Building Control Act 1989 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 5A · Licensing of Builders
29G. Who may be licensed as specialist builder
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2026. 3 amendments in all.
Subject to subsection (4), an individual carrying on business as a sole proprietor who applies for a specialist builder’s licence for any type of specialist building works is eligible to be granted such a licence if, and only if, the individual —
builder
“builder” means any person who undertakes, whether exclusively or in conjunction with any other business, to carry out any building works for the person’s own account or for or on behalf of another person but does not include a sub-contractor in relation to those building works;
has paid the prescribed fee for the specialist builder’s licence;
satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the individual is of good character, and intends to carry on business on the individual’s own account;
satisfies either of the following:
the individual has completed the prescribed course of training and has the prescribed practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) in the work of a licensed specialist builder for that type of specialist building works or as a supervisor of those specialist building works;
the individual otherwise satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that he or she has had such practical experience in the work of a licensed specialist builder for that type of specialist building works or as a supervisor of those specialist building works as to render the individual competent to carry on the business of a specialist builder in Singapore for that type of specialist building works; and
satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the execution and performance of specialist building works of that type in Singapore that the individual undertakes is under the personal supervision of —
the individual, where he or she has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works; or
one or more employees of the individual, each of whom has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works.
Subject to subsection (4), a corporation carrying on business as a sole proprietor (called in this subsection the applicant) who applies for a specialist builder’s licence for any type of specialist building works is eligible to be granted such a licence if, and only if, the applicant —
has paid the prescribed fees for a specialist builder’s licence;
satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the management of the applicant’s business, insofar as it relates to specialist building works of that type in Singapore, is at all times under the charge and direction of a director or member of the board of management of the applicant who —
has completed the prescribed course of training and has the prescribed practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) in the work of a specialist builder for that type of specialist building works; or
otherwise satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the director or member of the board of management has had such practical experience in the work of a licensed specialist builder for that type of specialist building works or as a supervisor of those specialist building works as to render the director or member of the board of management competent to manage the business of a specialist builder in Singapore for that type of specialist building works; and
satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the execution and performance of that type of specialist building works in Singapore that the applicant undertakes is under the personal supervision of —
the director or member of the board of management mentioned in paragraph (b), who has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works; or
one or more employees of the applicant, each of whom has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works.
Subject to subsection (4), a partnership that applies for a specialist builder’s licence for any type of specialist building works is eligible to be granted such a licence if, and only if, the partnership —
has paid the prescribed fees for a specialist builder’s licence;
satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the partnership includes one or more individuals who satisfy subsection (2A) (called in this section an approved person);
satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the management of the partnership’s business, insofar as it relates to specialist building works of that type in Singapore, is at all times under the charge and direction of an approved person who —
has completed the prescribed course of training and has the prescribed practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) in the work of a specialist builder for that type of specialist building works; or
otherwise satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the approved person has had such practical experience in the work of a specialist builder for that type of specialist building works or as a supervisor of those specialist building works as to render the approved person competent to manage the business of a specialist builder in Singapore for that type of specialist building works; and
satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the execution and performance of that type of specialist building works in Singapore that the partnership undertakes is under the personal supervision of —
an approved person who has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works; or
one or more employees of the partnership, each of whom has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works.
For the purposes of subsection (2)(b), an approved person is —
where the partnership comprises 2 or more individuals, a partner who satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the partner is a person of good character;
where the partnership comprises 2 or more corporations, a director or member of the board of management of any such corporation who satisfies the requirements in subsection (1A)(b);
where the partnership comprises both individuals and corporations, any individual mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b); and
where the partnership is a limited liability partnership, the manager mentioned in section 29(1) of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005 who has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed.
Subject to subsection (4), a corporation which applies for a specialist builder’s licence for any type of specialist building works is eligible to be granted such a licence if, and only if, the corporation —
specialist building works
“specialist building works” means any of the following types of building works:(a)piling works consisting of the installation and testing of any of the following:(i)pre-cast reinforced concrete or pre-stressed concrete piles;(ii)steel piles;(iii)bored cast-in-place reinforced concrete piles;(iv)caissons;(v)special pile types like micro-piles, barrettes piles and composite piles;(vi)embedded retaining wall piles like diaphragm walls, contiguous bored piles and secant piles;(b)ground support and stabilisation works, including installation and testing of ground anchors, soil nails, rock bolts, ground treatment like chemical grouting and jet-grouting, reinforced-earth, shotcreting and tunnel supports;(c)instrumentation and monitoring works comprising the installation and monitoring of instruments measuring forces, deformation, displacements, tilt, convergence, pore and earth pressures or ground-water levels;(d)structural steelwork consisting of any of the following:(i)fabrication of structural steel elements;(ii)site erection of structural steel elements involving the cutting, welding or tightening of high-friction grip bolts;(iii)installation or removal of steel supports for geotechnical building works;(e)pre-cast concrete work comprising fabrication of pre-cast structural elements;(f)in-situ post-tensioning work consisting of any of the following:(i)setting out of tendon profiles;(ii)laying of conduits, anchorages or bursting reinforcement;(iii)pulling or stressing of strands or bars;(iv)pressure grouting of conduits;(g)such other building works as the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, declare;
has paid the prescribed fees for a specialist builder’s licence;
is not a company limited by guarantee or a corporation sole;
has a paid-up capital of not less than $25,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency);
satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that it is duly authorised to carry on the business of a specialist builder;
is accredited or registered with a prescribed professional or technical body or organisation;
satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the management of the corporation’s business, insofar as it relates to specialist building works of that type in Singapore, is at all times under the charge and direction of a director or member of the board of management of the corporation who —
has completed the prescribed course of training and has the prescribed practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) in the work of a specialist builder for that type of specialist building works; or
otherwise satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the director or member of the board of management (as the case may be) has had such practical experience for that type of specialist building works as to render the director or member of the board of management (as the case may be) competent to manage the business of a specialist builder in Singapore for that type of specialist building works; and
satisfies the Commissioner of Building Control that the execution and performance of that type of specialist building works in Singapore that the corporation undertakes is under the personal supervision of —
a director or member of the board of management of the corporation who has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works; or
one or more employees of the corporation, each of whom has such qualifications and practical experience (whether in Singapore or elsewhere) as may be prescribed for that type of specialist building works.
Despite subsection (1), (1A), (2) or (3), the Commissioner of Building Control may require an applicant under that subsection to satisfy him or her that the applicant has sufficient material and financial resources available to enable the applicant to meet the applicant’s financial obligations as and when they become due, and may refuse to grant a licence to an applicant who fails to so satisfy the Commissioner.
Commissioner of Building Control
“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;