Statute Details
- Title: Sewerage and Drainage (Fees) Regulations 2015
- Act Code: SDA1999-S251-2015
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Sewerage and Drainage Act (Chapter 294)
- Enacting Power: Section 74(1) of the Sewerage and Drainage Act
- Ministerial Approval: Made by the Public Utilities Board (PUB) with approval of the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources
- Citation: Sewerage and Drainage (Fees) Regulations 2015
- Commencement: 30 April 2015
- Current Version Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provisions:
- Regulation 1: Citation and commencement
- Regulation 2: Fees for copies of plans or records
- Regulation 2A: Fees for applications under section 33(1) of the Act (clearance certificate / Board approval for specified works)
- Regulation 2B: Fees for applications for administrative exemptions (section 73A(1))
- Regulation 3: Remission or refund of fees
- Notable Amendments (from the provided timeline):
- SL 251/2015 (30 Apr 2015): Original regulations
- S 111/2022 (31 Mar 2022): Amendments to Regulation 2 (fee amount)
- S 912/2023 (01 Jan 2024): Further amendments to Regulation 2 (fee amount)
- S 206/2025 (01 Apr 2025): Amendments affecting Regulations 2 (deletion of a subsection) and introducing/adjusting Regulations 2A and 2B
What Is This Legislation About?
The Sewerage and Drainage (Fees) Regulations 2015 are a set of fee regulations made under the Sewerage and Drainage Act (Chapter 294). In plain terms, they prescribe how much money must be paid to the Public Utilities Board (PUB) for certain administrative and regulatory processes under the Act. The regulations do not create substantive engineering or construction rules themselves; instead, they set the “price tag” for accessing documents and for applying for approvals and exemptions connected to sewerage and drainage works.
The regulations primarily address three practical situations faced by property owners, developers, consultants, and contractors: (1) obtaining copies of plans or records held or referred to under the Act; (2) applying for a clearance certificate or for PUB approval relating to specified works; and (3) applying for administrative exemptions from requirements that would otherwise apply to those works. They also give PUB a discretion to remit or refund fees in appropriate cases.
For practitioners, the key value of these regulations lies in their interaction with the Sewerage and Drainage Act. Fees are often a gatekeeping mechanism: if the correct fee is not paid, the application may not be processed, and timelines can be affected. Understanding the fee categories, thresholds (such as “minor” versus “major” projects), and procedural requirements (such as when the fee must accompany submissions) is therefore essential for managing compliance and avoiding delays.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Regulation 1 (Citation and commencement) is straightforward. It provides the short title and confirms that the regulations came into operation on 30 April 2015. This matters for determining which fee schedule applies to applications made before and after commencement, and for interpreting transitional issues where relevant.
Regulation 2 (Fees for copies of plans or records) sets the fee payable for obtaining copies of plans or records referred to in the Act. Under Regulation 2(1), the fee payable under section 13A(2) of the Sewerage and Drainage Act for a copy of any plan or record referred to in section 13A(1)(a) is $3.55. The extract indicates that this fee has been amended over time (notably by S 111/2022 and S 912/2023), reflecting periodic updates to administrative charges.
Practically, this provision is relevant when solicitors, surveyors, or developers need documentary evidence for due diligence, planning, or dispute resolution. While the amount is modest, the legal significance is that the fee is statutorily fixed for the specified category of documents. If a request falls outside the precise scope of “plans or records referred to” in the Act, the applicable fee may differ (or a different administrative process may apply). Therefore, careful mapping of the requested document category to the Act’s referenced provisions is advisable.
Regulation 2A (Fees for applications under section 33(1) of the Act) is the most operationally significant part of the regulations. It prescribes the fee payable for an application under section 33(1) for either: (a) a clearance certificate, or (b) the approval of the Board in respect of specified works “for the purposes of section 11, 14, 23 or 24 of the Act”.
Regulation 2A(1) establishes two fee levels depending on project scale:
- Minor project: $1,450 for the works to which the application relates.
- Major project: $1,850 for the works to which the application relates.
Regulation 2A(2) adds a procedural requirement: the fee must accompany the first submission of the plans for the works made during the application. This is a critical compliance point. Even if the correct amount is paid, failure to attach payment to the first submission may cause administrative delay or non-processing. For practitioners, this means that submission checklists should explicitly include the fee payment timing requirement, and internal workflows should ensure that the fee is ready at the moment of first plan submission.
Regulation 2A(3) defines “major project” and “minor project”. “Major project” is defined residually as any project other than a minor project. “Minor project” is defined with specificity, including:
- Works for only a single unit of a strata landed dwelling-housing or landed housing (examples include terrace house, detached house, semi-detached house, bungalow, or landed public house).
- Works for an external structure (examples include covered linkway, bus shelter, pedestrian overhead bridge, pavilion, taxi stand, or vehicle drop-off point).
- Simple or small-scale works eligible for the Direct Submission Process through the electronic service described in section 42AA of the Building Control Act 1989.
This definition is particularly important because it determines which fee applies. In practice, disputes about fee classification can arise where works are bundled, where multiple units are affected, or where the project’s eligibility for a “direct submission” pathway is contested. Lawyers advising clients should therefore scrutinise the scope of works and the intended submission route under the Building Control Act 1989 to support the classification as “minor” where appropriate.
Regulation 2B (Fees for applications for administrative exemptions) introduces a fee for applications under section 73A(1) of the Act. It applies where a person seeks for the Board to exempt a particular person from the operation of specified requirements “in relation to any requirement for the works” for the purposes of section 11, 14, 23 or 24 of the Act.
The fee is $950 for each requirement for which the exemption is sought. Regulation 2B(a) and (b) clarify what counts as the “requirements” from which exemption may be sought:
- Any provision of the Act (including material incorporated by reference under section 32A of the Act).
- Any provision of any specification or code of practice mentioned in section 32 of the Act.
For practitioners, the “per requirement” structure is a key commercial and procedural feature. If an applicant seeks exemption from multiple provisions, the total fee may increase proportionately. This encourages applicants to precisely identify the requirements they are seeking to relax and to ensure that the application is drafted with careful scope delineation. It also underscores the need to understand the incorporated materials and referenced specifications/codes, because exemption requests may be framed against those incorporated instruments.
Regulation 3 (Remission or refund of fees) provides PUB with discretion to remit or refund fees wholly or in part “as the Board thinks fit”. This is a safety valve for fairness and administrative practicality. While the regulation does not specify criteria, it signals that where circumstances warrant (for example, administrative error, withdrawal, or other equitable considerations), PUB may adjust the fee outcome. Practitioners should consider whether a remission/refund request is appropriate in cases of procedural irregularity or where an application does not proceed for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The regulations are structured as a short instrument with an enacting framework and five substantive provisions:
- Regulation 1: Citation and commencement.
- Regulation 2: Fee for copies of plans or records.
- Regulation 2A: Fee for applications under section 33(1), including clearance certificates and Board approvals for specified works, with a minor/major project fee schedule and definitions.
- Regulation 2B: Fee for applications for administrative exemptions under section 73A(1), calculated per requirement sought.
- Regulation 3: Board discretion to remit or refund fees.
Notably, the instrument is fee-focused and does not contain detailed procedural steps beyond payment timing (for Regulation 2A) and fee calculation rules (for Regulations 2A and 2B).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The regulations apply to persons who interact with PUB’s sewerage and drainage regulatory processes under the Sewerage and Drainage Act. This includes property owners, developers, and their professional representatives (such as architects, engineers, and surveyors) who submit plans and seek approvals or clearance certificates for works falling within sections 11, 14, 23, and 24 of the Act.
It also applies to persons seeking administrative exemptions under section 73A(1) of the Act. In addition, anyone requesting copies of plans or records referred to under section 13A of the Act is subject to the fee prescribed by Regulation 2. While the regulations are not aimed at the general public in a broad sense, they become relevant whenever a statutory document request or application is made to PUB within the defined categories.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Sewerage and Drainage (Fees) Regulations 2015 are relatively short, they have real compliance and cost implications. In regulatory practice, fees are often intertwined with processing and administrative efficiency. Regulation 2A(2), in particular, makes payment timing a compliance requirement: the fee must accompany the first submission of plans. This can affect project schedules, especially where multiple rounds of plan submission are anticipated.
From a legal risk perspective, the “minor project” versus “major project” classification in Regulation 2A(3) can be a flashpoint. The definitions are detailed and include examples and cross-references to the Building Control Act 1989’s Direct Submission Process. Misclassification may lead to underpayment or overpayment, and underpayment could delay processing or require corrective steps. Practitioners should therefore ensure that the project scope is mapped to the statutory definitions with evidence and that the submission strategy aligns with the intended fee category.
Regulation 2B’s “per requirement” exemption fee structure is also significant. Exemption applications can be complex, particularly where multiple provisions of the Act or incorporated specifications/codes are implicated. Lawyers should advise clients on how exemption requests are framed, how many requirements are being targeted, and the likely fee exposure. Finally, Regulation 3 provides a discretionary mechanism for remission or refund, which can be relevant in administrative disputes or where applications are withdrawn or affected by procedural circumstances.
Related Legislation
- Sewerage and Drainage Act (Chapter 294)
- Building Control Act 1989 (notably section 42AA on the Direct Submission Process)
- Drainage Act (as referenced in the provided metadata)
- Legislation Timeline (for version tracking and amendment history)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Sewerage and Drainage (Fees) Regulations 2015 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.