Building Control Act 1989 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 4A · Maintenance of Buildings
25H. Unsafe exterior feature
Last amended by an amending law of 2026. 2 amendments in all.
Official textFrom Singapore Statutes Online, unchanged
A person responsible for an exterior feature of a building who, without reasonable excuse, fails to keep or maintain the exterior feature in such manner as to be securely fixed to the building and as will prevent any collapse (wholly or partly) of the exterior feature or its support shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
person responsible
“person responsible”, in relation to an exterior feature of a building, means —(a)the owner of the premises or building which the exterior feature is installed on, forms part of or projects outwards from, or a person who has charge and control of the management and maintenance of the exterior feature, unless otherwise provided by paragraph (b), (c) or (d);(b)subject to paragraph (c), where the exterior feature is part of any common property or limited common property —(i)in the case of common property of any housing estate of the Housing and Development Board — the Town Council established under the Town Councils Act 1988 for that housing estate or the contractor (if any) engaged by the Town Council and who has charge and control of the management and maintenance of the common property; or(ii)in the case of common property or limited common property of any other land (whether or not comprised in a strata title plan) — the owner of the common property or limited common property (as the case may be) or the managing agent (if any) appointed by the owner and who has charge and control of the management and maintenance of the common property or limited common property, unless otherwise provided by paragraph (d);(c)where the exterior feature is a window, grille or shutter that is part of a flat — the owner of that flat or other person who ordinarily has daily charge and control over the maintenance and use of such window, grille or shutter; or(d)any other person that may be prescribed under section 22C as the person responsible for the exterior feature;
In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1), it is presumed, in the absence of proof to the contrary, that the person responsible for an exterior feature of a building has failed to keep or maintain the exterior feature in such manner as to ensure that it is securely fixed to the building and as will prevent any collapse (wholly or partly) of the exterior feature or its support, if it is proved that —
exterior feature
“exterior feature”, in relation to any building, means any permanent feature of a building that —(a)is installed on, forms part of or projects outwards from the roof or exterior of the building; and(b)is prescribed by building regulations;
the exterior feature or part of the exterior feature has collapsed or fallen; and
there is damage to, deterioration or other disrepair of the exterior feature or its support that is not caused by accident or acts of nature, including but not limited to fire, explosion, windstorm, hail, lightning, falling trees, aircraft, vehicles, flood, earthquake or landslide.
It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove to the satisfaction of the court that there is a defect in the whole or any part of the exterior feature or its support that is caused by materials or work supplied by any person other than the person responsible for the exterior feature.
Without limiting subsection (3), a person responsible for an exterior feature shall not be guilty of an offence under subsection (1) if the person responsible —
provides, not later than the 7th day after a notice alleging that the person responsible is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is served on the person responsible, by statutory declaration to the Commissioner of Building Control, the name of the contractor, managing agent or other person appointed by the person responsible to manage and maintain the exterior feature at all relevant times relating to the offence concerned; and
satisfies the court that the person responsible relied, in good faith and after making proper inquiry (if the circumstances indicated the need for inquiry of the advice or services), on professional or expert advice or other services given or rendered by the contractor, managing agent or other person in relation to the exterior feature concerned.
In any proceedings against a person named in a statutory declaration made under subsection (4) in respect of an offence under subsection (1), the statutory declaration is prima facie evidence that the person concerned had charge and control of the management and maintenance of the exterior feature at all relevant times relating to the offence.
In subsection (4), “managing agent” means a managing agent appointed under the Building (Strata Management) Act 2004.
building
“building” means any permanent or temporary building or structure and includes —(a)a hut, shed or roofed enclosure;(b)an earth retaining or stabilising structure, whether permanent or temporary;(c)a dock, wharf or jetty;(ca)a floating structure, not being a boat or vessel, constructed or to be constructed on a flotation system that —(i)is or is to be supported by water;(ii)is not intended for or useable in navigation; and(iii)is or is to be permanently moored;(d)a culvert, crossing, bridge, underpass or tunnel;(da)a fixed installation;(e)a sewage treatment plant, sewer, drain, swimming pool or any non‑proprietary type of concrete tank for the storage of any solid, liquid or gaseous product;(f)a shelter provided under the Civil Defence Shelter Act 1997; and(g)such other erection or structure (whether permanent or temporary) as the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, declare to be a building;
Terms defined in s 2
building
Defined · s 2“building” means any permanent or temporary building or structure and includes —(a)a hut, shed or roofed enclosure;(b)an earth retaining or stabilising structure, whether permanent or temporary;(c)a dock, wharf or jetty;(ca)a floating structure, not being a boat or vessel, constructed or to be constructed on a flotation system that —(i)is or is to be supported by water;(ii)is not intended for or useable in navigation; and(iii)is or is to be permanently moored;(d)a culvert, crossing, bridge, underpass or tunnel;(da)a fixed installation;(e)a sewage treatment plant, sewer, drain, swimming pool or any non‑proprietary type of concrete tank for the storage of any solid, liquid or gaseous product;(f)a shelter provided under the Civil Defence Shelter Act 1997; and(g)such other erection or structure (whether permanent or temporary) as the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, declare to be a building;
Commissioner of Building Control
Defined · s 2“Commissioner of Building Control”, in relation to this Act or any Part or provision of this Act, means any Commissioner of Building Control appointed under section 3(1) to be responsible for the operation of this Act or that Part or provision, as the case may be;
exterior feature
Defined · s 2“exterior feature”, in relation to any building, means any permanent feature of a building that —(a)is installed on, forms part of or projects outwards from the roof or exterior of the building; and(b)is prescribed by building regulations;
person responsible
Defined · s 2“person responsible”, in relation to an exterior feature of a building, means —(a)the owner of the premises or building which the exterior feature is installed on, forms part of or projects outwards from, or a person who has charge and control of the management and maintenance of the exterior feature, unless otherwise provided by paragraph (b), (c) or (d);(b)subject to paragraph (c), where the exterior feature is part of any common property or limited common property —(i)in the case of common property of any housing estate of the Housing and Development Board — the Town Council established under the Town Councils Act 1988 for that housing estate or the contractor (if any) engaged by the Town Council and who has charge and control of the management and maintenance of the common property; or(ii)in the case of common property or limited common property of any other land (whether or not comprised in a strata title plan) — the owner of the common property or limited common property (as the case may be) or the managing agent (if any) appointed by the owner and who has charge and control of the management and maintenance of the common property or limited common property, unless otherwise provided by paragraph (d);(c)where the exterior feature is a window, grille or shutter that is part of a flat — the owner of that flat or other person who ordinarily has daily charge and control over the maintenance and use of such window, grille or shutter; or(d)any other person that may be prescribed under section 22C as the person responsible for the exterior feature;
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Part 5
Inspection of Buildings and Building Façades
Part 5A
Licensing of Builders
Part 5B
Regulating Fixed Installation Contractors
Part 6