Statute Details
- Title: House to House and Street Collections (Collections for Charities — Exemption) Notification 2023
- Act Code: HHSCA1947-S626-2023
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: House to House and Street Collections Act 1947 (specifically, section 10)
- Legislation Number: S 626/2023
- Date Made: 7 September 2023
- Commencement: 9 October 2023
- Status: Current version (as at 27 March 2026)
- Key Provisions: Section 1 (citation and commencement), paragraph 2 (exemption), paragraph 3 (revocation and transitional provision)
What Is This Legislation About?
The House to House and Street Collections (Collections for Charities — Exemption) Notification 2023 (“the Notification”) is a targeted regulatory instrument that creates an exemption from the general licensing/controls applicable to house-to-house and street collections in Singapore. In practical terms, it addresses when certain charity-related fundraising activities can proceed without the usual requirement that would otherwise apply under the House to House and Street Collections Act 1947 (“HHSCA”).
The Notification is made under section 10 of the HHSCA, which empowers the Minister for Home Affairs to issue notifications granting exemptions in specified circumstances. Here, the exemption is linked to fundraising appeals that are conducted for (or by) charities registered under the Charities Act 1994, exempt charities, or foreign charitable purposes that have been permitted by the Commissioner of Charities under the relevant fundraising regulations.
Although the Notification is short, it is legally significant because it clarifies the boundary between (i) fundraising that is already regulated through the charities fundraising framework and (ii) fundraising that would otherwise fall within the HHSCA’s stricter collection regime. For practitioners, the key question is whether a particular fundraising appeal—conducted by a “collector” or “promoter” in the house-to-house or street context—qualifies for the exemption, and from what date the exemption applies.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation and commencement (paragraph 1)
Paragraph 1 provides the formal citation and states that the Notification comes into operation on 9 October 2023. This is crucial for time-sensitive compliance: collections that begin before that date may be governed by the revoked notification (subject to the transitional rule in paragraph 3), whereas collections commencing on or after 9 October 2023 may qualify for the new exemption.
2. The exemption from section 3 of the HHSCA (paragraph 2)
The core operative provision is paragraph 2(1). It states that section 3 of the HHSCA does not apply to a person who is a collector or promoter of a collection, where the collection is:
- For a fundraising appeal that is conducted by or for a charity registered under section 7 of the Charities Act 1994; or
- For a fundraising appeal conducted by or for an exempt charity (as defined in section 2(1) of the Charities Act 1994); or
- For a fundraising appeal for a foreign charitable purpose where the person has been granted a permit by the Commissioner of Charities under regulation 22(1) of the Charities (Fund‑raising Appeals for Local and Foreign Charitable Purposes) Regulations 2012 (G.N. No. S 530/2012).
In addition, the exemption applies only where the collection commences on or after 9 October 2023 (paragraph 2(1)(b)). This “commencement” condition is often the decisive compliance trigger.
3. Definition of when a collection “commences” (paragraph 2(2))
Paragraph 2(2) provides a practical definition: a collection, in relation to a fundraising appeal, commences when the first member of the public is visited at his or her house or when the first member of the public is solicited in the streets or other public place in relation to that fundraising appeal.
This matters because fundraising campaigns may involve preparatory steps—such as training collectors, printing materials, or conducting internal planning—before any public solicitation occurs. Under the Notification, the relevant date is tied to the first actual contact with the public in the house-to-house or street context. For counsel advising charities and promoters, this definition supports a defensible compliance timeline and helps determine whether the new exemption applies.
4. Meaning of “fund‑raising appeal” (paragraph 2(3))
Paragraph 2(3) incorporates by reference the definition in section 35(1) of the Charities Act 1994. This is a legal cross-reference that ensures the exemption is aligned with the statutory meaning used in the charities fundraising framework. Practically, it reduces ambiguity: the parties must assess whether their activity falls within the statutory concept of a “fund‑raising appeal” under the Charities Act.
5. Revocation and transitional provision (paragraph 3)
Paragraph 3(1) revokes the earlier exemption notification: House to House and Street Collections (National Council of Social Service) (Exemption) Notification (N 1) (“the revoked Notification”). The revocation indicates that the regulatory basis for exemptions has been updated.
However, paragraph 3(2) provides a transitional protection. Where a collection mentioned in paragraph 2 of the revoked Notification commences before 9 October 2023, the revoked Notification (as in force before that date) continues to apply to that collection. This prevents retroactive disruption of fundraising activities already underway.
Paragraph 3(3) mirrors the commencement concept by stating that a collection mentioned in paragraph 2 of the revoked Notification commences when the first member of the public is visited or solicited in relation to that collection. This ensures consistency in determining whether the transitional rule is triggered.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Notification is structured as a short instrument with three provisions:
- Section 1: Citation and commencement (sets the effective date and formal name).
- Section 2: Exemption (the substantive rule exempting certain collectors/promoters from the application of section 3 of the HHSCA, subject to conditions relating to the purpose of the fundraising appeal and the commencement date).
- Section 3: Revocation and transitional provision (revokes the earlier exemption notification and preserves its effect for collections that commenced before the new effective date).
There are no additional parts or schedules in the extract provided. The legal effect is therefore concentrated: the exemption is narrow, condition-driven, and time-bound.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Notification applies to persons who are collectors or promoters of a collection conducted in the house-to-house and street context. It does not operate as a general exemption for the public or for all fundraising activities; rather, it is directed at the regulated actors under the HHSCA framework.
In terms of substantive scope, the exemption is available only when the collection is for a fund‑raising appeal that falls within one of the categories in paragraph 2(1)(a), and when the collection commences on or after 9 October 2023. Accordingly, charities, exempt charities, and permitted foreign charitable purposes may benefit, but only through the specific fundraising appeal pathway and only when the collection is actually initiated by public solicitation on or after the effective date.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
For practitioners advising charities, fundraising promoters, and compliance teams, the Notification provides a clear mechanism to determine when the HHSCA’s section 3 requirements do not apply. This can affect operational planning, including whether a charity or its agents need to obtain approvals or comply with additional procedural requirements under the HHSCA regime for house-to-house and street collections.
From an enforcement perspective, the exemption reduces regulatory friction for fundraising that is already governed by the Charities Act 1994 and its fundraising regulations. The Notification effectively recognises that where a fundraising appeal is conducted for registered charities, exempt charities, or permitted foreign charitable purposes, the charities regulatory system provides a sufficient framework—at least for the specific exemption from section 3 of the HHSCA.
Practically, the Notification’s most litigable or compliance-sensitive elements are likely to be:
- Whether the activity is a “fund‑raising appeal” under section 35(1) of the Charities Act 1994;
- Whether the recipient purpose fits within registered charities, exempt charities, or permitted foreign charitable purposes;
- Whether the person is a “collector” or “promoter” acting in the house-to-house or street context; and
- The commencement date—determined by the first public visit or solicitation—because the exemption is conditional on commencing on or after 9 October 2023.
In addition, the transitional provision is important for collections that straddle the effective date. Counsel should document the timeline of public solicitation to support which notification regime applies.
Related Legislation
- House to House and Street Collections Act 1947 (notably section 3 and the exemption-making power in section 10)
- Charities Act 1994 (notably section 7 for registered charities, section 2(1) for exempt charities, and section 35(1) for “fund‑raising appeal”)
- Charities (Fund‑raising Appeals for Local and Foreign Charitable Purposes) Regulations 2012 (notably regulation 22(1) on permits for foreign charitable purposes)
- Street Collections Act 1947 (listed in the metadata; practitioners should confirm how it interacts with the HHSCA regime in the specific fact pattern)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the House to House and Street Collections (Collections for Charities — Exemption) Notification 2023 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.