Depending on your business use and the type of property you have in mind, you may need to apply for planning permission. For example, you want to set up a restaurant in a particular commercial building. Use this list to find out if you need to apply for planning permission.
There are certain designated areas and locations where the planning intention is to introduce activity generating uses (AGU). This is to activate and enliven streets by contributing to its vibrancy, and attracting visitorship to precincts. Learn more about AGU requirements from the Urban Design Requirements tab in the respective DC Handbook or your development type. Check URA SPACE to find out whether your property is within an AGU area.
Select your business use below to find out where your business can be allowed.
Restaurants are premises primarily used for sale of food for consumption at the premises without performance of live music, or live entertainment. The sale of liquor and alcoholic drinks, if any, is for consumption on the premises and incidental to the consumption of food.
The premises should have sufficient parking space and proper sound proofing measures to reduce noise disturbances. See Good Practice Guide for Noise Mitigation (Foodshops) jointly developed by NEA, HDB, SPF and URA. The recommended practices in the guide are not exhaustive and operators may wish to consult noise experts on other suitable noise control measures.
(Refers to developments with a commercial podium block and residential units above; or a commercial block physically separated from residential uses, on sites zoned Commercial and Residential in the Master Plan. Excludes party-walled shophouses and shopflats. Refer to diagrams.)
Commercial units (under white component): Submit a change of use application for our evaluation. Planning permission is not guaranteed.
Industrial units: The use cannot be allowed as it is not in line with the planning intention of the site.
Bars/Pubs are premises primarily used for the sale of alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises without dancing, singing or performance of live music or live entertainment.
The premises should have proper sound proofing measures to reduce noise disturbances. See Good Practice Guide for Noise Mitigation (Entertainment Outlet) jointly developed by NEA, HDB, SPF and URA. The recommended practices in the guide are not exhaustive and operators may wish to consult noise experts on other suitable noise control measures.
Industrial Buildings
The use cannot be supported if the site is located within Activity Generating Use (AGU) areas. Learn more about AGU requirements from the Urban Design Requirements tab in the DC Handbook. Check URA SPACE to find out whether your property is within the AGU area.
Restaurant and bar are premises used for the sale of food & meals and alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises without dancing, singing or performance of live music or live entertainment.
Submit a change of use application for our evaluation. Planning permission is not guaranteed.
If premises is located within a Problematic Traffic Area, the use is unlikely to be supported due to traffic/parking problems.
The use will not be supported in exclusion areas and locations near to residential developments due to potential noise and social concerns.
Nightclubs are premises primarily used for the sale of alcoholic drinks (and food, if any) for consumption on the premises, with dancing, singing or performances involving recorded music, live music or live entertainment. This includes karaoke lounges and discotheques.
In addition to URA’s planning permission, business operators are required to obtain a Public Entertainment (PE) Licence from the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department (PLRD) before committing to a tenancy agreement or starting the renovation works. Application for PE licence is through GoBusiness Licensing Portal, and PLRD will assess it based on its licensing considerations.
Premises primarily used as multiple food stalls for cooking/preparation of food for off-site delivery for consumption at other premises.
Planning permission is required for the use of a premises as a Cloud Kitchen. Such proposals are assessed contextually taking into account several factors, such as the compatibility of the use with the surrounding uses and its potential disamenity on the surroundings, availability of pick-up/drop-off area, parking provisions for the service delivery personnel. Cloud Kitchen proposals may be considered in industrial premises. Smaller scale proposals (up to 5 stalls) may be considered in smaller commercial premises, while slightly larger scale proposals may be considered in larger commercial buildings with car parks and exhaust facilities.
Proposals would not be supported in locations where agencies have received adverse feedback from residents about disamenities caused by F&B outlets in the location.
Areas with Activity Generating Use requirement: The use cannot be allowed as it is not in line with the planning intention of the site.
Commercial units: Submit a change of use application for our evaluation. Planning permission is not guaranteed.
Areas with Activity Generating Use requirement: The use cannot be allowed as it is not in line with the planning intention of the site. Residential units: The use cannot be allowed as it is not in line with the planning intention of the site.
Commercial units in Historic Districts: Submit a change of use application for our evaluation. Planning permission is not guaranteed.
Commercial units in Residential Historic Districts: The use cannot be allowed due to potential disamenity to the surrounding residents in close proximity.
Refer to Allowable Use for Shophouses to find out whether the use can be allowed at your proposed location.
For non-shophouses, or if you are unable to find the information required from the link above, you may wish to check the planning decision map layer to find out information on approved uses for your property or conduct a further search on our e-service.
For more information, visit Use of Conserved Buildings.
Shops are premises used for any trade or business where its primary purpose is the sale of goods or foodstuff by retail or provision of services.
Commercial units (under white component): No planning permission required to convert between a shop to shop.
Laundromat are premises where washing machines and drying machines are provided for use on a self-service basis. Examples include coin-operated laundry.
Offices are premises used as a place of business and for conducting administrative work.
Commercial units: Check if the premises is in the list of identified buildings that can be granted instant approval before applying for lodgment. If proposal does not qualify for the above, submit a change of use application for our evaluation. Planning permission is not guaranteed.
The use will not be supported if the site is located within Activity Generating Use (AGU) locations. Learn more about AGU requirements from the Urban Design Requirements tab in the DC Handbook. Check URA SPACE to find out whether your property is within the AGU area.
Residential units: The use cannot be allowed as it is not in line with the planning intention of the site.
Commercial units (under white component): Check if the premises is in the list of identified buildings that can be granted instant approval. Check with landowner (e.g. JTC) to obtain their consent before applying for lodgment.
Massage establishments are premises used for massage or spa services licenced by the Police.
In addition to URA’s planning permission, business operators are required to obtain a Massage Establishment (ME) Licence from the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department (PLRD) before committing to a tenancy agreement or starting the renovation works. Application for ME licence is through GoBusiness Licensing Portal, and PLRD will assess it based on its licensing considerations.
Medical Clinics are premises used by a medical practitioner, a dentist or any other person for diagnosis or treatment of persons suffering from any disease, injury or disability.
Pet shops are premises used for the sale of live animals normally kept as domestic pets. It includes a veterinary clinic and pet grooming service. It does not include pet hotel and pet boarding use.
Pet Boarding/Hotel refers to premises which are primarily used for the boarding for pets. These are places where pet-owners pay to have their pets housed and cared for over a certain period of time.
Commercial schools are premises used for the purpose of teaching, training or imparting of knowledge or skill.
Childcare centres are any premises at which 5 or more children who are under the age of 7 years are habitually received for the purposes of care and supervision during part of the day or for longer periods.
Proposals are to comply with the following locational criteria before they can be considered*:
*Childcare centre proposals which meet the above locational criteria are subject to contextual evaluation, that takes into consideration the existing ground situation in the estate; approval is not guaranteed.
Industrial units (in ancillary quantum): The use cannot be allowed as it is not in line with the planning intention of the site.
Fitness centres/gymnasiums are premises used for physical exercise and fitness activities.
Amusement Centres are premises with game machines (e.g. jackpot machines, pin-bill machines, darts machines) for entertainment. They include arcade centres, computer gaming centres, billiard centre, bowling alley and darts club.
Residential use refers to premises used for long-term residential dwelling purposes.
Note: Private residential properties must be rented for at least three consecutive months. They may not be used for short-term rentals on a daily or weekly basis. Maximum number of unrelated occupants in a property is six. Any internal partitioning works must not compromise the nature of the property as a single self-sufficient residential unit. Please refer to Renting Property.
Business 1-White,
Business 2-White Buildings
Commercial units (within white component): The use cannot be allowed as it is not in line with the planning intention for the site
Industrial units: The use cannot be allowed as it is not in line with the planning intention for the site.
Backpackers' Hostels are open concept dormitories with a minimum of six beds per room, used to provide boarding and lodging for tourists and transient visitors for commercial purposes.
Hotels are premises used to provide boarding and lodging for commercial purposes.
Hotel: No planning permission required.
Students' hostels are premises used to provide boarding and lodging for students who are studying in local primary schools, secondary schools, junior colleges and tertiary institutions.
Serviced Apartments refers to residential premises comprising non-strata subdivided, self-contained apartments with provision for kitchenettes/kitchens. They are rented out for lodging for a minimum of seven days and have support services such as concierge, housekeeping and/or laundry provided.
Please refer to DC Handbook (non-residential development) on "Hotel and Other Accommodation Facilities".
Workers' dormitory are premises used to house migrant workers who are engaged to carry out industrial or production or construction activities.
Applications for new workers’ dormitory use are to comply with all the requirements (e.g. living space per resident, occupancy per bedroom unit, etc) as stated in press release issued by MOM, MND and MOH dated 17 Sept 2021.
It refers to premises where the processes carried out or the machinery installed can be done so in any residential area without polluting the area with noise, vibration, odour, fumes, and smoke.
Commercial units (under white component): The use cannot be allowed as it is not in line with the planning intention of the site.
Industrial units: No planning permission required. Check with NEA to obtain their clearance.
Refer to DC Handbook (non-residential development) on "Business 1 (industrial) Business 2 (industrial)/ Business Park".
It refers to premises where the processes carried out or the machinery installed cannot be done so in any residential area, as it would pollute the area with noise, vibration, odour fumes and smoke.
Industrial units: Check with NEA to obtain their prior clearance before you submit a change of use application for our evaluation. Planning permission is not guaranteed.
It refers to premises used for practical training with the use of heavy machinery and equipment, or pure theory/classroom-based training on workplace health and safety for construction, shipyard and oil industries only.
Submission requirements: Provide details of the proposed industrial training and a layout plan showing the detailed usage of the premises.
Commercial units (under white component): The use cannot be allowed as it is not in line with the planning intention of the site
Industrial units:
It refers to premises primarily for storage of goods and where no business is transacted other than those which are incidental to storage.
Submission requirements: Obtain NEA's classification for your proposed use and attach it in your application.
Industrial units: Submit a change of use application for our evaluation. Planning permission is not guaranteed.
It refers to premises located within a factory building that primarily serve food to workers in the industrial estate.
It refers to premises used to display or showcase products that are not typically transacted and exchanged over the counter (e.g. furniture), or products that are predominantly delivered and installed off-site (e.g. floor tiles).
It refers to premises used for businesses that provide telecommunications infrastructure and/or develop software.
Submission requirements: Provide details on the background of the company, core business functions, types of activities to be carried out in relation to the core business functions, type of equipment used, and layout plan showing the detailed usage and GFA breakdown of the premises.
It refers to premises used for production services that require technical facilities such as studios and high-tech production software/hardware.
Submission requirements: Provide details on the background of the media company, core business functions, past and future projects, customer base, type of core media activities to be carried out and a layout plan showing the detailed usage and GFA breakdown of the premises.
It refers to premises used for community-based activities.
It refers to premises used for public worship, religious teaching, studies, seminars and include seminaries.
Religious use on a limited basis without any exclusive lease or ownership to religious organisations.
Note: Religious activities should be conducted in sites that are specially designated for worship. These sites are zoned "Place of Worship" in the Master Plan.
Refer to guidelines for use of commercial spaces for religious purposes.
Religious organisations who wish to use commercial or hotel spaces for non-exclusive and limited basis are required to submit the required information here for our evaluation.
Refer to guidelines for use of industrial spaces for religious purposes.
Religious organisations who wish to use industrial spaces for non-exclusive and limited basis are required to submit the required information here for our evaluation.
Religious organisations which need more time to relocate or comply with the guidelines can write to URA. Such requests will be assessed contextually, taking into account the specific circumstances of each case (e.g. the need for more time to comply with the current guidelines; whether attempts have been made to comply with the guidelines; no disamenities caused, etc).
Function hall refers to premises used to host events (such as conferences, seminars, workshop, exhibition corporate trainings/retreats, weddings, banquets).
Changing the use of your property (e.g. from a shop to a commercial school) may require planning permission. Find out if you need to obtain planning permission before committing to a tenancy or starting the renovation works on the premises.
This applies to existing uses that were approved on Temporary Permission. If you wish to continue the existing approved use, you are required to submit a renewal of use application within two months before the Temporary Permission expires.