Statute Details
- Title: Boundaries and Survey Maps (Singapore Land Authority Fees) Rules 2005
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (Rules)
- Authorising Act: Boundaries and Survey Maps Act 1998 (Section 21)
- Act Code: BSMA1998-R6
- Commencement: 31 March 2005 (as indicated in the revised edition)
- Current status: Current version as at 26 March 2026 (with the latest revision shown as 17 December 2025)
- Latest revision noted: 2025 Revised Edition (17 December 2025)
- Key provisions: Section 2 (Fees), Section 3 (Calculation of fee for strata survey), Section 4 (Fees for queries, resubmission or rectification), Section 5 (Remission or refund of fees)
- Schedule: “Fees” (prescribes the specific fee amounts for listed services/queries)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Boundaries and Survey Maps (Singapore Land Authority Fees) Rules 2005 (“the Fees Rules”) is a Singapore subsidiary law that sets out how fees are charged by the Singapore Land Authority (the “Authority”) in connection with cadastral survey work, survey-related queries, and the production of certain survey documents. In practical terms, it tells registered surveyors what they must pay when they request survey-related services from the Authority or when the Chief Surveyor raises a query requiring surveyor action.
The Fees Rules operate under the framework of the Boundaries and Survey Maps Act 1998 (“the Act”). The Act establishes the regulatory system for cadastral boundaries, survey maps, and related processes. The Fees Rules fill an important administrative gap: they prescribe the “appropriate fees” payable to the Authority for specified services and specify how those fees are calculated in particular scenarios—most notably, strata surveys—and how certain fees are handled when the Chief Surveyor requires queries, resubmission, or rectification.
For practitioners, the key value of the Fees Rules is predictability and procedural clarity. They define (i) what services trigger fees, (ii) which fees are payable by registered surveyors (and not by the parties they represent), (iii) how strata-related fees are calculated, and (iv) the discretion of the Chief Surveyor to remit or refund fees in whole or in part.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Prescribed fees and the scope of “services” (Section 2 and the Schedule)
Section 2(1) provides that, for the purposes of section 15(3)(b) of the Act, the prescribed survey fees payable to the Authority upon any request by a registered surveyor for services in relation to survey work—or upon any query made by the Chief Surveyor specified in the first column of the Schedule—are the fees specified opposite in the second column of the Schedule. This is the core mechanism: the Schedule is the fee table, and Section 2 links the fee table to the types of requests/queries that trigger payment.
Section 2(2) clarifies what the “services” include. It expressly includes: (a) field and office inspection and approval of cadastral survey work carried out by a registered surveyor; and (b) production of title plans by the Authority. These are significant because they cover both technical review (inspection/approval) and document output (title plans). Importantly, Section 2(2) also draws a boundary around what is not included in the services for which these fees apply: the provision of field books, boundary marks, calculation sheets, and plan forms is excluded. This exclusion matters for cost allocation and for avoiding disputes about whether certain deliverables are “included” in the fee.
2. Strata survey fee calculation (Section 3)
Section 3 addresses a specialised fee calculation issue: “the fee relating to an accessory lot in a strata survey” in item (4) of the Schedule. The rule is that the area of the accessory lot must be added to the area of the strata lot to which the accessory lot has been made appurtenant. In other words, the accessory lot’s area is not treated in isolation for fee calculation; it is aggregated with the relevant principal strata lot’s area.
For practitioners handling strata developments, this provision is practical and litigation-relevant. Fee disputes often arise from how land areas are measured or attributed. Section 3 provides a clear statutory instruction for the fee computation method, reducing room for administrative discretion or inconsistent billing approaches. It also signals that the Schedule’s strata fee item (4) is designed to reflect the combined area relationship between accessory and appurtenant strata lots.
3. Fees for queries, resubmission, or rectification—who pays and who does not (Section 4)
Section 4 governs fees specified in items (5) and (6) in the Schedule. These items relate to “queries, resubmission or rectification” (as reflected in the section heading). Section 4( a ) states that these fees must be paid by the registered surveyor on the requisition of the Chief Surveyor. This establishes the payer: the registered surveyor, not the landowner or other party represented by the surveyor.
Section 4( b ) is even more important for professional practice and cost recovery. It provides that the fees “must not be recovered from or paid by the party represented by the registered surveyor.” This is a statutory restriction on cost shifting. Even if the registered surveyor’s client (for example, a developer, owner, or applicant) would normally be expected to bear costs, Section 4 prohibits the surveyor from recovering these specific fees from the represented party.
From a legal risk perspective, this provision can affect contractual drafting and billing practices. Surveyor-client agreements should be reviewed to ensure they do not contemplate recovery of these particular fees. If an agreement includes a general “all costs” clause, it may still be constrained by Section 4( b ) for the specific fee categories in items (5) and (6). Practitioners should also consider whether internal professional indemnity or dispute resolution clauses should address the statutory inability to pass these costs to clients.
4. Remission or refund—discretion of the Chief Surveyor (Section 5)
Section 5(1) provides that the Chief Surveyor may remit or refund, wholly or in part, any fee paid or payable under these Rules. This is a discretionary power. The statute does not specify criteria in the extract provided, but the legal effect is clear: the Chief Surveyor has authority to reduce or reverse fees in appropriate circumstances.
Section 5(2) adds an important temporal clarification: paragraph (1) applies regardless of whether the fee was paid or payable before, on or after 1 June 2015. This means the remission/refund discretion is not limited to fees arising after a particular date; it can apply to fees across time, including fees already paid before 1 June 2015. For practitioners, this can be relevant when advising on historical billing disputes, administrative complaints, or applications for reconsideration.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Fees Rules are structured as a short set of provisions supported by a Schedule. The operative provisions are contained in Sections 1 to 5, with the Schedule providing the detailed fee amounts and linking them to specific services/queries. The structure is as follows:
Section 1 (Citation): identifies the Rules by name.
Section 2 (Fees): establishes the general rule that prescribed fees in the Schedule apply to (i) requests by registered surveyors for services relating to survey work and (ii) queries made by the Chief Surveyor that fall within the Schedule’s first column. It also defines what “services” include and exclude.
Section 3 (Calculation of fee for strata survey): provides a specific calculation method for accessory lots in strata surveys.
Section 4 (Fees for queries, resubmission or rectification): prescribes who pays (registered surveyor) and prohibits recovery from the party represented by the surveyor.
Section 5 (Remission or refund of fees): grants the Chief Surveyor discretion to remit or refund fees, with a temporal “regardless of date” clarification.
Schedule (Fees): the fee table. While the extract does not reproduce the fee amounts, it is clear that items (4), (5), and (6) are particularly relevant to strata fee calculation and to query/resubmission/rectification fees.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Fees Rules apply primarily to registered surveyors who request services from the Authority in relation to survey work and who are subject to the Chief Surveyor’s queries requiring action. The Rules also apply to the Authority and, in particular, the Chief Surveyor, who determines queries and has discretion to remit or refund fees.
Although the Rules concern fees payable to the Authority, Section 4( b ) makes the position of the party represented by the registered surveyor legally relevant. The Rules expressly prevent the registered surveyor from recovering certain fees (those in items (5) and (6)) from the represented party. Therefore, while the represented party is not the direct payer under these provisions, the Rules restrict how costs may be allocated between surveyors and their clients.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
First, the Fees Rules provide a legally grounded fee framework that supports the integrity and efficiency of Singapore’s cadastral survey system. By prescribing fees through a Schedule and linking them to specific services and queries, the Rules reduce uncertainty and help ensure consistent charging practices across cases.
Second, Section 4’s “no recovery” rule is particularly significant for professional practice. It directly affects how registered surveyors manage costs, client communications, and contractual arrangements. In disputes, parties may argue about whether fees are recoverable as disbursements or administrative charges. The statutory prohibition narrows that debate and can be decisive in litigation or arbitration.
Third, Section 5’s remission/refund discretion provides a safety valve. Administrative processes can be complex, and circumstances may arise where fees should be reduced or reversed. The temporal breadth in Section 5(2) (covering fees paid or payable before, on, or after 1 June 2015) means that practitioners should not assume that remission/refund is unavailable for older matters. Where appropriate, counsel can advise on whether an application or request for remission/refund is legally available.
Related Legislation
- Boundaries and Survey Maps Act 1998 (Authorising Act; relevant provisions include section 15(3)(b) and section 21)
- Survey Maps (as referenced in the provided metadata; the Fees Rules are part of the broader regulatory ecosystem for survey maps and cadastral boundaries)
- Boundaries and Survey Maps (Singapore Land Authority Fees) Rules 2005 (this instrument; including its amendments and 2025 Revised Edition)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Boundaries and Survey Maps (Singapore Land Authority Fees) Rules 2005 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.