HDB renovation hours and rules
Part of the questions on HDB renovation rules and permits
General renovation in an HDB flat is allowed between 9am and 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays, and not on Sundays or public holidays. Noisy work, such as demolishing walls, removing wall or floor finishes and cutting tiles, is allowed only between 9am and 5pm on weekdays.
The hours
| Work | Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|---|
| General renovation | 9am to 6pm, weekdays and Saturdays | Sundays and public holidays |
| Restricted (noisy) work: demolishing walls, removing wall or floor finishes, cutting tiles, heavy and excessive drilling | 9am to 5pm, weekdays only | Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and the eves of New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa and Christmas Day |
| Do-it-yourself work | 7am to 10.30pm, with noise kept to a minimum |
These are HDB’s own, from Important Information on Renovations.
Before work starts
- Tell the neighbours within a radius of 2 units, in writing, at least 5 days before renovation begins.
- Have your contractor put up the Notice of Renovation outside the flat, early and for the whole of the renovation.
- Have the permit for any work that needs one. Work may start only once it is granted.
- Engage only a contractor from HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors: the Housing & Development (Renovation Control) Rules 2006 require it.
While it is under way
- The contractor may use only 2 handheld power tools approved by HDB, or their equivalent, at any one time, and such work must be completed within 3 consecutive days.
- Pre-packed screed is to be used for laying floor finishes, and pre-packed plaster for wall finishes.
- The whole renovation must be completed within 1 month for an existing block and 3 months for a newly completed block, from the date the permit is granted. Tell the HDB Branch managing your flat once it is done.
What is not allowed at all
HDB lists examples of building works it does not allow. Among them:
- Hacking or removing structural members, such as reinforced concrete walls, columns, beams and slabs.
- Loading the floor slab with more than 150 kg for every square metre of floor.
- Raising the floor level by more than 50 mm, floor finish included, using concrete.
- Plastering ceilings.
- Partitioning with combustible or toxic-emission materials, such as plywood, plastics or asbestos.
- Painting the outside of the building, such as the common corridor’s walls and ceiling.
HDB also asks owners to check MyHDB Page for any renovation guidelines specific to their own flat. In a household shelter, the walls must not be hacked or drilled and the door must be left intact.
Sources
- HDB, Important Information on Renovations · read 12 October 2026
- MyNiceHome (HDB), How to Renovate Your HDB Flat, updated 24 June 2026 · read 12 October 2026
Rules and fees change. The linked page is the authority; if it differs from this one, go by it, and tell us.
Questions
What time can renovation start in an HDB flat?
At 9am. General renovation runs from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays; noisy work such as hacking runs from 9am to 5pm on weekdays only.
Is renovation allowed on Saturdays in an HDB flat?
General renovation is, from 9am to 6pm. Noisy work such as demolishing walls, removing wall or floor finishes and cutting tiles is not allowed on Saturdays.
Is renovation allowed on Sundays and public holidays?
No. HDB does not allow renovation on Sundays or public holidays, and noisy work is also not allowed on the eves of New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa and Christmas Day.
Do I have to tell my neighbours before renovating?
Yes. HDB asks you or your contractor to give written notice to neighbours within a radius of 2 units at least 5 days before renovation begins, and to display the Notice of Renovation outside the flat throughout.
Know what is allowed, then plan what you want: your own flat, furnished, in 3D.
Open the designer