The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has warned of enforcement action over recurring reports of unauthorised works in strata-titled homes.
In an 11 October statement cited by The Straits Times, URA reported 116 suspected cases between January and September 2026, following 147 in 2024 and 148 in 2025.
About 90% of reported cases involved unauthorised works. Ignoring enforcement notices could lead to prosecution.
Adding Floor Space Requires Approval
For owners considering renovations, a key question is whether the work increases the property’s gross floor area, or GFA, which is the floor area counted for planning purposes.
URA’s guidance for non-conserved strata homes says proposals that increase GFA require a 90% resolution from the estate’s management corporation, commonly called the MCST.
The planning application must include a letter from the management council’s secretary or chairperson confirming that approval.
There are specific exemptions. A loft designed as a furniture deck can qualify for exemption from URA planning permission if it is no larger than 5 sq m, with only one permitted per residential unit.
However, exemption from one approval process does not remove every other requirement. BCA advises homeowners to check whether other agencies’ approvals and estate rules still apply.
A Terrace Cover And An Enclosed Room Have Different Rules
URA allows open-sided covers over private patios, roof terraces and balconies without planning permission. Owners must still obtain their MCST’s consent and meet other relevant agencies’ requirements where applicable.
Balconies must also retain their semi-outdoor character. URA’s guidance does not allow owners to close them off with walls or glass panels, although blinds can be installed without planning permission.
These guidelines apply to non-conserved properties. Conserved buildings have separate requirements.
Safety checks matter too. BCA says alterations to structural components, including slabs, beams and columns, require assessment by a professional engineer and approval from the Commissioner of Building Control.
Owners should check renovation restrictions with their developer or MCST before work begins.
Previous Owners’ Renovations Can Become Your Responsibility
An existing addition should not be assumed to have approval simply because it was there during a viewing.
URA’s property-buying guidance warns that buyers may become liable for unauthorised works after taking ownership. It advises checking approved plans, either obtained from the seller or requested from URA.
BCA recommends having an architect or engineer inspect the property and compare its actual condition with the approved plans.
A legal search alone is not conclusive: it only reveals unauthorised works already brought to BCA’s attention.
Owners seeking to retain unauthorised building works should engage a qualified person, meaning a registered architect or professional engineer, to submit plans for approval and obtain the other necessary clearances.
