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Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)

Retaining and Boundary Walls

Check the guidelines relating to retaining and boundary walls for terrace houses.

Last updated 7 June 2026
Diagram of a stepped retaining wall, with labels showing height restrictions and a human figure for scale.

Height of Retaining and Boundary Walls

Retaining Walls

Outward facing retaining walls are not encouraged as they tend to mar the streetscape. If allowed, retaining walls shall:

  • Not be more than 1m high. Retaining walls more than 1m high may be considered along the common boundaries and shall be suitably tiered and planted with adequate greenery if alternative measures are impractical.

  • Be terraced at minimum 300mm apart, and planted to give an adequate greenery effect, if fronting a road or street.

Boundary Walls

Boundary walls shall not exceed 1.8m high.

The combined height of retaining and boundary wall shall not exceed 2.8m, of which solid wall shall not exceed 1.8m. Where a boundary wall is proposed on top of the retaining wall, only porous material (e.g. fencing) shall be used for the boundary wall.

Full-height walls at the car porch/patio areas along the common boundary between terrace houses may be allowed, if:

  • Site context permits (e.g. where the car porches are paired and aligned), or

  • To meet FSSD’s requirements for fire separation walls.

Isometric view of townhouses with carports and balcony planters, showcasing fire separation walls between carports to meet FSSD requirements.

Full-height fire separation walls between adjacent car porches for terrace housing