Additions and alterations to a landed house

The proposal must satisfy the following criteria:

1. The proposal is on land zoned ‘Residential' in the Master Plan, and is not within a:

   1. Conservation Area,

   2. Good Class Bungalow Area or

   3. Special Control Area - Refer to URA SPACE. Select “Explore Development Site” layer, key in site address and select “Develop Site” tab to find out if the site is excluded from lodgment due to being within a Special Control Area;

2. No part of the development plot consists of State land;

3. The development plot abuts a public road allowing direct access;

4. The development plot is not affected by road or drain widening proposals;

5. The proposal does not result in any change to the existing vehicular access arrangement;

6. There is a landed dwelling house standing on one or more distinctive lots each with its own legal cadastral boundary (i.e. no part-lots are involved);

7. There is a landed dwelling house which stands on every lot within the development plot;

8. No more than one landed dwelling house would exist on the plot when the operations are completed;

9. The operations will result in a landed dwelling house of the same housing type as the existing landed dwelling house;

10. Any proposed earthfill must not result in any point in the plot to be raised more than 1m and must also not be more than 1m higher than any point along the abutting edge of the adjacent land;

11. Compliance with Envelope Control (EC) guidelines with no more than one full mezzanine floor within the permissible EC;

12. No part of the existing landed dwelling house that is proposed to be retained (if any) consists of unauthorised works under the Act;

13. Compliance with the Additions and Alterations guidelines*:

    1. Addition of gross floor area which does not exceed 50% of the existing and approved gross floor area of the existing landed dwelling house

    2. Removal and replacement of external walls of the existing landed dwelling house where the new walls are not more than 50% of the existing and approved external walls of the existing landed dwelling house

    3. Structural changes to existing floor area such as replacing or constructing new columns/beams and reconstructing existing floor slabs not more than 50% of the existing and approved floor area of the existing landed dwelling house

    4. Changes / replacement of entire roof, regardless of increase in height as long as it does not involve an additional storey

    5. Addition of an attic provided the increase in GFA complies with criterion
       
       ^{*If the proposal is unable to fulfil the A&A guidelines, the proposal should be lodged as a new erection / reconstruction proposal}

14. If there are existing approved parts of the house that do not comply with prevailing development control guidelines and are proposed to be retained, these non-conforming existing structures are subject to the following:

    1. At least 25% of the existing floor plate shall be retained, comprising an integrated wing of existing columns, beams, floor slab and external walls that includes the non-conforming portion of the house; 

    2. Submission of Professional Engineer’s (PE) certification as part of the lodgment submission that structures to be retained are structurally sound and can accommodate the new works proposed around them and that the appropriate construction methods will be used to ensure that they will not be damaged; and

    3. For a house with an existing deficient front setback, there shall be a minimum absolute 2.4m setback distance provided from the front boundary. The setback is measured from the boundary of the external wall/glass of the bay window. 

15. For any proposal on a newly subdivided lot, the works does not result in an increase in GFA by more than 20 sqm within the first three (3) years from the date of TOP;

16. The development proposal complies with all prevailing development control guidelines and street block plans, if any, including minimum plot size, plot width, building setback, site coverage, etc;

17. Where the proposed works involve deviation(s) from prevailing development control guidelines and/or street block plans, prior waiver approval is to be obtained from Development Control Group (URA); and

18. A Qualified Person is to be appointed for the works;

Qualified Professional (registered architect or engineer)

Refer to the Development Control Fee Schedule [PDF, 347 KB].

1. Proposal Plan

   1. The Proposal Plan must be a true cadastral and topographical representation of all lands in the application with the nature and extent of all works proposed clearly indicated.

   2. It should be drawn to scale as appropriate.

   3. The Proposal Plan must be endorsed by the Qualified Person and the consent of the owner/s of the land by a letter of consent.

2. Sketch Plan

   1. The sketch plan shall show the floor plan, cross-section, existing and proposed platform level and elevations of the building with full dimensions and boundary clearances. All plans must be endorsed by the Qualified Person and the consent owner/s of the land must be obtained by a letter of consent.

   2. To facilitate the submission of addition and alteration applications, we will accept lodgments showing the additions and alterations of the affected areas only. With the exception of cases that require the recomputation of gross floor area, no other details are required for the remaining development except for the building outline only. Please see example provided in Guidelines For Submission of CAD Files to URA [PDF, 350 KB].

3. Site Coverage Calculation Plan (for Detached or Linked House ONLY)
   The Calculation Plan shall include the existing building and the proposed extension, with the detailed computation form as part of a layer in the sketch plan.

4. Declaration 
   A declaration to URA that the proposal complies with the lodgment criteria.

5. URA’s Waiver Approval (where relevant)
   Submission of URA’s prior waiver approval is applicable for proposals that contain new works that deviate from prevailing development control guidelines and/or street block plan.

6. Professional Engineer’s (PE) certification (where relevant)
   If the proposal involves the retaining of existing approved structure(s) that do not comply with prevailing guidelines, a PE certification should be submitted to confirm that the structures to be retained are structurally sound and can accommodate the new works proposed around them and that the appropriate construction methods will be used to ensure that they will not be damaged.

"Owner" in relation to land or premises is defined in the Planning Act (Cap 232, 1998 Ed) as the person for the time being receiving the rent of the land or premises whether on his own account or as trustee for any other person or as receiver (not being appointed by or on behalf of a mortgagee) or the person who would receive the rent if the land or premises were let to a tenant and includes:

1. a mortgagee in possession; and

2. the purchaser of any newly constructed premises or part thereof in respect of which a temporary occupation permit or a certificate of statutory completion has been granted.

The Qualified Person is to seek and comply with the technical requirements of all front-line technical departments e.g. Central Building Plan Unit (ENV); etc. at the Building Plan submission stage.

From 1 Oct 2025, all new projects with Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 30,000m² and above must be submitted via CORENET X. You may visit the CORENET X Portal to make your submission.

New projects with a GFA below 30,000m² may continue to be submitted via CORENET 2. To do so, please complete and lodge the plans through CORENET 2, using the EDA form and accompanied by the various documents as stipulated in the "Documents to be submitted" section above. 

If your property is a detached house, you must also lodge a site coverage plan (scale 1:100).

An acknowledgement letter will be issued by URA.

If the lodgment application is made under CORENET 2, please proceed to apply for approval from Building & Construction Authority (BCA) if BCA’s approval is required.

The authorisation is valid for two years from the date of the acknowledgement letter. If works are not completed within the two years validity period, you may apply for extension of the lodgment authorisation (up to two times). After which, a fresh lodgment is to be made.

For street block plans, refer to the Residential Handbooks:

• Bungalows: Refer to the detailed guidelines and street block plans

• Semi-detached houses: Refer to the detailed guidelines and street block plans

• Terrace houses: Refer to the detailed guidelines and street block plans