Got a new HDB flat? Congratulations! Time to start renovating? No! Put that hammer down, sit down, and listen; you can’t just start bashing things down. There are rules. 

Guidelines by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) of Singapore. Why? It’s HDBs utmost concern and responsibility that whatever you do to your home, it doesn’t mess up the structural integrity of the entire building that your home, and a million other others, and situated in. So, if you want to get started renovating, here are 7 things you’ll most likely need a HDB permit for.

What are HDB Permits?

These little things are essentially permission slips from HDB to make structural changes in your home. Most changes you make to your home WITHOUT one of these will have to be returned to its original state. That said, not every change you make requires a permit. Just be mindful that regardless of whether or not you need a permit, there are still guidelines for what you can or can’t do. For a specific list, there’s a helpful list at  HDB’s Residential Guidelines. 

So when do I need a permit?

1. When you remove or add walls

Nothing says “structural integrity” more than the walls that keep the ceiling from falling onto your head. For that reason, HDB has a very serious stance against wanton wall-hacking. Floor plans have to go consultation and approval by HDB before you get that precious, precious permit to remove offending walls.

Similarly, you’ll need a permit if you plan to add arches or rounded corner to any opening.

2. When you change the flooring

There are ground rules too if you’re planning to redo the floor. As most HDB flats already have flooring included, you’d have to hack them out. And to hack, you need a permit. Structural integrity and all that (see #1). For the same reason, you’ll also need a permit if you’re going to raise the floor level. 

All that said, if you’re happy enough with just laying vinyl flooring over the existing one, go nuts; ain’t no one gonna stop you.

The thing about bathrooms and toilets is that invariably, anything you do, will require some sort of hacking. Easy peasy, right? Hacking. Just get a permit, yes? 

Not so fast. New BTOs have waterproofing that needs three years to stabilise before being replaced. The only change you’ll be permitted without a permit are superficial changes to the bathroom i.e. zero hacking. After three years, and a permit, any work done to the bathroom will require a licensed plumber from the Public Utilities Board (PUB).

4. When you install/replace windows

Compared to everything else in this list, windows seem pretty straightforward. Except that, like everything else, it isn’t. The guidelines, like all the rest, protects you and other residents in the flat. As such, all window installation and/or replacement needs:

•    a permit

•    to be installed by a BCA (Building Construction Authority) Approved Window Contractor 

•    to match the original window’s colour scheme, dimension, and type (i.e. casement to casement, sliding to sliding)  

5. When you change doors

If you hack a hole in a wall for a door? Get a permit. If you replace a door without hacking? No permit needed… right? Well, mostly right. Unless it’s along a fire escape route (i.e. facing a staircase or lift lobby). In that case, you’ll need to replace that door with a fire-rated one, complete with a door closer.

6. When you install air-conditioning

If you’ve got a brand spanking new BTO apartment, congratulations; you’ll have a dedicated ledge for air-conditioner compressors. No permit required.

If you’ve got resale flat, it’s a different story. There’s all kinds of technical mumbo jumbo involved but the short of it is that old flats have different electrical power points that might need to be upgraded. Or they might not even have a ledge for the compressor at all. Either way, you’ll need an electrical permit for redoing the power points and/or a permit for building a structure that sticks out (i.e. a ledge). 

7. When you alter stair railings

This one is on the off-chance that you’re one of those lucky skunks to have stairs in your HDB. In the event that you want to change the stair railing provided by HDB, you’ll need to apply for a HDB permit AND get permission from the BCA. You’ll typically get these only after they approve the new design drawn up by a professional engineer (not your teenage nephew/niece who knows Photoshop).

Posted on 29th September 2023

Written by Kenny

SIXiDES Editorial Team