A flat roof on a terrace house in Singapore can be for maintenance access only. Under URA’s terrace house guidance, an attic-level roof terrace may be proposed if it is at least 3 metres below the top of the permissible building envelope. URA requires a flat roof that is less than 3 metres below that top to remain inaccessible except for maintenance.
Have a Qualified Person check the approved drawings and a section through the proposed terrace. The dimensions depend on the applicable envelope for the site. Confirm the design and approvals before planning regular use of the roof. Read URA’s roof guidance for terrace houses.
- Obtain the approved drawings.
- Confirm the envelope and measure the roof level against its top.
- Check access, barriers and the proposed use.
- Review any canopy or other structure as a separate part of the design.
Jump to a section
Ask for a section through the roof
A plan from above tells you where the roof is. A section shows the vertical relationship that URA’s guidance describes.
| Drawing or feature | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Approved plans | How is the roof currently shown and used? |
| Section through the proposed area | Where is the terrace surface relative to the permissible envelope? |
| Access and perimeter | How would access and the required parapet be provided? |
| Canopy or trellis | What controls apply to that separate feature? |
Check the proposal before buying or building
Suppose a family wants an outdoor reading area on an existing flat roof. It has a maintenance hatch and enough space for furniture. Ask your Qualified Person whether the roof can lawfully be used as an accessible terrace and what would be required. URA specifies a 1 metre parapet around a roof terrace or roof garden in this guidance. The barrier is one part of the design review.
Frequently asked questions
Does a maintenance hatch mean the roof can be used for sitting outside?
Check the approved use and the applicable design rules. Maintenance access serves a different purpose.
What if I am viewing a house that already has a roof deck?
Ask for the approved plans. See how to check existing landed extensions.