Building Setbacks from Boundary
Check the guidelines relating to building setback for bungalows (or detached houses).

Building Setback for bungalows within GCBA

Building Setback for bungalows outside GCBA
The building setback requirements for bungalow developments are as follows:
Road Buffer and Green Buffer
Table 1: Road category and buffer
Road Category | Road Buffer | |
|---|---|---|
GCBA | Other Bungalows | |
Category 1 | Main building: 24m (incl. 5m green buffer)@ | Main building: 24m (incl. 5m green buffer)@ |
Category 2 | Main building: 12m (incl. 5m green buffer)@ | Main building: 12m (incl. 5m green buffer)@ |
Category 3 & Category 4 / Slip Road | Main building: 7.5m (incl. 3m green buffer)@ | Main building: 7.5m (incl. 3m green buffer)@ |
Category 5 | Main building: 7.5m (no need for green buffer)@ | Main building: 7.5m (no need for green buffer)@ |
@ While the roof eaves may be within the permissible building envelope, such features may require further evaluation depending on the site context. Refer to Building Appendages section.
# The 2.4m setback applies only to the 3m (maximum) car porch width (measured column to column). Beyond this 3m, other car porch setbacks shall follow the terrace/patio setback requirements. A wider car porch may be considered on the merits of the proposal.

In developing a site for multiple units of landed houses, the proposed developments on all the plots will need to observe the requisite road buffer from the road reserve line fronting the development boundary, even if the development site fronts two Category 5 roads. Requests for 2m side setback from any road frontage will be considered based on the merits of the proposal and the site context.
Refer to Ancillary Structures sub-section for the setback requirement for minor structures, Basements section for basement setbacks, and Building Appendages section for the allowable encroachment of minor building features into the setback areas.
Setbacks from Common Boundaries
Table 2: Structure and setbacks
Structure | GCBA | Outside GCBA |
|---|---|---|
Main Building | 3m | 2m |
Roof Eaves (including car porch roof eaves)1 | 1.6m | 1m |
1 While the roof eaves may be within the permissible building envelope, such features may require further evaluation depending on the site context. Refer to Building Appendages section.
Refer to Ancillary Structures sub-section for the setback requirement for minor structures, Basements section for basement setbacks, and Building Appendages section for allowable encroachment of minor building features into the setback areas.
Setbacks for an existing individual plot outside GCBA with more than one road frontage
For an individual plot with more than one road frontage, the building setback requirements are shown in the figures below:

Setbacks for a bungalow with more than 1 road frontage (Non-Cat 5 roads)

Setbacks for a bungalow with more than 1 road frontage (Cat 5 roads)
Setbacks for existing irregular or odd-shaped plots (excluding newly created) outside GCBA
For already existing irregular or odd-shaped plots (excluding newly created ones) outside GCBA, the standard 7.5m building setback from a road shall apply for a width of 8m, measured from the common boundary line with the adjoining neighbour. Beyond the 8m width, a reduced 2m building setback may be allowed, except for the car porch which requires a 2.4m setback.

Setbacks for irregular/odd-shaped plots outside GCBA
A plot is deemed irregular or odd-shaped if:
It is an already existing plot configuration; not newly created through subdivision,
The an odd-shaped site is fronting a minor road (i.e. category 4 or 5),
The resultant building footprint cannot achieve a meaningful layout after complying with the standard 7.5m road buffer requirement.
Examples where Reduced Setbacks do not apply

B1 & B2 are newly created constrained plots. Such new subdivisions are not eligible to apply the reduced front setback guideline.
Rear Garden Landed Housing
“Rear garden” landed housing allows for a larger garden at the rear, with a narrower setback from the road. This orientation is a reversal of conventional guidelines which require landed housing developments to be setback 7.5m from the road reserve2 line. Houses with rear gardens shall be sited within their own enclave, and segregated from the rest of the estate with their own access road.
Rear garden landed housing may be allowed within new landed housing enclaves that are designated for such a layout. Otherwise, the guidelines are generally applicable within the existing estates of:
All other relevant landed housing guidelines (eg site coverage, envelope control guidelines) shall apply. Refer to the relevant street block plans for the existing estates above in the Locational Criteria section.
The setback controls for Rear Garden housing are as follows:
Table 3: Rear Garden Landed Housing Setbacks
From Road Reserve Line | From Rear Boundary | From Side Boundary | |
|---|---|---|---|
Main Building | 3m | 7.5m | 2m |
Car Porch | 3m | - | - |
Covered Terrace/Patio | - | 5.1m | - |
Roof Eaves | 1m (applies to roof eaves of the main roof) | - | - |

Setback Requirements for Rear Garden Landed Housing
All other relevant landed housing guidelines (e.g. site coverage, envelope control height) shall apply.
2 Road Reserve: The plot of land to be vested in the State as required under the Street Works Act. It is demarcated by the line of Road Reserve in the Road Line Plan and the site boundary.
Ancillary Structures
Ancillary structures shall follow the required setbacks as shown in the table below.
Table 4: Minimum Setback Requirements for Ancillary Structures
Ancillary Structures | Setback from Road Reserve Line | Setback from Common Boundary |
|---|---|---|
Raised Swimming Pool | Follow road buffer standards for main building | Outside GCBA: 2m |
Water Tank | Outside GCBA: 2m | |
Water Pump | Outside GCBA: 2m | |
Sunken Swimming Pool | Category 1 – 4 road: Follow green buffer standards | None |
Letter boxes not more than 1.8m in height | None | |
Meter compartment not more than 1.8m in height | ||
Bin point not more than 1.8m in height | ||
Guardhouse not more than 2.6m in height | ||
Setback requirement for other ancillary structures not mentioned in this table shall be assessed on the merits of the proposal. | ||
