HDB Renovation Rules and Permits: What You Can and Cannot Do

Every renovation in an HDB flat has to follow HDB’s renovation rules. These rules set out which works need a permit, which works are not allowed, the hours when work can be carried out and who is qualified to do it. Following them keeps your renovation safe and legal, and helps you avoid fines or having to undo work later.

Below, we go through each rule so you know what to expect before work starts. Note that these rules apply to HDB flats only, as condo renovations go through the MCST instead. HDB also updates its guidelines from time to time, so check the latest renovation guidelines on the HDB website before work begins.

Why You Need an HDB Renovation Permit

Your HDB flat shares walls, floors and pipes with the units around it, so changes inside your home can affect your neighbours and the building itself. A renovation permit is HDB’s written approval for specific works. It lets HDB check that your plans will not weaken the building or cause leaks into other units. Skipping it for works that need one can lead to a fine and an order to undo the work.

You don’t apply for the permit yourself. Your contractor, who must be listed in HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors (DRC), submits the application on your behalf before work starts.

What You Can Do in an HDB Flat

Most of the changes homeowners want are allowed. Some can go ahead straight away, while others need a permit or a licensed contractor first. Works that don’t need a permit still have to follow HDB’s guidelines.

What you want to do	What’s needed
Painting or wallpapering interior walls and ceilings	No permit needed
Build in carpentry, such as wardrobes, kitchen cabinets and shelves	No permit needed
Laying new flooring over existing tiles	Usually no permit, as long as HDB’s conditions are met
Hacking existing floor tiles to replace them	Permit needed
Removing or building non-structural walls	Permit needed
Redoing a bathroom or toilet	Permit needed, and newly built flats must wait 3 years before hacking tiles
Replacing the main door or gate	Allowed, within HDB’s fire-safety rules
Installing an awning at the balcony	Permit needed, with the design done by a qualified engineer
Replacing windows	Allowed, using a BCA approved window contractor
Adding power points or rewiring	Allowed, done by a licensed electrical worker

You can find the full list of works and conditions in HDB’s building work guidelines here.

What You Cannot Do in an HDB Flat

Some works are not allowed even with a permit, because they affect the safety of the building or the look of the block.

• Hacking structural walls, columns or beams. Check your HDB floor plan first. Structural walls are drawn as thicker, bolded lines. Only non-structural walls can be removed, and only with a permit.
  
  
• Altering the household shelter. The shelter’s walls, floor, ceiling and steel door must not be tampered with. Avoid fixing anything inside it that cannot be removed quickly in an emergency.
  
  
• Hacking bathroom tiles in a new flat within 3 years. Newly built flats have a 3-year restriction on removing wall and floor finishes in bathrooms and toilets, which protects the waterproofing.
  
  
• Building a mezzanine or loft. Adding an extra floor level inside the flat is not permitted.
  
  
• Swapping a fire-rated main door for a regular one. If your main door is fire-rated, the replacement must also be half-hour fire-rated, with a self-closing frame.
  
  
• Changing your windows freely. Replacement windows must follow HDB’s approved designs, so swapping a standard window for floor-to-ceiling glass is not allowed.

HDB Renovation Hours

Type of work	When it is is allowed
General works, such as painting and carpentry	8am to 6pm daily
Hacking, drilling, tile cutting and other loud work	9am to 5pm on weekdays only

Noisy works are not allowed on weekends, public holidays or the eve of major public holidays. When hacking walls or removing floor finishes, your contractor can use no more than two HDB-approved hand-held power tools, and the work must be finished within three consecutive working days.

Your contractor must also display the Notice of Renovation outside your flat for the whole renovation. It is good manners to let your immediate neighbours know a few days before noisy works start.

Who Is Allowed to Carry Out the Work

Your first consultation is often where you can tell if you have found the right interior designer. Treat it as a two-way interview. A good designer will ask about your family, daily routine, storage needs and future plans before talking about colours and materials.

Each type of work has its own licensing rule:

• Renovation works: a contractor listed in HDB’s DRC. Knowingly hiring someone outside the DRC is an offence.
  
• Window works: a BCA approved window contractor.
  
• Electrical works: a licensed electrical worker (LEW).
  
• Plumbing and sanitary works: a PUB licensed plumber.
  
• Gas works: a licensed gas service worker.

If you are working with an interior designer, ask which contractor will carry out the works and check that they are DRC-listed.

Extra Rules for BTO and DBSS Flats

New BTO flats come with the 3-year bathroom restriction mentioned above. Some newer BTO projects also have distinctive facade features, and HDB may issue specific renovation guidelines for them. DBSS flats likewise have their own precinct guidelines, so check what applies to your block before finalising your design.

If you have just collected your keys, our guide to BTO renovation packages covers what else new owners should know.

What Happens If You Break HDB Renovation Rules

Flat owners who carry out unauthorised works can face a court fine of up to S$5,000 on conviction. On top of the fine, the unauthorised works must be removed and the flat restored, at the owner’s own cost.

Contractors face their own penalties under HDB’s demerit points system, ranging from fines to suspension or disqualification from the DRC.

How to Keep Your HDB Renovation Within the Rules

1. Check your floor plan for structural walls before you settle on a layout.

2. Read HDB’s guidelines for your flat type and block, including any special precinct rules.

3. Engage a DRC-listed contractor and make sure the permit is approved before any hacking starts.

4. Schedule noisy works on weekdays and give your neighbours a heads-up.

Plan Your HDB Renovation With JBYS

At JBYS, we design and renovate HDB and BTO homes with HDB’s rules in mind from the first drawing. Our team can review your floor plan, point out which works need a permit, and plan a layout you won’t have to redo later.

Browse our residential interior design projects or learn more about our interior design and renovation services. Ready to start? Contact us or WhatsApp us at +65 9100 9170.