Guidelines on Submission of Change of Use Application

1. Is approval from URA required? 2. Is the proposed change of use allowed? 3. How to apply for change of use approval? 4. Can the proposed change of use come under the Change of Use Lodgment Scheme? 5. Change of uses in HDB commercial premises 6. Change of uses in HDB living quarters (LQs)     Guidelines on Change of Uses 1. Child Care Centre/ Student Care Centre/ Kindergarten 2. Home Office Scheme 3. Hotels in selected shophouses 4. Interim uses for selected shophouses 5. Leasing of residential properties 6. Non-exclusive & limited religious uses within commercial & hotel developments 7. Restaurants 8. Students Hostels 9. Small business at home 10. Workers’ dormitories in industrial developments 11. Warehouse Retail Scheme 12. Temporary Development Levy     Other Guidelines To find out more about the planning guidelines for the different types of development, please refer to the Development Control Handbook series.   FAQ

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Apply For Change Of Use
All change of use applications as shown below are to be submitted via Online Business Licensing Service (OBLS) website. OBLS is a one-stop portal (managed by MTI) to apply for all the relevant Government registrations and licences for conducting business in Singapore. For enquiries and submissions, please call OBLS helpdesk at 6898 1595 or email them at OBLS@spring.gov.sg
- New Change of Use Application
- Renewal of Temporary Permission Application
- Change of Use under Plan Lodgment

Written permission is needed in order to develop any land. The Planning Act (cap 232, 1998 Ed) defines "development" as the making of any material change in the use of any building or land. Therefore, when you change the use of a vacant piece of land without structures or building to another use, you may need to apply for planning permission if there is a material change of use.

When is planning permission required?

There are 16 use classes under the Planning (Use Classes) Rules.  Unless specifically exempted, planning permission for a change of use is required when

1. the change in the use is from one use class to another use class or
2. the change of use involves uses which do not fall into any use class

c) Change of uses as shown in the following types of developments

To facilitate businesses, proposed change of uses in commercial and industrial buildings shown in Table B below will be authorised without the need to submit an application. Applicants are required to comply with requirements of relevant technical agencies (e.g. NEA, FSSD, LTA) before commencing the use.

Table B

The authorisations apply to change of use of individual units and do not involve en-bloc conversions. For the authorisation under Table B items (i) and (ii), the premises must be originally approved for commercial use and computed as commercial GFA.

_________________

1 Shophouse/shopflat refers to a building with a covered walkway or five footway at the front and with shop(s) at the first storey and commercial use or residential accommodation at the upper storey. Shophouse/shopflat are typically built with no or minimal carparking provision.

List of Use Classes

2.  Is the proposed change of use allowed?

	Uses that are permitted and can be lodged (under the Change of Use Lodgment Scheme) are annotated "L"
	Uses that can be permitted in the Master Plan zoning are denoted as "P"
	Uses that are subject to consideration are denoted as "C"
	Uses not permitted are denoted by "X"

3. How to apply for change of use approval?

Steps to apply for change of use.

There are 3 types of change of use applications. These are:

1. Applications for Change of Use

This application is used for all new change of use proposals. Uses that have started without prior planning permission may be subject to payment of civil penalty. Click here for more information about civil penalty.

2. Application for renewal of temporary written permission to continue the approved use

This application is used for all renewal applications where temporary permission previously granted has not lapsed. This application is to be made two months before the expiry of the temporary permission. Application made after the temporary permission has expired is subject to the same processing fee as a new application.

3. Lodgment for Change of Use

This is for change of use proposals which satisfy the lodgment criteria. Click here for more information about the lodgment scheme.

1. Floor Plan
• Please provide an internal layout plan with dimensions clearly indicated
• For multi-unit development (e.g. shopping centre, flatted factory), please provide a floor plan indicating the locations of your premises
  
  
2. Land Owner’s Consent
• If the premises is leased from SLA or government agencies (e.g. HDB, JTC), please attach their letter of consent as owner
  
  
3. Letter of Undertaking (LOU)
• If your application is for childcare centre in a landed house or restaurant/pub in a shophouse, a LOU is required (see sample attached)
  
  
4. Other Supporting documents
   • E.g. cover letter, clearances from relevant agencies e.g. NEA and SCDF

Please ensure that the submission is complete and the information provided are correct, to facilitate prompt processing of the application. Otherwise the application may be delayed.

Processing Fees & Mode of Payment

The processing fees are as follows:

1. Application for written permission for change of use - $300 (subject to GST)
   
   
2. Application for renewal of temporary written permission to continue the approved use - $150 (subject to GST)
   
   
3. Lodgment for change of use - $100 (subject to GST)

Fees are to be made by electronic modes (i.e. credit cards & e-nets).

The normal processing time for an application is 10 working days from the receipt of the application and the necessary supporting documents.

For change of use lodgment, an acknowledgement letter will be issued immediately once the proposal is lodged with URA and fees received.

4. Can the proposed change of use come under the Change of Use Lodgment Scheme?

Change of Use Lodgment Scheme

Under the lodgment scheme, if the change of use proposals comply with a set of lodgment criteria, the applicant can simply lodge or file the change-of-use proposal with URA. The applicant need not submit a planning application


Buildings allowed for change of use lodgment

The lodgment scheme will be open only to buildings listed in Appendix 1 and the respective change of uses. The buidings allowed for lodgment are:

1. other commercial complexes listed in Appendices A, B , B-1,  C, C-1, D and D-1.
   
   
2. any building approved under the Planning Act as a community  centre or community club on land leased, or in respect of which a license is granted, by the State to the People's Association.

URA will continue to review the list of eligible buildings to see if more buildings can be included under the lodgment scheme in future. Proposals that do not qualify for the lodgment scheme will have to be submitted to URA for planning approval.

Lodgment Criteria

The lodgment for change in use of the premises must satisfy the following requirements:

1. the premises must be located within a building specified in Appendix 1;
   
   

2. the proposed change in use must be to one of the purposes in any Use Class or to any use specified in Appendix 1 for the building where the premises is located;
   
   

3. for premises in buildings specified as Types 1 to 7 in Appendix 1, the premises must be authorised to be used for:

i)	a commercial use or purpose; or
ii)	one of the purposes in any Use Class or any use specified in Appendix 1 for the building where the premises is located;
	[Item c (i) is not applicable for change in use in community centre or community club leased from the People's Association.]

4. for premises in buildings in Type 1, 3 and 5 in Appendix 1, the premises must be previously authorised for commercial use if the current use of the premises is for any of the purposes in the following Use Class:

i)	Class XII - use as a childcare centre;
ii)	Class XIII - use as a community building;




5. if the person making the lodgment is not the owner of the premises, the written consent of the owner of the premises must be obtained;
   
   
6. if the premises is located in a business park building or science park building and is purchased or leased from the Jurong Town Corporation, prior written approval from the JTC (Building Control Unit) for the proposed change in use must be obtained;
   
   

7. if the premises is located within an approved community centre or community club, prior written approval from the People's Association for the change in use must be obtained and the total commercial GFA does not exceed 20%.
   
   
8. the premises is not located within the car park of the building (including the ancillary areas of the car park), an approved covered or open walkway, a walkway within a pedestrian link, a public plaza or any other areas approved or authorised under the Planning Act for public use;
   
   
9. the change in use of the premises does not result in an increase in the floor area of the building where the premises is located;
   
   
10. if the premises is located in a shophouse or building specified as Type 5 or 6 in Appendix 1 which is within a conservation area and is required to be conserved, the conservation of the building in accordance with the conservation permission granted for that purpose and all relevant conservation guidelines must be completed prior to the lodgment for change in use;
    
    
11. any approval required from any other relevant authority (e.g. LTA. FSSB, ENV, PELU) for the change in use of the premises must be obtained before making the change in use of the premises;
    
    
12. no part of the premises comprises works that are unauthorised under the Act; and
    
    
    
13. the proposed use has not started.

Lodgment Forms

Lodgment for change of use can be submitted electronically via  the Online Business Licensing Service (OBLS). 


Lodgment Fees

A lodgment fee of $100 (subject to GST) is payable for each lodgment.

Appendix 1

Types of Building

Allowable Uses for Lodgment

1

• Any building (excluding any pedestrian link) listed in Appendix A.
  
  
• Any building (excluding the 1^st storey of such buildings and pedestrian link) listed in Appendix B
  
  
• Any building (excluding the 1^st storey and basement of such buildings) listed in Appendix B-1.
  
  
• In the approved commercial component of Business Park developments.

Class I

Class II

Class III

Class XIII

Class XIV

-

Use as a shop

Use as an office or a commercial school

Use as a restaurant

Use as a community building

Use as a sports and recreation building

Use as a showroom

2

• The pedestrian link of any building listed in Appendix A
  
  
• The 1^st storey and pedestrian link of any building listed in Appendix B.
  
  
• The 1^st-storey and basement of any buildings listed in Appendix B-1.

Class I

Class III

Class XIV

-

Use as a shop

Use as a restaurant

Use as a sports and recreation building

Use as a showroom

3

• Any building listed in Appendix C
  
  

• Any building (excluding the 1^st storey of such buildings and pedestrian link) listed in Appendix C-1

Class I

Class II

Class XIII

Class XIV

-

Use as a shop

Use as an office or a commercial school

Use as a community building

Use as a sports and recreation building

Use as a showroom

4

• The 1^st storey and pedestrian link of any building listed in Appendix C-1.

Class I

Class XIV

-

Use as a shop

Use as a sports and recreation building

Use as a showroom

5

• 1^st –storey shop units in the following locations as shown in Appendix D

Class I

Class II

Class XIII

Class XIV

-

Use as a shop

Use as an office or a commercial school

Use as a community building

Use as a sports and recreation building

Use as a showroom

6

• 1^st –storey shop units in the following locations as shown in Appendix D-1

Class I

Class XIV

-

Use as a shop

Use as a sports and recreation building

Use as a showroom

7

Class I

Class II

Class III

Class IV

Class XIV

Class XV

Class XVI

-

-

Use as a shop

Use as an office or commercial school

Use as a restaurant

Use as health centre or amusement centre

Use as sports and recreation building

Use as a nightclub

Use as a pet shop

Use as a bar or pub

Use as a showroom

The following proposed uses are authorised subject to compliance with the conditions in column 2

Conditions for Authorisation

1. Shop, Clinic
   
   
2. Office, commercial school, tuition centre
   
   
3. Restaurant
   
   
4. Health centre or amusement centre
   
   
5. Showroom / motor vehicle Showroom
   
   
6. Childcare centre, kindergarten, student care centre
   
   
7. Community institution uses (e.g. association, family service centre)
   
   
8. Sports and recreation club, Fitness Centre, Gymnasium
   
   
9. Pet shop, pet grooming, veterinary clinics
   
   
10. Karaoke lounge
    
    
11. Bar or pub

1. HDB's prior approval is obtained for the change of use;
   
   
2. The HDB commercial premises are approved for commercial use and counted as commercial Gross Floor Area (GFA);
   
   
3. The applicant should obtain approvals from the relevant government agencies such as NEA for restaurant, Police Licensing for health centre, bar and karaoke lounge, AVA for pet shop and FSSD;
   
   
4. No part of the HDB commercial premises should comprise works that are not authorised under the Planning Act;
   
   
5. The change in use of the HDB commercial premises does not result in an increase in the floor area of the HDB commercial premises; and
   
   
6. Where the change in use is to child care centre, the aggregate total floor area of the HDB commercial premises and any other floor area used for the same purpose (within the building) shall be less than 50% of the total floor area of the building.

1. Restaurant
   
   
2. Industrial uses
   
   
3. Warehouse or storage
   
   
4. Nightclub, KTV lounge
   
   
5. Pet shop, pet grooming, veterinary clinic
   
   
6. Bar or pub
   
   
7. Wet Market /Sale of market produce
   
   
8. Sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories
   
   
9. Sale of marine vessel parts
   
   
10. Place of worship
    
    
11. Sale or storage of coffins
    
    
12. Funeral parlour
    
    
13. Workers’ dormitory

1. Shop, Clinic
   
   
2. Office, commercial school, tuition centre
   
   
3. Childcare centre, kindergarten, student care centre
   
   
4. Community institution uses (e.g. association, family service centre)
   
   
5. Sports and recreation club, Fitness Centre, Gymnasium

1. HDB's prior approval is obtained for the change of use;
   
   
2. The applicant should obtain approvals from the relevant government agencies such as NEA for restaurant, Police Licensing for health centre, bar and karaoke lounge, AVA for pet shop and FSSD;
   
   
3. No part of the HDB LQ premises should comprise works that are not authorised under the Planning Act; and
   
   
4. The change in use of the HDB LQ does not result in an increase in the floor area of the HDB LQ.