to comply with the relevant objective and performance requirement for the design and construction of buildings prescribed in those regulations.
[18/2003]

The building regulations may make different provisions for different types of buildings, exterior features of buildings, façades of buildings, common property and limited common property, and fixed installations.

[Act 12 of 2020 wef 01/01/2022]

The Minister may, in making any building regulations under this section, provide that any contravention of or failure to comply with any provision thereof shall be an offence and may prescribe punishment by a fine not exceeding $20,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or with both.

[47/2007; 22/2012]

50.

Adoption of codes and standards

Any building regulations made under section 49 may adopt wholly or partially or as amended by the regulations or by reference any code, standard, rule, specification or provision which relates to any matter with which the building regulations deal and which is —
1. recommended, issued or adopted by the Enterprise Singapore Board;
2. recommended, issued or adopted by —
  1. the British Standards Institution; or
  2. any other standards organisation or body of any place outside Singapore being an organisation or body approved by the Commissioner of Building Control; or
3. included in any document issued by any Government department or issued by any public authority constituted by any written law.
  [18/2002; 10/2018]
The Commissioner of Building Control must cause a copy of every code, standard, rule, specification or provision adopted under subsection (1) (other than a code, standard, rule, specification or provision recommended, issued or adopted by the Enterprise Singapore Board) to be made available for inspection by members of the public without charge at the office of the Commissioner of Building Control during normal office hours.
[18/2002; 10/2018]
In any proceedings under the building regulations, a copy certified by the Commissioner of Building Control as a true copy of a code, standard, rule, specification or provision adopted under subsection (1) (other than a code, standard, rule, specification or provision recommended, issued or adopted by the Enterprise Singapore Board) is evidence of the code, standard, rule, specification or provision so adopted.
[18/2002; 10/2018]

51.

Application of Act to Government

Except as provided in subsection (2), this Act binds the Government and applies to —
1. any premises wholly or partly owned or occupied by the Government; and
2. (b) any premises in which any building operation or any work of engineering construction is carried on by or on behalf of the Government.
  [47/2007]
Nothing in this Act renders the Government liable to prosecution for an offence.
[47/2007]
To avoid doubt, no person is immune from prosecution for any offence under this Act by reason that the person is engaged to provide services to the Government.
[47/2007]

52.

Presentation of order, notification and regulation to Parliament

Any order, notification or building regulations made under this Act must be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after publication in the Gazette.

53.

Transitional provisions

Any licence, permission, approval or other document prepared, made or granted under the repealed Act and valid immediately prior to 1 May 1989 is deemed to have been prepared, made or granted under the corresponding provision of this Act.
A valid and subsisting certificate of fitness for occupation issued under regulations made under the repealed Act or a valid and subsisting temporary occupation licence has the same force and effect as a certificate of statutory completion or temporary occupation permit, respectively, granted under this Act.
Any temporary permit, permission or other similar document issued in respect of a temporary building under any written law relating to building control in force before 1 February 1960 is presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have lapsed or expired.
The powers conferred on the Commissioner of Building Control by this Act may be exercised in respect of —
1. any building erected in contravention of, or deemed to be unauthorised under, any written law relating to building control in force before 1 May 1989; and
2. any temporary building in respect of which no temporary permit, permission or other similar document issued under any such written law relating to building control or this Act is in force,
and such building is deemed unauthorised for the purposes of this Act.
Where any written law or document refers expressly or by implication to a temporary occupation licence or to a certificate of fitness for occupation, the reference is (except where the context otherwise requires) to be construed as a reference to a temporary occupation permit or a certificate of statutory completion, respectively.
In this section, “temporary building” means a building which is required for a limited time or constructed of short-lived materials.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY PART 1

BUILDING CONTROL ACT 1989

This Legislative History is a service provided by the Law Revision Commission on a best-efforts basis. It is not part of the Act.

Pictorial Overview of Predecessor Acts

PART 1

BUILDING CONTROL ACT

(CHAPTER 29, 1985 REVISED EDITION)

Act 59 of 1973—Building Control Act, 1973

Bill	51/1973
First Reading	28 August 1973
Second Reading	30 November 1973
Notice of Amendments	30 November 1973
Third Reading	30 November 1973
Commencement	1 April 1974

Note

This Act repealed Part III of the Local Government Integration Act (Chapter 210, 1970 Revised Edition).

Act 32 of 1986—Statutes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1986

(Amendments made by section 2 read with item (6) of the Schedule to the above Act)

Bill	24/1986
First Reading	27 October 1986
Second and Third Readings	9 December 1986
Commencement	23 January 1987 (section 2 read with item (6) of the Schedule)

1985 Revised Edition—Building Control Act (Chapter 29)

Operation

30 March 1987

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY PART 2

PART 2

BUILDING CONTROL ACT 1989

(2020 REVISED EDITION)

Act 9 of 1989—Building Control Act 1989

Bill	5/1989
First Reading	16 January 1989
Second and Third Readings	16 February 1989
Commencement	1 May 1989 (except section 10(3))
Commencement	4 December 1992 (section 10(3))

1990 Revised Edition—Building Control Act (Chapter 29)

Operation

15 March 1990

Act 2 of 1991—Building Control (Amendment) Act 1990

Bill	31/1990
First Reading	9 November 1990
Second and Third Readings	20 December 1990
Commencement	25 January 1991

Act 22 of 1991—Architects Act 1991

(Amendments made by section 47(1) of the above Act)

Bill	9/1991
First Reading	26 February 1991
Second Reading	22 March 1991
Select Committee Report	Parl. 3 of 1991
Third Reading	28 June 1991
Commencement	30 August 1991 (section 47(1))

Act 23 of 1991—Professional Engineers Act 1991

(Amendments made by section 47(1) read with the Second Schedule to the above Act)

Bill	10/1991
First Reading	26 February 1991
Second Reading	22 March 1991
Select Committee Report	Parl. 3 of 1991
Third Reading	28 June 1991
Commencement	30 August 1991 (section 47(1) read with the Second Schedule)

Act 18 of 1995—Building Control (Amendment) Act 1995

Bill	10/1995
First Reading	1 March 1995
Second and Third Readings	25 May 1995
Commencement	1 September 1995

10.

Act 1 of 1996—Singapore Productivity and Standards Board Act 1995

(Amendments made by section 44 read with item 1 of the Third Schedule to the above Act)

Bill	39/1995
First Reading	1 November 1995
Second Reading	5 December 1995
Notice of Amendments	5 December 1995
Third Reading	5 December 1995
Commencement	1 April 1996 (section 44 read with item 1 of the Third Schedule)

11.

G.N. No. S 310/1997—Building Control Act (Amendment of Schedule) Order 1997

Commencement

7 July 1997

12.

G.N. No. S 96/1998—Building Control Act (Amendment of Schedule) Order 1998

Commencement

13 March 1998

13.

Act 3 of 1998—Planning Act 1998

(Amendments made by section 65 read with item (2) of the Second Schedule to the above Act)

Bill	18/1997
First Reading	19 November 1997
Second Reading	14 January 1998
Notice of Amendments	14 January 1998
Third Reading	14 January 1998
Commencement	1 April 1998 (section 65 read with item (2) of the Second Schedule)

14.

Act 12 of 1997—Civil Defence Shelter Act 1997

(Amendments made by section 29 of the above Act)

Bill	12/1997
First Reading	25 August 1997
Second and Third Readings	7 October 1997
Commencement	1 May 1998 (section 29)

15.

Act 4 of 1999—Building and Construction Authority Act 1999

(Amendments made by section 37 read with item (1) of the Schedule to the above Act)

Bill	51/1998
First Reading	23 November 1998
Second and Third Readings	20 January 1999
Commencement	1 April 1999 (section 37 read with item (1) of the Schedule)

16.

Act 36 of 1999—Building Control (Amendment) Act 1999

Bill	30/1999
First Reading	3 August 1999
Second and Third Readings	18 August 1999
Commencement	1 October 1999

17.

1999 Revised Edition—Building Control Act (Chapter 29)

Operation

30 December 1999

18.

Act 26 of 2000—Building Control (Amendment) Act 2000

Bill	21/2000
First Reading	30 June 2000
Second and Third Readings	25 August 2000
Commencement	15 October 2000 (sections 3, 4 and 5)
Commencement	1 September 2001 (except sections 3, 4 and 5)

19.

Act 18 of 2003—Building Control (Amendment) Act 2003

Bill	17/2003
First Reading	14 August 2003
Second and Third Readings	2 September 2003
Commencement	1 January 2004

20.

Act 34 of 2004—Building Control (Amendment) Act 2004

Bill	32/2004
First Reading	20 July 2004
Second and Third Readings	1 September 2004
Commencement	1 October 2004

21.

Act 47 of 2004—Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act 2004

(Amendments made by section 140 read with item (1) of the Fifth Schedule to the above Act)

Bill	6/2004
First Reading	6 February 2004
Second and Third Readings	19 April 2004
Select Committee Report	Parl. 5 of 2004
Third Reading	19 October 2004
Commencement	1 April 2005 (section 140 read with item (1) of the Fifth Schedule)

22.

Act 47 of 2007—Building Control (Amendment) Act 2007

Bill	34/2007
First Reading	27 August 2007
Second and Third Readings	20 September 2007
Commencement	15 February 2008 (except sections 2(r) and 9)
	1 October 2008 (section 2(r))
	16 December 2008 (section 9)

23.

Act 30 of 2008—Statutes (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Act 2008

(Amendments made by section 4 of the above Act)

Bill	27/2008
First Reading	15 September 2008
Second and Third Readings	17 November 2008
Commencement	17 November 2008(section 4)

24.

Act 2 of 2012—Statutes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2012

(Amendments made by section 14 of the above Act)

Bill	22/2011
First Reading	21 November 2011
Second Reading	18 January 2012
Notice of Amendments	18 January 2012
Third Reading	18 January 2012
Commencement	1 March 2012 (section 14)

25.

Act 22 of 2012—Building Control (Amendment) Act 2012

Bill	20/2012
First Reading	13 August 2012
Second and Third Readings	10 September 2012
Commencement	1 December 2012 (except sections 2(i), (j) and (k), 4, 5, 14, 15 and 16)
	28 October 2013 (section 5)
	1 April 2014 (section 4)
	28 July 2017 (sections 14, 15(a), (b) and (f) and 16)
	1 March 2019 (section 2(i), (j) and (k))

26.

Act 35 of 2014—Statutes (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Act 2014

(Amendments made by section 4 of the above Act)

Bill	24/2014
First Reading	8 September 2014
Second and Third Readings	7 October 2014
Commencement	1 July 2015 (section 4)

27.

Act 10 of 2018—Enterprise Singapore Board Act 2018

(Amendments made by section 78(3) of the above Act)

Bill	3/2018
First Reading	8 January 2018
Second and Third Readings	5 February 2018
Commencement	1 April 2018 (section 78(3))

28.

Act 4 of 2021—Statute Law Reform Act 2021

(Amendments made by section 22(2) of the above Act)

Bill	45/2020
First Reading	3 November 2020
Second and Third Readings	5 January 2021
Commencement	1 March 2021 (section 22(2))

29.

2020 Revised Edition—Building Control Act 1989

Operation

31 December 2021

30.

Act 23 of 2023—Building and Related Works (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2023

(Amendments made by the above Act)

Bill	19/2023
First Reading	9 May 2023
Second and Third Readings	4 July 2023
Commencement	18 December 2023

31.

Act 12 of 2020—Building Control (Amendment) Act 2020

Bill	10/2020
First Reading	4 February 2020
Second and Third Readings	6 March 2020
Commencement	1 January 2022
	9 December 2022
	1 June 2023
	15 June 2024

32.

Act 31 of 2023—Immigration (Amendment) Act 2023

(Amendments made by the above Act)

Bill	26/2023
First Reading	2 August 2023
Second and Third Readings	18 September 2023
Commencement	31 December 2024

33.

Act 5 of 2025—Electronic Gazette and Legislation Act 2025

Bill	47/2024
First Reading	11 November 2024
Second and Third Readings	7 January 2025
Commencement	9 March 2025

Abbreviations

(updated on 29 August 2022)

G.N.	Gazette Notification
G.N. Sp.	Gazette Notification (Special Supplement)
L.A.	Legislative Assembly
L.N.	Legal Notification (Federal/Malaysian)
M.	Malaya/Malaysia (including Federated Malay States, Malayan Union, Federation of Malaya and Federation of Malaysia)
Parl.	Parliament
S	Subsidiary Legislation
S.I.	Statutory Instrument (United Kingdom)
S (N.S.)	Subsidiary Legislation (New Series)
S.S.G.G.	Straits Settlements Government Gazette
S.S.G.G. (E)	Straits Settlements Government Gazette (Extraordinary)

COMPARATIVE TABLE

BUILDING CONTROL ACT 1989

This Act has undergone renumbering in the 2020 Revised Edition. This Comparative Table is provided to help readers locate the corresponding provisions in the last Revised Edition.

2020 Ed.	1999 Ed.
—	20—(4) [Deleted by Act 22 of 2012]
—	THE SCHEDULE [Repealed by Act 47 of 2007]