Does my renovation contractor need a BCA builder's licence?
It depends on the works. BCA requires a general builder's licence for building works whose plans require approval by the Commissioner of Building Control, and a specialist builder's licence for specialist works such as piling or structural steelwork. Generally only the main contractor needs the general builder's licence. Purely non-structural works that need no BCA plan approval do not trigger the requirement, though other licences, such as an LEW for electrical work, may still apply.
From the RRD Field Guide, checked against the sources cited in How to Choose and Verify a Contractor in Singapore: Licences, Registration, Insurance and Red Flags. General information, not advice for your project.
The fuller picture
Check four things before you award building works in Singapore: the BCA builder's licence (Class 1 general builders have no value limit; Class 2 is limited to projects of S$6 million or less), the BCA Contractors Registration System workhead and grade, bizSAFE status, and insurance certificates. Then protect yourself with progress-linked payments, a performance bond where justified, and a programme you can monitor.
More questions on this topic
- What is the difference between a GB1 and a GB2 licence?
- What do CW01 and CR01 mean in BCA's directory?
- Is CRS registration the same as a builder's licence?
- How do I check a contractor's bizSAFE level?
- What insurance should a contractor have?
- How much deposit should I pay a contractor?
- What happened with Greatearth in 2021?