What happens if structural works are done without a permit?
It is an offence under section 20 of the Building Control Act for anyone who carries out, permits or authorises building works without approved plans or a permit, with a maximum fine of S$200,000, two years' jail, or both, plus daily fines while the contravention continues. BCA can also impose a pecuniary penalty of up to 10 times the plan fees. Practically, you will need a PE to assess the damage, design any strengthening and regularise the works.
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?
- Does a condo need to approve hacking inside my unit?
- Is scanning the slab enough before coring?