What You Need to Know About Renovating Land-Titled Private Residential Property in Singapore

Some homes are bought. Others are made — layer by layer, story by story. If you’re ready to reimagine your landed home with bespoke interior design, you’re not just renovating walls and windows; you’re curating a life. Whether it’s refining awkward corners from the original build, preparing for a new family chapter, or simply bringing your space up to par with your evolving tastes, every change is an opportunity to design with intention.

But before the transformation begins, be sure to check if your plans require approval from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) — a necessary step for any thoughtful, compliant renovation.

Considerations When Renovating Land-Titled Private Residential Property

• Here are some home renovations that DO need planning permission from the URA
• Here are some renovations that DO NOT need planning permission from the URA
• Ready to Begin Your Condo Renovation? Start with the Right Foundation

Here are some home renovations that DO need planning permission from the URA

Some renovations affect the intended orientation of the property and/or the surrounding terrain and community. This is especially true if you have a large parcel of land that you want to develop into a housing project. For all these, you will need to apply for planning permission.

1. Balconies – Closing up “open balconies”
2. Earthworks – All proposed earthcut and/or earthfill whether within setback distances, within the build-able area, or within the entire development site require planning permission.
3. Pavilion – Building a new pavilion; since it involves the addition of a new structure, planning permission is needed. Also, the pavilion should follow the mandated specifications.
4. Redevelopment – Redeveloping your existing landed property into more than one landed property. This is a developer-level project that requires you to follow the landed housing area plan that specifies what types of structures you can build in your property’s location. On top of that, you have to follow the Prevailing Planning Controls for Landed Housing, Development Control Parameters, and technical requirements of other Government agencies. For this project, you will need the services of a Qualified Person (QP).

Here are some renovations that DO NOT need planning permission from the URA

You won’t need planning permission for minor renovations that do not affect the status of the property as a residence, nor for changes that do not affect the surrounding community. These include:

1. Balconies – Closing up balconies by glass panels or windows if these balconies are already approved as “closed balconies” and complying with the setback requirements
2. Boundary Wall – Building a boundary wall if it is not higher than 1.8m
3. Car Porch – Converting a car porch into an open balcony or garden under certain conditions found on the URA website
4. Doors and Windows – Replacing doors and windows if there is no change in the gross floor area, no reduction in setback, and no change to the position of the window
5. Enclosures – Construction of gates, walls, fences, or other enclosures if they are 1.8m or less in height
6. Meter Compartment – Building a metre compartment if it forms part of the boundary wall and measures no larger than 0.9m wide x 0.6m deep
7. Roof – Reconstructing a roof in it its existing form if doesn’t make the roof higher than it originally was
8. Rooms – Enlarging and relocating rooms if the change does not affect the residential use of the property
9. Swimming Pool – Changing the shape of a swimming pool if it doesn’t make the pool bigger or smaller in setbacks; otherwise, the renovation will require a planning permission

Ready to Begin Your Condo Renovation? Start with the Right Foundation

A beautifully designed home begins with more than mood boards and inspiration — it starts with understanding what’s actually allowed. Whether you’re adding a loft, reimagining your balcony, or simply upgrading your space to suit a new life chapter, being well-versed in URA guidelines ensures your renovation journey is smooth from the very first step.

At Ohmyhome, we don’t just renovate. We guide, advise, and execute with precision. Let us help you transform your home into a space that’s not only beautiful, but also fully compliant with Singapore’s condo renovation regulations. Your dream home is closer than you think.

Let DreamR help you achieve the finest landed home renovation.