{"id":9596,"date":"2022-10-06T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-05T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/business\/?p=9596"},"modified":"2022-10-05T14:51:08","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T06:51:08","slug":"what-kind-of-businesses-you-can-or-cannot-run-from-a-shophouse-in-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/business\/what-kind-of-businesses-you-can-or-cannot-run-from-a-shophouse-in-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"What Kind Of Businesses You Can Or Cannot Run From A Shophouse In Singapore?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Shophouses are a popular choice for many businesses for their shop frontage, and their heritage aesthetic if they are conservation shophouses. They are also usually located in areas with higher foot traffic and good accessibility. While we often see cafes and other shops operating out of shophouses, not all businesses can run in a shophouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what kind of businesses can we run from a shophouse?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read Also: 6 Things To Know About Shophouses In Singapore And Why They Are So Expensive<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shophouses Are Considered Commercial Property Most Of The Time<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In Singapore, shophouses refer to two types of buildings. The first type comprises freehold or leasehold shophouses that have been constructed in the early days of Singapore. According to URA<\/a>, these buildings are constructed between 1840s and 1960s and are usually two to three storeys high. They look like narrow, small terraced houses with a sheltered \u2018five foot\u2019 pedestrian way in the front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second type refers to HDB shophouses. These are commercial units built by HDB as part of a neighbourhood estate. Typically, these units have a commercial shopfront, and sometimes residential quarters on the second floor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shophouses can be zoned as both commercial and residential and their use would be determined by their location and zoning. Potential buyers and renters of shophouses can check the allowable use through\u00a0URA\u2019s Allowable Use For Shophouses & Selected Commercial Properties<\/a>. You can also check GoBusiness\u2019s e-Adviser for Premise Use<\/a> on whether your intended use of premises is allowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check URA\u2019s Allowable Use For Shophouses For The Different Allowed Uses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at the shophouses along Tanjong Pagar Road for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Depending on the zoning and the current use, a shophouse may be pre-approved for certain business uses. For example, a shophouse that houses a restaurant should already be approved for restaurant use. Another restaurant planning to take over the unit will likely not need to seek approval again, though you may need to renew if the existing use was approved on Temporary Permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In this case, this unit\u2019s first storey is allowed for restaurant. However, not all food-related services can operate here. You would need to submit a change of use application for Takeaway Foodshop (where there is no dine-in area). However, operating a Bar, Nightclub, Restaurant and Bar, Restaurant With Live Music\/Performance is not allowed in this unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You can also submit a change of use for other non-F&B businesses for this unit. Typically, shophouses in the same area will have similar allowed uses, though the individual units may have different approved uses. In this instance, bars and nightclubs are disallowed in the shophouses along this stretch of Tanjong Pagar Road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Do note that the different levels of a shophouse may be approved for different purposes. For example, the first storey of this shophouse does not allow office use. However, you can apply for change of use to use it as an office on the second floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read Also: Change Of Use Of Property for Commercial Spaces \u2013 A Complete Guide For Businesses in Singapore<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Change of Use Lodgment May Apply To First Storey Of Shophouses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Typically, applying for a Change Of Use or Renewal Of Use from URA costs $535. If you are intending to operate from the first storey of a shophouse, a Change of Use Lodgement<\/a> may apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lodgement scheme only applies to the first storey for shophouses on sites zoned as Commercial, Commercial & Residential or White in the Master Plan. It does not apply to the upper storeys. The uses eligible for lodgement are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n