Before buying a landed home in Singapore, use the Road Line Plan to check whether a safeguarded road or tunnel reserve affects the land lot. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) says you can obtain Road Line Plans for valid cadastral lots through the Singapore Land Authority’s INLIS portal. Start by confirming the lot number with your conveyancing lawyer.
A reserve can matter even if the street looks unchanged and the house has stood there for years. If you plan to rebuild, add a porch or change access from the road, ask a Qualified Person to interpret the plan against the proposed works. Read LTA’s guidance on road reserves and Road Line Plans.
- Confirm the exact lot, including any additional lot involved in the purchase.
- Obtain the Road Line Plan and read the legend before interpreting any line.
- Check whether the line affects the land you intend to build on or use for access.
- Ask your lawyer and project professional different questions about the same result.
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Check the lot and the reserve together
The Road Line Plan draws road safeguarding information over cadastral data. Identify your lot and its boundary first, then locate the relevant reserve line. A line running beside the site and a line crossing the site can prompt different questions. Keep the full dated plan with its legend so the person interpreting it can see the relationship to the surrounding land. Read LTA’s explanatory notes for Road Line Plans.
| Question | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Which lot or lots are we buying? | Conveyancing lawyer and the relevant title information |
| Does a road reserve affect the lot? | Road Line Plan and its legend |
| What would it mean for a rebuild or addition? | Qualified Person reviewing the specific design |
| Is there a current works schedule? | Check with the relevant authority for project information |
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Apply the result to a real purchase question
Suppose a family wants to retain the main house and replace the front car porch. The plan shows a road reserve line near the frontage. Give the plan, the lot details and the proposed porch location to the project professional. Ask whether the line affects the proposed footprint, driveway access or anything else that matters to the design. Ask the lawyer how to record and follow up on the issue during the purchase.
LTA’s explanatory notes say affected land can have to be set aside when redevelopment occurs or when LTA carries out road works, whichever comes earlier. Ask how the conditions apply to your specific works before relying on the current usable frontage in your budget or drawings.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I use a screenshot from a general map?
Use it to find the property. For the reserve check, obtain the Road Line Plan for the correct cadastral lot through INLIS.
Does the reserve line show when work will start?
The plan shows safeguarding. Check current project information separately if timing matters to your purchase or move.
What if I want to verify the lot’s registered owner too?
That is a separate INLIS search. See how to check registered property ownership.