Hacking and Demolition Works for Commercial Reinstatement
Short answer: Hacking and demolition covers removing partitions, structural alterations and heavy fixtures, and in Singapore, structural or larger-scale demolition work generally needs a permit and professional engineer sign-off before work begins.
What counts as hacking and demolition here
In a reinstatement context, hacking and demolition means tearing out anything you added that isn't a simple surface finish: partition walls, false ceiling grids, built-in counters or joinery, and any structural change made during your original fit-out. It's usually the first and loudest stage of a reinstatement project, which is why building work-hour rules matter so much for scheduling.
Not every reinstatement needs a formal permit. Straightforward drywall partition removal in an office typically doesn't. But anything touching a structural element, or classed as a larger demolition, does, and getting this wrong carries real legal risk.
When approval is required
For structural or civil works, a demolition permit submission generally needs a Demolition Plan Set, a Structural Assessment Report, a Method Statement, a Risk Assessment, and Environmental, Traffic and Waste Management Plans, per Aman Engineering's guide to BCA demolition permit submissions, with the structural reports typically requiring professional engineer endorsement.
Carrying out building works without the required approval is an offence under Section 20 of Singapore's Building Control Act, which sets a fine of up to S$200,000 and imprisonment of up to 2 years for unauthorised building works. Whether your specific reinstatement scope needs a permit is a question for a professional engineer or your contractor to confirm before work starts, not after. See our guide on reinstatement permits for more.
Related guides
- Do You Need a Permit for Reinstatement Works in Singapore?
- What Does 'Making Good' Mean in a Singapore Lease?
Sources
- Aman Engineering: BCA Demolition Permit Requirement, Submission and Permits
- Singapore Statutes Online: Building Control Act 1989
Checked July 2026.