How long can a temporary building stay up?
The Permit To Use states the period of use. For structures permitted under the 36-month limb of the temporary building definition, the Regulations prescribe a maximum of 72 months including extensions, and any extension beyond 36 months requires a PE's certificate of structural safety. When the permit expires or lapses, the structure must be demolished within 14 days and the Commissioner notified within 7 days after demolition.
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
- Do I need a licence for my shop signboard?
- 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?