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Welcome to our refreshed website!

We've updated the site to make information easier to access and navigate. While some content may have been reorganised, you can browse our updated sections to find what you need.

Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)

Property and Business Owners

Understand your obligations as a private residential property owner or business owner. Find out about planning permission needed for renovations, change of use, as well as home-based business schemes.

Last updated 17 June 2026

Residential Property

Find information related to buying and renting out private residential properties.

Buying Property

Ensure your property is compliant before purchase - check approved plans, avoid unauthorised works, and review key considerations like eligibility, finances, and agent engagement.

Renovating Private Residential Property

Depending on the type of your property (e.g. detached house or flat) and the nature of the renovation works (e.g. room extension, earthcut or earthfill), you may need to apply for a planning permission. Find out if you need to obtain planning permission to renovate your private residential property.

Renting Property

If you own a private residential property and wish to rent it out, you are encouraged to retain the approved internal layout. You must also adhere to the following rules.

Short-Term Accommodation

All residential properties in Singapore (e.g. condominiums, walk up apartments, flats, bungalows, semi-detached and terrace houses) are intended for long-term residence. Under the law, they are not allowed to be used for short-term accommodation – defined as stays of less than three consecutive months.

Business Owners

Are you looking for a suitable premises for your business? Before you commit to buy or lease a premises, you are advised to check as each premises has its own intended and allowable uses. It cannot be used for any other purpose or activity unless there is planning permission from URA to change the use of a premises.

Changing the Use of Your Property

Changing the use of your property (e.g. from a shop to a commercial school) may require planning permission. Find out if you need to obtain planning permission before committing to a tenancy or starting the renovation works on the premises.

Change of Use Lodgment

The Change of Use Lodgment Scheme allows certain uses in selected buildings to be granted instant approval upon an application with URA.

Renewal of Use

This applies to existing uses that were approved on Temporary Permission.

Planning to start a business in a shophouse?

Use this to check the allowable and the last approved uses for all shophouses in Singapore. The information provided is based on the planning guidelines and records at the date of enquiry.

Check the Allowable Use for Shophouses

Carrying out a business in your residential property

Home-Based Business Scheme

Under this scheme, you can run other types of small-scale home-based businesses from your residential premises, without any non-resident employee, subject to the prevailing conditions of use.

Home Office Scheme

Under the Home Office Scheme, you can operate small-scale offices or run the administrative functions of your business from your residential premises, with up to two non-resident employees, subject to the prevailing conditions of use.