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Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)

Authorisation conditions for conversions to shops in commercial buildings

Find out when you can change to a Shop use without needing planning permission from URA.

Last updated 23 June 2026

No planning permission is required to change to a shop use from any of the following uses:

  • Amusement centre

  • Bar/pub

  • Nightclub

  • Restaurant

  • Betting outlet

  • Community institution

  • Childcare centre

  • Massage establishment

  • Sports and recreation

  • Laundry

  • Office

  • Commercial school

  • Pet shop

  • Showroom

  • Motor vehicle showroom

In addition, no planning permission is required to convert between showroom, restaurant and shop in approved commercial premises of the following developments:

  • Standalone Commercial buildings (e.g. shopping centres)

  • Commercial podium block; and commercial block physically separated from residential uses on sites zoned Commercial, Commercial/Residential, Hotel or White in the Master Plan (Excludes party-walled shophouses and shopflats. Please refer to diagrams.)

The above authorisations is subject to the following conditions:

  1. The premises was previously approved for commercial use and computed as commercial Gross Floor Area (GFA).

  2. The development is not subject to special planning conditions on allowable building use.

  3. The change of use is for individual unit and not an en-bloc conversion.

  4. You have complied with the licensing requirements from relevant government agencies before commencing the use.