MCST Renovation Permits: How Approval Actually Works

There's No Single Rulebook

Unlike HDB, condo renovation rules aren't set nationally — each Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) sets its own house rules. Two condos on the same street can have different approval timelines, deposit amounts and working hours. What follows is the pattern most developments follow, but always confirm the specifics with your own MCST or managing agent before booking a start date.

The Typical Approval Timeline

Most MCSTs process a complete renovation application in around 5 to 10 working days, though some describe a wider window of 2–4 weeks depending on how busy the managing agent is and whether your submission is complete on the first try. As a rule of thumb, submit your application at least 3–4 weeks before your intended start date — that buffer covers any requests for revisions or additional documents.

What You'll Need to Submit

• Your contractor's company details and BCA registration
• Contractor's public liability insurance
• Renovation drawings or a scope-of-works document
• The refundable renovation deposit

Deposits and Fees

Refundable renovation deposits typically range from around S$1,000 to S$10,000 depending on the development and scope of work, on top of a smaller non-refundable administrative or permit fee — usually somewhere in the S$200–S$500 range. The deposit is returned after a joint inspection confirms no damage to common property, so photographing corridors, lift interiors and your unit's condition before work starts is worth doing.

What Needs Approval — and What Doesn't

Most internal, non-structural work — repainting, flooring, and swapping fixtures — usually doesn't need MCST sign-off. What does need formal approval:

• Hacking or demolishing any wall
• Plumbing changes, especially anything touching shared risers or stacks
• Any work near or on structural elements — pillars, beams, load-bearing walls
• Works affecting the building's façade or common areas

Working Hours

Most MCSTs allow general renovation work on weekdays and Saturday mornings. Noisy work — hacking, drilling, heavy demolition — is usually restricted to weekdays only, roughly 9am–5pm, often with a mandatory lunch break where noisy work must stop. Sundays and public holidays are typically off-limits for any renovation work, noisy or not.

How We Handle This for You

On every condo project, we review your specific MCST's house rules, prepare the submission with our registration and insurance documents, and coordinate directly with your managing agent so the approval doesn't hold up your renovation schedule. See our condo renovation page for how this fits into the full project.