Singapore legislation
Section 61
Section 61
Application for change of use of premises
(1)
Any person who changes the use of any premises must, if such change of use would cause the existing fire safety measures to become inadequate, prior to carrying out the change, apply to the Commissioner for approval to change the use of the premises.
(2)
All applications for permission to change the use of the premises must be made to the Commissioner in the form and manner prescribed in any regulations made under this Act.
(3)
The Commissioner may, on application in the prescribed manner, in relation to any premises or part thereof —
grant permission for the change of use, subject to such conditions as the Commissioner may impose; or
in writing direct the applicant to comply, within such period as may be specified in the direction, with such requirements as the Commissioner may specify for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the provisions of this Act and such written directions may also —
require the applicant to provide additional fire safety measures in relation to the building; or
provide that the work or alteration must be completed before the expiry of a specified period.
(4)
If the person to whom any written direction under subsection (3)(b) fails to comply with the requirements specified in the direction within the time specified therein, the application is deemed to be withdrawn.
(5)
Any person who fails to comply with this section or with any condition imposed by the Commissioner under subsection (3)(a) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.
(6)
Nothing in this section is to be taken in any way to derogate from the provisions of the Planning Act 1998 and any relevant rules made under that Act relating to change of use of premises.[30