Does a condo need to approve hacking inside my unit?
In most developments, yes. BCA's strata management guide explains that MCSTs may make by-laws requiring approval before works in a lot, including PE endorsement for structural works and evidence of approvals from the Commissioner of Building Control, URA and SCDF. Works affecting the structural integrity or appearance of the building require MCST authorisation under the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act.
From the RRD Field Guide, checked against the sources cited in Hacking Walls and Slabs in Singapore: Structural Elements, PT Slabs and Household Shelters. General information, not advice for your project.
The fuller picture
In Singapore you may remove or open a wall without BCA submission only if it is genuinely non-load-bearing, meaning it carries nothing but its own weight. Openings in reinforced concrete walls, beams, columns or most slabs need a PE's structural plans and a BCA permit before work starts. Household and storey shelters must not be hacked; only limited drilling and finishes are allowed under SCDF's rules.
More questions on this topic
- How can I tell whether a wall is structural?
- Do I need BCA approval to hack a non-structural wall?
- Can I core a hole through a floor slab for a pipe?
- Why are post-tensioned slabs so dangerous to core?
- Can I hack or modify my household shelter?
- What happens if structural works are done without a permit?
- Is scanning the slab enough before coring?