Skip to main content
A Singapore Government Agency Website How to identify
Official website links end with .gov.sg
Secure websites use HTTPS
Look for a lock () or https:// as an added precaution. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Maintenance notice

URA e-Services will undergo maintenance on Friday, 28 August 2026 from 10 pm to 5 am the next day and will be unavailable during this period. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
Circulars

Guidelines to Encourage More Innovative and Better Design of Rooftop

Tags

Development Control

Urban Planning and Design

6 September 2004

Circular No : URA/PB/2004/29-CUDD

Our Ref : DC/ADMIN/CIRCULAR/PB_04

Fax : 6220 3201

CIRCULAR TO PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES

Who Should Know:
Architects, engineers, developers

Effective Date:
The ‘New Guidelines for activity-generating uses for commercial and hotel developments that make use of the rooftop cover guidelines’ in this circular should be read in conjunction with circular URA/PB/2017/06-DCG dated 9 Nov 2017.

Objective of Guideline:
To encourage more innovation and creativity in roof design as well as the screening of unsightly M&E services on buildings.

Background

  1. One of the two key topics discussed at POWER III was on how we can enhance the skyline of our sky to make Singapore a distinctive city. The roofscape is one of the elements that contributes to a city's memorable skyline. Hence, besides the screening of unsightly air-conditioning cooling units and water tanks at the roof tops, it is desirable to have varied and well articulated roof forms.

  1. Currently, the covered space under a full roof housing mechanical and electrical (M&E) services is exempted from GFA if the roof cover satisfies the following criteria:

    1. it must be non-load bearing and rest on the springing line; and

    2. it must house the M&E and other service equipment.

  1. The intention was to encourage developers to provide a full roof cover to screen off unsightly rooftop services rather than using trellises or leaving their flat roofs uncovered in many parts.

Details

A. RELAXATION OF THE GROSS FLOOR AREA (GFA) EXEMPTION GUIDELINES FOR ROOFTOP COVERS

  1. In response to feedback received at POWER III and to encourage more innovation and creativity in roof design, we are pleased to announce the relaxation of the existing guidelines as well as the introduction of new incentives for activity-generating uses at the rooftop.

Revised rooftop cover guidelines (For all developments)

  1. The conditions for the current GFA exemption for rooftop cover are relaxed as follows:

    1. To lift the springing line and full roof cover controls

    2. To exempt the entire covered roof area including any sealed dead space, as well as residual (non-usable space) and resultant shadow areas under the roof1 from GFA computation; (see diagram Appendix 1 [PDF, 48.63 KB] (opens in new tab))

  2. At locations where URA has other concerns on urban design, we would assess individual roof proposals considering whether the design is sensitive to and would complement the existing environment. These areas include

    1. Infill sites in Conservation areas; and

    2. Developments within the vicinity of height sensitive areas, such as the areas around the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

  1. The new guidelines will not be applicable to the following:

    1. Conservation buildings

    2. Areas with urban design guidelines for roof forms, such as Tanjong Rhu and Singapore River

    3. Landed housing area, sites designated for Residential use at 1.4 GPR, and developments sharing a common boundary with these areas.

  2. With the relaxation of the guidelines, all applications would still be subject to the technical height controls, if any, for the site.

New Guidelines for activity-generating uses (For commercial and hotel developments that make use of the rooftop cover guidelines)

  1. Currently, rooftops are mostly used for M&E services and are seldom used for other activities. To complement the objective to encourage good roof design, some activity-generating uses such as food & beverage outlets (restaurants, pubs and lounges) at the rooftops are encouraged for commercial and hotel buildings. Hence, we would like to introduce the following new guidelines to facilitate good roof design with activity-generating uses for commercial and hotel developments:

    1. To allow the transfer of the rooftop M&E services from the roof to one of the top three floors directly below the roof (see Appendix 2 [PDF, 56.73 KB] (opens in new tab)). M&E services that are required to remain on the rooftop to serve the activity-generating uses, such as lift motor rooms, should be neatly integrated with the roof design;

    2. To exempt from GFA computation the covered M&E areas up to one floor only. The activity generating uses at the rooftop would constitute as GFA;

    3. For commercial and hotel developments that share common boundaries with residential developments, no activity generating uses will be allowed at the rooftops;

    4. For commercial and hotel developments that are in close proximity to residential developments, such as across the road, such activity generating uses at the rooftops will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

  2. These guidelines will supersede the 1997 guidelines for rooftop cover.

B. SCREENING OF MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL SERVICES AND CAR PARKS, ON ROOFS AND BUILDING FACADES WITHIN THE CENTRAL AREA

The following portion has been superseded by Circular No: URA/PB/2022/01-CUDG published on 1 March 2022.

  1. URA is also pleased to release a set of guidelines on the above services screening requirements. Applicants are encouraged to consider the location of the services and integrate them within the overall building design.

  1. The guidelines are applicable for all new erections, reconstruction works, as well as cladding and roofing works within the Central Area.

  1. All rooftop mechanical and electrical services, such as air-condensing (A/C) units, water tanks, lift motor rooms, etc., shall be well integrated within the building envelope and visually screened from the top and all sides. See Appendix 3 [PDF, 50.99 KB] (opens in new tab).

  1. For developments served by multiple independent mechanical and electrical services, such as A/C units for high-rise residential developments and home offices, all mechanical and electrical services on the external building facades shall be neatly mounted and visually well-screened.

Performance requirements for different screening examples

  1. The types of screening that can comply with the performance requirements could include trellises, louvres and perforated panels.

  1. The requirements for the following examples of screening are:

    1. Trellis/ Louvres
      The spacing of trellises, louvres or other similar types of construction used for screening shall be equal or less than the depth of its individual members. The screening elements shall be orientated to cut off views of the services from the street level and surrounding buildings. See details A and B in Appendix 3 [PDF, 50.99 KB] (opens in new tab).

    2. Perforated Panels
      The porosity (i.e. percentage of void-to-solid) of the perforated panels shall be equal or less than 25% and the size of openings should not exceed 30mm in diameter. See Appendix 4 [PDF, 50.42 KB] (opens in new tab).

  1. Applicants are free to propose alternative screening types as long as they meet the performance requirements of effective visual screening from the street level and the surrounding developments. Samples and/or images illustrating the effectiveness of the screening are to be submitted to URA for our evaluation.

Car Parks

  1. For all new erections and reconstruction works in the Central Area, except residential developments in Newton and River Valley planning areas, the performance guidelines for the screening of above grade car parking levels are:

    1. The façade design of all proposed car parking levels above grade shall be considered as part of the overall architectural treatment of the development;

    2. The direct light from car headlamps, when the cars are in the parked position, shall be visually well-screened from the surrounding developments. This could be achieved, for example, by screening the facade wall at the car parking levels up to the height of the parapet;

    3. The services located at the ceiling, near the periphery of the car parking levels, shall be visually well screened from the street level and the surrounding developments; and

    4. Roof top car parks shall also be visually well-screened from the top according to the performance guidelines as stated in paragraphs 15, 16 and 17.

Submission Requirements

  1. Details of the design, layout and material used for the screening of services shall be clearly annotated in the submission drawings to comply with the above guidelines.

  1. I would appreciate it if you could convey the contents of this circular to the relevant members of your organisation. If you or your members have any queries concerning this circular, please do not hesitate to call our DCD Customer Service Hotline at Tel: 6223 4811 or e-mail us at URA_CSO@ura.gov.sg. We would be pleased to answer queries on this, and any other development control matter. For your information, the past circulars to the professional institutes are available from our website http://www.ura.gov.sg (opens in new tab).

Thank You.

FOO CHEE SEE
DIRECTOR (DEVELOPMENT CONTROL)
for CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

1 Roof covers are to be non load-bearing.