Form DC 12

Application for written permission for additions and alterations to existing buildings and amendment to approved additions and alterations to existing buildings (excluding landed residential houses).

Last updated 3 June 2026

Explanatory Notes to Additions and Alterations to Existing Buildings & Amendment to Approved Additions and Alterations to Existing Buildings (Excluding Landed Houses)

Under the powers conferred by the Planning (Development) Rules, the Competent Authority hereby requests that all applications for written permission for additions & alterations to existing buildings* and amendments to approved additions and alterations to existing buildings be made in accordance with the following requirements:

*This excludes the installation of open-sided covers over private enclosed spaces (PES), private roof terraces (PRT) and balconies in strata-titled residential developments (e.g. flats, condominiums, and strata landed houses) as submission to URA is not required. Homeowners are to seek consent from MCST and ensure that the covers meet the requirements of other relevant agencies such as the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the Fire Safety and Shelter Department (FSSD, SCDF), where necessary.

1. Description of proposed development

In Form DC 12, the applicant should state clearly whether his application is for written permission to carry out additions and alterations to existing buildings or to amend approved additions and alteration plans.

APPLICATION FORMS

Application details

i.	Every application for additions and alterations to existing buildings or amendments to approved additions and alterations to existing buildings must be made on the prescribed application form.
ii.	A letter of consent from the land owner(s) must be obtained. Where an option to purchase the land has been exercised, the application must be accompanied by a letter of consent from the owner or the owner's solicitor.
iii.	All statistical entries to the form must be clearly annotated.
iv.	The application must be accompanied by the Land Title Declaration Form.
v.	Every application for additions/alterations that fall within the following planning areas must be accompanied with a copy of the Plan Submission Checklist for urban design guidelines. Please download the Checklist here [DOC, 45KB]. Downtown Core Marina South Marina East Museum Newton Orchard Outram River Valley Rochor Singapore River Straits View

2. Plans to be submitted

Every application must be accompanied by:

Application information

i.	Proposal Plan
	a.	The proposal plan must be a true cadastral and topographical representation of the land concerned in the application, clearly indicating the existing building(s) and the proposed additions and alterations in distinctive colours.
	b.	The proposal plan shall be drawn to scale as appropriate. Building (existing and proposed extension) setbacks from the lot boundaries need to be clearly indicated.
	c.	If additional car parks are required, they shall be clearly demarcated on the proposal plan or the sketch plan depending on their location.
ii.	Sketch plan The use of the existing building(s) and the proposed extension shall be indicated on the sketch floor plans.
	a.	Sketch floor and elevational plans shall be drawn to scale as appropriate.
	b.	The proposed additions and alterations to the existing building(s) shall be clearly indicated with distinctive colours in the sketch floor and elevational plan. To facilitate the submission of addition and alteration applications, we will accept development applications 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, 133KB]).
	c.	The use of the existing building(s) and the proposed extension shall be indicated on the sketch floor plans.

3. For proposed A/A works within strata units which involve an increase in GFA

For proposed A/A works within strata units which involve an increase in GFA, the applicant is required to obtain a letter signed by the secretary or Chairperson of the council of the MC confirming that the MC has by 90% resolution authorised the carrying out of the proposed works for the strata unit. This authorisation letter duly signed by the authorised signatory of the Council of the MC is to be submitted to URA by the applicant together with the proposal as part of the planning application. A format of the letter can be found here [DOC, 28KB].

4. For conservation buildings

Application information for Conservation Building

i.	The sketch plan must be an architectural drawing of the building showing clearly the existing structural and architectural elements that are retained & restored, those to be repaired or replaced and any new additions to the building. The design and material used for the proposed additions & alterations should be clearly annotated.
ii.	The proposed additions & alterations should be highlighted in pink and the proposed demolition indicated in yellow dotted lines.
iii.	The location, size and material of the mechanical, plumbing and electrical equipment to be installed eg. flue, air-conditioning plant and refrigerant lines, meter-box, etc should be shown on the drawing.
iv.	The existing/approved and proposed use of the building shall be clearly indicated on floor plans. If the building falls within the core area, the existing/approved and proposed trade should also be specified. However, if the applicant is unable to specify the trade at the time of submission, the applicant is to endorse on the submission plan that "The proposed trade for the premises will be submitted to the URA for approval before the commencement of operation of the business.
v.	Detail plans of secondary windows if applicable; to be drawn to scale.
vi.	Details of special features, if any to be drawn to scale.
vii.	The plan must be e-signed by the person making the application. The name and address of the landowner, the developer and his registered architect must be clearly shown on the plans.
viii.	Measured Survey Drawings Architectural measured survey drawings of the existing building/s comprising floor plans, roof plan, sections, front, side and rear elevations (gable end wall where applicable); drawn to a scale of 1:100 shall be submitted with the endorsement of the Registered Surveyor. The following shall be clearly indicated and dimensioned on the architectural measured drawings:
	a.	floor to floor heights,
	b.	roof height (measured from springing line to roof ridge) and roof pitch angle,
	c.	walls, windows and doors, balconies and parapet, if any,
	d.	floor plans indicating forecourt, airwell and rear court, if any,
	e.	material of upper floors and staircases.
	(A measured survey drawing is not required for submissions which involve restored buildings with Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) or Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC) clearance issued by Conservation Department, URA).
ix.	Detailed Drawings Detailed drawings of selected architectural elements may be required to be submitted for evaluation of the proposal.

Other conservation requirements

Details for other Conservation requirements

Photographs

Photographs of the existing front, rear, side (if any) elevations and aerial view are to be submitted to illustrate existing condition.

ii.

Structural Report/Plan Endorsement

A detailed structural investigation report by the Professional Engineer shall be submitted and the submission plans must be endorsed by the Professional Engineer as follows:

"As a qualified person, I agree with and endorse the alterations to the structure as shown on this plan and that they are generally in accordance with conservation principles and good engineering practice. Where further strengthening or additional structural members are required to support addition and alteration work, formal approval will be sought from the Competent Authority under Planning Act 1998 and Building Authority under Building Control Act prior to commencement of work on site." OR

if you are submitting plans which do not involve structural works and your building has previously been restored after July 1989 with the necessary approval from the Building Authority, you may not need to engage a professional engineer for your submission. In this case, your registered architect must endorse on the submission plans as follows:

"As a qualified person, I have inspected the subject conservation building(s) and certify that there is no structural works involved. It is therefore not necessary to appoint a professional engineer to submit a detailed structural investigation report as part of the planning submission."

5. Fee

Please refer to the Fee Schedule [PDF, 350KB].

6. Definition of Owner

"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:

Definition of Owner

i.	a mortgagee in possession; and
ii.	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.

7. List of deviation (1 copy)

For items not complied with, the reasons justifying the deviations are to be clearly explained in the list of deviations. Supporting documents, photos are to be attached if applicable, to support the deviations.

8. General

General information

i.	In order that the application can be processed quickly, all particulars relevant to the proposed development should be given. The Competent Authority may also request additional information on the application under consideration. Applicants may wish to include items which have failed to comply with the current planning requirements by completing the list of deviation.
ii.	If the application involves the erection of a separate building or an extension to an existing building which, in the opinion of the Competent Authority, is a separate entity from the existing building, or is of such a scale that it warrants consideration as an "erection" proposal, then the application would be treated as such. Under this situation, Form DC 12 shall be used, but processing fee would be charged according to new erection fees based on footprint of the proposed building. Should there be doubts, applicants are advised to call the Development Control Customer Service Hotline at 62234811.
iii.	In connection with the above, Rule 4(3) of the Planning (Development) Rules, is reproduced below for your information. "Any person who submits an application which contains any statement or particular which is false shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both."

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