Statute Details
- Title: Building Control (Temporary Buildings) Regulations 2018
- Act Code: BCA1989-S807-2018
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation
- Enacting Authority: Made by the Minister for National Development under section 49 of the Building Control Act (Cap. 29)
- Commencement: 1 March 2019
- Status (as provided): Current version as at 26 Mar 2026
- Key Parts: Part 1 (Preliminary); Part 2 (Temporary Building Permits); Part 3 (Temporary Buildings that do not require permit); Part 4 (Miscellaneous)
- Key Regulations (from extract): Regulations 1–22; Schedules 1–3
- Related Legislation (from extract): Building Control Act (Cap. 29); Building Control Regulations 2003 (G.N. No. S 666/2003); Professional Engineers Act (Cap. 253); Enterprise Singapore Board Act 2018 (Act 10 of 2018)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Building Control (Temporary Buildings) Regulations 2018 (“Temporary Buildings Regulations”) set out a regulatory framework for the erection and use of temporary buildings in Singapore. In practical terms, they address a recurring construction and site-management reality: projects often require temporary accommodation or facilities (for example, workers’ quarters, site offices, or other temporary structures) that must be safe, properly designed, and controlled for a limited duration.
The Regulations sit under the Building Control Act and operationalise how the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) regulates temporary structures. They do not treat “temporary” as “informal”. Instead, they impose permit-based controls (for most temporary buildings), define when permits are not required, and specify safety-related obligations—particularly around structural safety and protective measures during temporary building works.
From a legal practitioner’s perspective, the Regulations are important because they create procedural and compliance duties for multiple stakeholders: owners, professional engineers, and builders. They also define time limits for use, provide mechanisms for preliminary approval and permit extension, and include enforcement consequences (including penalties and revocation/saving provisions). The Regulations therefore affect both licensing/approval strategy and risk management on construction projects.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation, commencement, and definitions (Regulations 1–2). The Regulations commence on 1 March 2019. Regulation 2 contains definitions that are central to how the approval process works. Notably, it defines “permit”, “preliminary approval”, “approved plans”, and “specified plans”. These definitions matter because the regulatory pathway distinguishes between preliminary approval (a stage linked to the permit) and the final permit to erect and use a temporary building.
Regulation 2 also defines “owner” broadly as the person who has charge, management or control of the temporary building, or will have such charge after erection. This broad framing is significant for liability allocation: it is not limited to the party who contracts for the works, but extends to the party exercising control over the temporary building.
2. Maximum permitted duration for temporary buildings (Regulation 3). A key policy choice in the Regulations is the time limit. Regulation 3 prescribes that, for the purposes of the Act’s definition of “temporary building”, the maximum period is not exceeding 72 months (instead of 36 months). This effectively extends the maximum allowable duration for temporary buildings under the Act’s framework.
For practitioners, this provision is often the first checkpoint in advising clients. It affects feasibility, budgeting, and compliance planning. If a project’s operational timeline exceeds the maximum, the client may need to restructure the plan (e.g., phased approvals, alternative permanent works, or other compliance routes) rather than assume that “temporary” can be extended indefinitely.
3. Excluded temporary buildings (Regulation 4 and First Schedule). Regulation 4 provides that the Regulations do not apply to certain buildings—referred to as “excluded temporary building”—including buildings specified in the First Schedule and buildings mentioned in the First Schedule to the Building Control Regulations 2003. This carve-out is crucial: it means that some temporary structures may be regulated under other regimes rather than the Temporary Buildings Regulations.
In practice, this requires careful classification. A client may assume that any temporary structure is governed by these Regulations, but Regulation 4 can redirect the compliance pathway. Lawyers should therefore verify whether the structure falls within the excluded categories before advising on permit requirements, design obligations, or timelines.
4. Permit regime: permission required, application, preliminary approval, and professional/builder duties (Regulations 5–12). Part 2 establishes the core permit framework. Regulation 6 states the principle: permission is required to erect and use a temporary building. Regulation 7 sets out how to apply for a temporary building permit, while Regulation 8 introduces preliminary approval in respect of the permit.
Two stakeholder duty provisions are particularly important:
- Regulation 9 (Duties of professional engineer): places obligations on the professional engineer associated with the temporary building. While the extract does not reproduce the detailed text, the structure indicates that the engineer’s responsibilities are integral to the approval and safety assurance process.
- Regulation 10 (Duties of builder): similarly imposes duties on the builder. This is consistent with Singapore’s building control approach: approvals are not merely paperwork; they are tied to competent execution and compliance with approved plans and tests.
Regulation 11 addresses the grant of permit, and Regulation 12 provides for extension of permit. Together, these provisions create a lifecycle: preliminary approval → permit grant → possible extension, subject to compliance and regulatory criteria.
5. Lapsing, revocation, and fees; demolition obligations (Regulations 13–16). The Regulations include compliance “failure modes”. Regulation 13 provides for lapsing of preliminary approval, meaning that preliminary approval may expire if conditions are not met within a defined timeframe or if steps are not taken. Regulation 14 covers revocation of preliminary approval or permit, which is a powerful enforcement tool.
Regulation 15 states no refund of fees, which is relevant for disputes and commercial planning. Regulation 16 requires demolition of temporary building—a significant remedy that can be triggered by revocation, expiry, or other regulatory grounds. For counsel, this provision underscores that non-compliance can lead not only to administrative consequences but also to potentially costly physical actions.
6. Temporary buildings that do not require a permit (Part 3, Regulations 17–18). Part 3 recognises that not all temporary structures warrant the full permit process. Regulation 17 covers one-storey workers’ quarters or site offices, etc. Regulation 18 covers 2-storey and 3-storey workers’ quarters, etc. These provisions likely set thresholds or conditions under which permit requirements are waived.
For practitioners, the legal work here is classification and conditions checking. Even where a permit is not required, the Regulations may still impose safety and design requirements through schedules or other provisions (and Part 4 may still apply). Counsel should therefore not treat “no permit” as “no regulation”.
7. Protective structures for temporary building works (Regulations 19–20). Part 4 includes safety-focused requirements. Regulation 19 requires protective structures for temporary building works. Regulation 20 sets out requirements relating to protective structures. These provisions are important because temporary building works often occur in active construction environments where hazards to workers and the public must be mitigated.
From a litigation and compliance standpoint, protective structure requirements can become central evidence in investigations after incidents. Lawyers advising contractors should ensure that protective measures are planned, documented, and implemented in accordance with the Regulations and any applicable design requirements.
8. Penalty and revocation/saving (Regulations 21–22) and schedules. Regulation 21 provides a general penalty. Regulation 22 addresses revocation and saving, which typically clarifies how previous instruments are treated and preserves rights or actions taken under earlier versions.
The schedules add technical content. The Second Schedule contains design requirements for temporary buildings, and the Third Schedule contains construction tests. These schedules are often where practitioners find the operational compliance standards that engineers and builders must follow.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Regulations are organised into four parts:
- Part 1 (Preliminary) – Regulations 1–4: sets out citation/commencement, definitions, maximum permitted duration (72 months), and exclusions (First Schedule).
- Part 2 (Temporary Building Permits) – Regulations 5–16: establishes when permits apply, the permission requirement, application and preliminary approval, duties of professional engineer and builder, permit grant and extension, and enforcement mechanisms such as lapsing, revocation, no refund of fees, and demolition.
- Part 3 (Temporary Buildings that do not require permit) – Regulations 17–18: provides categories of temporary buildings (workers’ quarters and site offices) that may be exempt from the permit process.
- Part 4 (Miscellaneous) – Regulations 19–22: includes protective structures requirements, general penalty, and revocation/saving provisions.
Three schedules supplement the main text: the First Schedule (excluded temporary buildings), the Second Schedule (design requirements), and the Third Schedule (construction tests).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Regulations apply to parties involved in the erection and use of temporary buildings in Singapore, including the owner (as defined by charge, management or control), professional engineers (including professional electrical engineers where relevant), and builders. The permit process is therefore not limited to administrative applicants; it is tied to professional sign-off and construction execution duties.
In addition, the Regulations apply to the extent they are not excluded. If a structure falls within the First Schedule exclusions, the Temporary Buildings Regulations do not apply, and counsel must identify the correct regulatory regime under the Building Control Act and the Building Control Regulations 2003.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
First, the Regulations provide a clear legal pathway for temporary building approvals. For project teams, this reduces uncertainty: there is a defined sequence (preliminary approval and permit), defined responsibilities for engineers and builders, and defined mechanisms for extension and enforcement.
Second, the Regulations directly affect risk allocation and liability. The broad definition of “owner” and the explicit duties of professional engineers and builders mean that compliance failures can trigger administrative action (revocation/lapsing) and potentially physical remedies (demolition). In disputes—whether involving delays, safety incidents, or regulatory enforcement—these provisions help establish what each party was required to do.
Third, the protective structures provisions and the schedules on design requirements and construction tests underline that safety standards apply even to temporary works. Practitioners should treat the schedules as compliance-critical: they often inform what “good engineering practice” and test regimes mean in a regulatory context.
Related Legislation
- Building Control Act (Cap. 29), including section 49 (power to make regulations) and the Act’s definition of “temporary building”
- Building Control Regulations 2003 (G.N. No. S 666/2003), including references used to define “specified plans” and exclusions
- Professional Engineers Act (Cap. 253)
- Enterprise Singapore Board Act 2018 (Act 10 of 2018)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Building Control (Temporary Buildings) Regulations 2018 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.