Building Setback from Boundary

Building Setback

Road Buffer and 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 allowable encroachment of minor building features into the setback areas.

Setbacks from Common Boundaries

^{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 existing irregular or odd-shaped plots (excluding newly created plots)

For already existing irregular or odd-shaped plots (excluding newly created ones), 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 where a minimum 2.4m setback is still required.

Setbacks for semi-detached houses on irregular or odd-shaped plots

A plot is deemed irregular or odd-shaped if:

• It is an existing plot configuration and 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 setback for Semi-Detached houses abutting existing back lanes

Rear setback for semi-detached houses abutting existing back lanes

The 1^st storey rear extension of semi-detached houses may be allowed to abut existing back lanes. Such back lanes (with widths of between 4 to 6m) would provide adequate setback between 2 rows of houses.

All such rear extensions shall comply with the following requirements:

• The height of the rear extension shall not exceed that of the floor-to-floor height of first storey.

• No structure or roof eave shall encroach the back lane.

• For houses abutting state owned back lanes, new door and window openings may be allowed at the walls or boundary walls abutting the back lanes.

• For houses abutting privately owned back lanes, existing door or window openings may remain, but they shall not be enlarged or shifted. New openings or enlargement of existing openings along privately owned back lanes shall not be allowed unless the applicant has prior written consent from the back lane owner.

• Any new openings, where allowed, shall open inwards.

• A planning condition may be imposed requiring the closure of any openings along the back lane, in the event the back lane is redeveloped.

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:

• Hong Leong Garden [PDF, 1.22 MB]

• Clementi Green Estate [PDF, 1.05 MB]

• Changi Heights [PDF, 1.25 MB]

• Lasia Avenue [PDF, 1.15 MB]

• Peach Garden [PDF, 1.18 MB]

• The Inglewood (part) [PDF, 134 KB]

• Ford Avenue [PDF, 1.11 MB]

• Yuk Tong Avenue [PDF, 1.04 MB]

All other relevant landed housing guidelines (e.g. 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:

Setback Requirements for Rear Garden Landed Housing

All other relevant landed housing guidelines (e.g. 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.