Singapore does not issue a single stand-alone “site investigation permit”. The obligation sits in Regulation 31 of the Building Control Regulations 2003: the appointed Qualified Person (QP) must investigate ground and groundwater conditions before foundation, tunnel, site formation or excavation works, using an accredited inspection body, and must submit a report certified by a Professional Engineer (PE). The report then supports the structural plan application and the later permit for structural works. This article sets out who must do what, which registrations and fees apply, and how the report must be formatted.
TL;DR
- No separate site investigation permit exists. The duty arises under Regulation 31 of the Building Control Regulations 2003 and is satisfied through a certified report submitted to BCA.
- The QP must carry out proper and adequate investigation. All fieldwork must be done by a Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC) accredited inspection body, and laboratory tests by SAC-accredited laboratories.
- Reports dated on or after 1 March 2026 follow BCA’s updated guidelines, including the AGS(SG) data format and PE certification.
- Individual registration for site investigation supervisors runs through GeoSS, with a S$20 application fee and a S$120 registration fee for two calendar years.
- Piling and excavation permits, impact assessments and Design for Safety (DfS) reviews all draw on the same ground data.
Table of Contents
- What “site investigation permit” means in Singapore
- Regulation 31: the legal basis
- Who is qualified to carry out and certify the work
- GeoSS registration for site investigation supervisors
- Accreditation of laboratories and soil tests
- Report format: what changed from 1 March 2026
- From investigation report to approvals and permits
- Piling, excavation and site formation permits
- Design for Safety and the ground model
- Common reasons reports are returned or delayed
- Perspective
- Support from design to submission
- FAQ
- Sources
What “site investigation permit” means in Singapore
The phrase is used loosely in the industry. It usually refers to one of three separate things:
- The regulatory duty to investigate the ground. Where foundations, tunnels, site formation (including excavations) or related earthworks are proposed, the QP appointed under the Building Control Act must investigate the type and character of the ground and groundwater conditions. No separate approval is issued for this step.
- Registration of site investigation personnel. GeoSS operates an application process for site investigation supervisors, described below.
- Downstream permits that depend on the investigation. These include the structural plan approval and the permit for structural works, as well as permits covering piling and site formation.
Treating these as one “permit” is the most common source of delay. A project team that has booked boreholes but has not confirmed the accreditation of the contractor, or the format of the report, may find the data rejected when the structural plan is submitted.
Regulation 31: the legal basis
Regulation 31 sets out four obligations that shape the whole process:
- Investigation before works. The QP must establish ground and groundwater conditions where foundation, tunnel, site formation or related earthworks are proposed.
- Standards and means. Investigation must follow relevant standards and codes of practice, using adequate boreholes and other appropriate investigation means, in-situ field tests and laboratory tests.
- Accredited execution. All site investigation works must be carried out by an inspection body accredited by SAC under its Site Investigation scheme.
- Certified reporting. Reports must contain field and laboratory data, tests and results. Each must be accompanied by a certificate from an appropriate professional engineer who carried out, supervised or directed the investigation, confirming that the accuracy of the information has been verified. The QP submits the reports to the Commissioner of Building Control.
All four points are in the text of the regulation on Singapore Statutes Online. The QP carries the responsibility, even where the work is delegated to a specialist firm.
Who is qualified to carry out and certify the work
Three roles recur in every investigation.
The Design QP. A BCA reminder to Design QPs, issued in September 2023, states that the relevant standards under Regulation 31(2) refer to Eurocode 7 and the GeoSS Site Investigation Guide. It also states that for projects with higher complexity, uncertainty or case-specific requirements, the QP may carry out more extensive investigation than the codes require. The same circular expects a desk study before fieldwork, drawing on the Singapore Geological Map, walkover surveys, site visits, topographical surveys and historical land use. Clause 2.4.1.3 of the Eurocode and the GeoSS guide give guidance on minimum borehole numbers and depths.
The accredited inspection body. Fieldwork is performed by a firm accredited by SAC. BCA directs users to the SAC website for the list of accredited firms, as noted on its guidelines for structural plan applications.
The certifying PE. The engineer who carried out, supervised or directed the investigation certifies the report. BCA’s structural plan page adds that, for site investigation works, the certification in Appendix A must appear on the first and last page of the report and be endorsed by a Professional Engineer.
GeoSS registration for site investigation supervisors
Personnel who supervise site investigation are registered through GeoSS. The GeoSS site investigation application page sets out the following:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Form | Download and complete the APPENDIX Form |
| Application fee | S$20, non-refundable |
| Registration fee | S$120 for two calendar years |
| Supporting documents | PE-certified true copies of complete mark sheets or official notarial transcripts, academic qualification, and the Certificate of Site Investigation Supervisor Course conducted by BCA Academy or LTA, plus a passport-size photo |
| Submission | Scan everything as one document and upload it in the application |
| Renewal | Proof of at least 10 PDU points in the related field in the last 2 years |
The same page states that an incomplete form, or a missing required signatory on documents, results in rejection. A rejected application resets the timeline, so the PE certification of every copy should be checked before scanning.
The supervisor course itself covers Singapore’s geological background, the roles and responsibilities of supervisors and the various investigation methods. Its current schedule and fees are published by the course provider.
Accreditation of laboratories and soil tests
BCA’s circular of 1 September 2025, Guidelines on Requirements for Site Investigation Reports, requires all laboratory test reports to be prepared by SAC-accredited laboratories. For specialised tests that are not on the SAC schedule of soil and rock testing, laboratories or institutions, local or overseas, with recognised accreditation or in-house testing capabilities may be engaged, subject to the QP’s acceptance.
BCA’s construction site records page adds two practical points:
- Certain minor in-situ tests, such as the in-situ penetrometer, may be carried out by the QP.
- A copy of the site investigation reports must be kept at the site office for reference.
The second point is often overlooked at handover from design to construction. The builder’s site team needs the report on site, not only in the consultant’s files.
Report format: what changed from 1 March 2026
The September 2025 circular applies to new project applications submitted to URA for Planning Permission on or after 1 March 2026, and to site investigation reports dated on or after 1 March 2026. It is for compliance by QPs appointed to prepare plans for building works and by SAC-accredited site investigation firms.
The key format rules for building work submissions are:
- A stand-alone site investigation report must be in the AGS(SG) electronic format.
- A site investigation report combined with a Shear Wave Velocity Test Report or Geophysical Survey Report must be in PDF.
- The site investigation report must not be renamed or merged into the QP’s design report.
AGS(SG) was introduced by BCA’s Singapore Geological Office as a standardised electronic format. BCA states that it enables data sharing across systems and was tailored to local needs while remaining compatible with internationally recognised formats for geotechnical and geophysical data.
The practical consequence is that the data format should be agreed with the investigation firm in the contract, before drilling starts. Re-exporting borehole logs into AGS(SG) after the fact invites transcription errors. Project managers who also assemble filings for energy storage installations can compare the BESS permit filing standards with these ground data requirements, particularly where borehole location plans and site mapping are called for.
From investigation report to approvals and permits
The site investigation report is an input to several later steps. A typical sequence runs as follows.
- Appoint the team. The developer appoints the QP, who in turn engages an accredited inspection body.
- Desk study and scope. The QP reviews geology and land history, then fixes the borehole layout and depths with reference to Eurocode 7 and the GeoSS guide.
- Fieldwork and testing. Accredited fieldwork, with supervision by a registered supervisor, and tests by SAC-accredited laboratories.
- Report and PE certification. Data are compiled in the required format, with the certificate on the first and last page.
- Structural plan submission. The report supports the application on the BCA-BE-STAPPV01 form. See the client’s guide to BCA plan submission requirements for the wider document set.
- Permit for structural works. BCA states that this application is made jointly by the Developer, QP and Builder on form BCA-BE-Permit (BEV/B1) with relevant appendices, through CORENET e-Submission, and that processing time is 7 days.
Approval does not last indefinitely. Regulation 19 provides that approval of plans of building works lapses if works are not commenced within 24 months of the approval date. Ground data used in a design that is delayed for long should be reviewed with the QP for continued suitability.
Piling, excavation and site formation permits
Where piling or site formation is proposed, Regulation 21(4) requires the permit application to be accompanied by an impact assessment report on surrounding buildings and other structures, together with a notification of the commencement date, as set out in the consolidated regulations. The impact assessment relies directly on the site investigation findings: groundwater levels, soft clay thickness and rock head level determine predicted movement.
The Building Control Act defines specialist building works to include piling, covering driven and bored piles, caissons, micro-piles, barrettes and embedded retaining wall piles such as diaphragm walls, contiguous bored piles and secant piles. The Act on Singapore Statutes Online holds the full definition.
For deep excavations, the builder’s side carries further duties. The IES/ACES Foundation Supervision Guide states that the builder shall engage his own Professional Engineer to design and supervise temporary works for excavation safety and stability when required under the WSH (Construction) Regulations 2007 or directed by the QP. The same guide expects the builder and his PE to inspect the excavation regularly and to act promptly on QP directions.
Further reading on this stage is available in the client’s articles on ERSS in deep excavations, the ERSS submission checklist and settlement monitoring and PUB sewer rules.
Design for Safety and the ground model
The Workplace Safety and Health (Design for Safety) Regulations 2015 came into operation on 1 August 2016, with minor amendments gazetted in 2024. According to the REDAS Design for Safety Good Practice Guide, they require Developers, Designers and Contractors to work together through the DfS review process to address risks at source.
The WSH Guidelines on Design for Safety call for stakeholders to engage from the planning and design phases to identify and eliminate or reduce foreseeable risks across the structure’s life cycle. Ground conditions are among the earliest foreseeable risks: collapse of excavation faces, unexpected groundwater, and obstructions at pile locations all trace back to the investigation. A thin or late investigation therefore weakens the DfS review as well as the structural design. The client’s page on Design for Safety in engineering covers the process in more detail.
Common reasons reports are returned or delayed
| Problem | Why it arises | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Fieldwork by a non-accredited body | Accreditation under the SAC Site Investigation scheme was not checked | Confirm accreditation on the SAC list before award |
| Missing PE certificate on first and last page | Appendix A treated as an attachment | Include in the report template |
| Report merged into the design report | Convenience in compiling documents | Submit as a separate, unrenamed report |
| Wrong format | Reports dated on or after 1 March 2026 need AGS(SG) where stand-alone | Specify AGS(SG) in the investigation brief |
| Incomplete GeoSS application | Missing PE-certified copy or signatory | Checklist against the GeoSS page |
| Too few boreholes for a complex site | Minimum numbers treated as the target | QP decides beyond-code investigation using the desk study |
More on lab and field failures is in the client’s field guide to soil test failures and its geotechnical investigation guide for developers.
Perspective
Our view is that the site investigation is the cheapest place on a project to prevent expensive problems. The regulation sets a floor, and the QP is expected to judge when the ground, the neighbouring structures or the excavation depth call for more.
We design the investigation around the structure and the submission that follows it. The borehole layout, test programme and report format are fixed together with the structural and geotechnical design, so that the data reaching BCA match what the plans rely on. Our structural and geotechnical engineers, together with our PE endorsement and statutory submission services, are set up for this joined-up approach.
We also treat the report as the first document of the Design for Safety record. Ground risks identified at this stage can be addressed in design instead of on site, which is the intent of the DfS regime.
Aman
Support from design to submission
AECTechnicalSG provides structural and geotechnical engineering consultation, PE endorsements, statutory authority submissions including BCA, and temporary works design for projects in Singapore. Teams that need the investigation scope, the QP coordination and the structural plan submission handled together can review the services page. Those preparing a submission can also see the PE endorsement and authority submissions page.
Our stated approach is timely, responsive and clear communication on submissions. Pricing is project-based, so the scope is discussed with the team directly.
FAQ
Is there a separate permit to carry out a site investigation in Singapore?
No separate permit is described in Regulation 31. The QP must carry out the investigation, use an SAC-accredited inspection body and submit a PE-certified report to the Commissioner of Building Control. The report then supports the structural plan application.
Who can carry out site investigation works?
All works must be done by an inspection body accredited by SAC under its Site Investigation scheme. Laboratory tests must come from SAC-accredited laboratories, with limited exceptions for specialised tests subject to the QP’s acceptance. Certain minor in-situ tests, such as the penetrometer, may be carried out by the QP.
What format must the report follow now?
For reports dated on or after 1 March 2026, a stand-alone site investigation report for building works must use the AGS(SG) format. A report combined with shear wave velocity or geophysical survey reports must be in PDF. The report must not be renamed or merged into the design report.
How much does GeoSS registration cost and how long does it last?
The GeoSS application fee is S$20 and non-refundable. The registration fee is S$120 for two calendar years. Renewal requires proof of at least 10 PDU points in the related field in the last 2 years.
Who certifies the site investigation report?
An appropriate professional engineer who carried out, supervised or directed the investigation certifies it. BCA requires the Appendix A certification on the first and last page of the report, endorsed by a PE.
Sources
- Regulation 31, Building Control Regulations 2003
- GeoSS Site Investigation Application
- BCA Structural Plan submission
- BCA Guidelines for ST Plan Applications
- BCA reminder for Design QPs, September 2023
- BCA circular, Guidelines on Requirements for Site Investigation Reports
- BCA Construction site records
- BCA Permit for structural works
- Building Control Regulations 2003, Regulation 19
- Building Control Regulations 2003, Regulation 21(4)
- Building Control Act 1989
- IES/ACES Foundation Supervision Guide
- REDAS DfS and WSH Good Practice Guide
- WSH Guidelines on Design for Safety
- BESS permit filing standards