Do I need a licence for my shop signboard?
Usually, yes. Outdoor advertisements and signboards are licensed by BCA under the Building Control (Outdoor Advertising) Regulations. BCA allows each business premises a one-time aggregate exemption for a signboard or series of related signboards totalling not more than 5 m², considered on submission of a declaration. Some bodies, such as registered religious bodies and Government-aided schools, are exempt from licensing for signboards but must still meet URA guidelines and BCA safety requirements.
From the RRD Field Guide, checked against the sources cited in Signboards, Advertising Structures and Temporary Structures in Singapore: Licences, PE Endorsement and Safety. General information, not advice for your project.
The fuller picture
Outdoor signs in Singapore are licensed by BCA under the Building Control (Outdoor Advertising) Regulations, amended from 2 November 2026. A Permit To Use, applied for by a Professional Engineer, is needed before licensing when a sign over 10 m² sits on an advertising structure, or the structure exceeds 10 m² or reaches 4 m high. Owners must keep signs securely fixed.
More questions on this topic
- When does a signboard need a Professional Engineer?
- What changed for signs on 2 November 2026?
- Is a signboard an 'exterior feature' under the Building Control Act?
- Who is liable if a signboard falls?
- Does an exhibition booth need PE endorsement?
- Do event tents and stages need a Permit To Use?
- How long can a temporary building stay up?