Use of Buildings in Conservation Areas
The following outlines the Use of Buildings in Conservation Areas.
Last updated 1 July 2026
Historic Conservation Areas
If your building is located within the Historic Conservation Areas – Chinatown (Kreta Ayer, Telok Ayer, Bukit Pasoh, Tanjong Pagar), Little India, Kampong Glam, Boat Quay, Blair Plain, Emerald Hill and Cairnhill, you will need to apply for conservation permission before starting business operations.
You can check if your building is located within the Historic Conservation Areas and the allowable and approved uses for shophouses on URA SPACE.
If the change of use involves Additions & Alterations (A&A) works to conserved buildings, please submit a formal A&A submission. Please incorporate the change of use proposal as part of the formal A&A submission.
Learn more about the types of works and submission processes for A&A works to conserved buildings here.
Submission requirements for specific uses
Please refer to the requirements listed below.
Backpackers' Hostel
Business concept;
Layout plan showing all partitions, furniture like beds and toilets. Partitions shall not abut the windows.The number of rooms, beds and toilets to be indicated;
Clearance letter from Land Transport Authority (LTA) to show that LTA has no objection to the change of use; and
Notice of Approval and Record of Consultation or Waiver Application to show that Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) has no objection to the change of use. If the building has timber floors, the applicant is to highlight this to SCDF for their approval.
Beauty Salon, Facial, Manicure and Pedicure
Business concept including details of full services offered, operating hours; and
Layout plan showing an open concept for the premises.
Foot Reflexology
Business concept including details of full services offered, operating hours; and
Layout plan showing an open concept for the premises.
Residential
Layout plan showing a self-sustaining residential layout which comprises a living room, bedrooms, kitchen and toilets. All partitions shall not abut the windows.
Signed letter of undertaking stating that the premises will not be used as a workers’ quarters, hotel, boarding house, backpackers’ hostel and other related uses and confirm that the following has been complied with:
The maximum number of people who can stay on the premises is 6.
The same people staying on the premises must stay for a minimum of 3 months.
The premises must have a self-sustaining residential layout which comprises a living room, bedrooms, kitchen and toilets.
Each occupant have at least 10sqm of living space.
Restaurant
Business concept including complete food and beverage menu, and operating hours;
Detailed layout plan. Please verge the proposed area for the restaurant use and demarcate clearly the kitchen and dining area. All furniture like the tables and chairs are to be shown; and
The use of piped gas is encouraged. Where the use of cylinder gas is required, the gas tanks are to be located within the property boundary. If Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders are not used, please declare it on the layout plan. If LPG cylinders are used, please also submit the following:
A plan showing the LPG cylinder cabinet is located within the building's compound (recessed into the rear boundary wall) and its door is to be annotated as anodised or colour coated
The Notice of Approval from the Singapore Civil Defence Force to show that the Qualified Person has complied with fire safety requirements.
If LPG cylinders will not be used, please declare it on the layout plan.
If a flue is proposed, please ensure compliance with the Conservation Guidelines, and submit a plan and elevation of the proposed flue. The kitchen flue shall be annotated as "new kitchen flue to be painted the same colour as the background wall'. If a kitchen flue is not required, please declare it on the layout plan.
Takeaway Foodshop
Business concept, type of food to be sold as take-away items and operation hours; and
Layout plan with endorsement that there is no dining-in.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Business concept including details of services offered, operating hours and declare that “there shall be no massage involved in the running of the premises except by licensed TCM practitioner(s)”;
Number and certificates of TCM practitioners registered with Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (TCMPB) who are employed by the clinic to practice at subject unit;
Signed Letter of Undertaking stating that the TCM services offered in the clinic will be strictly administered personally by the registered TCM practitioners employed by the company; and
Detailed proposed layout plan.
Incompatible uses not allowed in Historic District Core Areas
In Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India, certain streets are located within the designated core area (Historic District Core Area).
Historic District Core Area boundaries can be found on URA SPACE.
Historic District Core Areas are parts of the historic district where the focal point of traditional activities are located. It is, therefore, important that the traditional ambience is retained. The first storey in the core area has to be for activity-generating uses such as shops. The following uses are not allowed in Historic District Core Areas:
Western fast-food restaurants
Supermarkets
Building material showrooms
Nursing homes
Offices (except at the upper storeys); excludes banks which can be considered on all storeys
Uses not allowed in Historic Conservation Areas
Certain types of uses are not allowed in Historic Conservation Areas as they may create dis-amenity to the surroundings. These uses include:
New bars, pubs, nightclubs and karaoke lounges
New massage establishments and spas
Amusement centres
Motor vehicle showrooms
Warehouse stores. They may only be considered if such a use is ancillary to the main use
Places of worship, unless previously authorised. They should be located on land zoned for places of worship
Pollutive trades such as engineering, spray-painting, welding, plumbing, motor, metal and joinery workshops, tyre and battery shops, and plastic products manufacturing
Other use controls in Historic Conservation Areas
Eating Houses
New eating houses and expansion of existing eating houses are not allowed in areas designated as Problematic Traffic Areas (PTA), as listed in URA’s Circular No: URA/PB/2023/08-DCG dated 2 October 2023. These are Kampong Glam Conservation Area, Serangoon Road / Jalan Besar within the Little India Conservation Area and Kampong Bahru Road / Spottiswoode Park Road / Blair Road / Neil Road within the Blair Plain Conservation Area.
New eating houses are not allowed at Ann Siang Hill / Ann Siang Road / Erskine Road / Club Street / Gemmill Lane within the Chinatown Conservation Area.Hotels and backpacker hostels
New hotels and backpacker hostels are not allowed within Little India Conservation Area and certain areas within Chinatown Conservation Area, as listed in URA’s Circular No: URA/PB/2018/04-PCUDG dated 13 August 2018.Shops
Shop use can generally be considered for sites zoned Commercial. However, planning approval is required for the following types of uses classified under shop use:Foot reflexology
Beauty salon
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic
Take-away foodshop
New souvenir shops are not allowed within the Kampong Glam Conservation Area.
New telecommunication equipment and service shops are not allowed within the Little India Conservation Area.
Allowable Uses at 1-29 (Odd), 45-65 (Odd) Club Street, 2-22 (Even) & 5 Gemmill Lane within the Chinatown Conservation Area
Shophouse owners and tenants are encouraged to use the upper storeys for residential or institutional purpose. If they are used for commercial purpose, only office use is allowed. Please refer to URA’s Circular No: URA/PB/2014/11-CUDG dated 10 June 2014.
Please note that Change of Use Lodgement Scheme is not applicable to conserved buildings in Historic Conservation Areas.
Read more about our conservation guidelines here.
All other areas
For buildings outside of Historic Conservation Areas, please refer to our criteria for the use of the property.
Apply for change of use in conserved buildings
Apply for Change of Use in Conserved Buildings
All change of use applications are to be submitted electronically via GoBusiness Singapore. Use this service to apply for planning permission to change the use of your property. The processing fee for an application is $500. It generally takes about 10 working days to process.
Renew Temporary Written Permission to continue an approved use in conserved buildings
Renew Temporary Written Permission to Continue an Approved use in Conserved Buildings
All renewal applications are to be submitted are to be submitted electronically via GoBusiness Singapore. Use this service to renew the current use of your property. The application processing fees is $500. It generally takes about 10 working days.