Removal of Canopies Installed at Ground Floor HDB Flats

Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for National Development (a) under what circumstances does the Ministry require ground floor HDB flat dwellers to remove canopies at the back of their HDB flats; and (b) whether the Ministry can work with the National Environment Agency to resolve high-rise littering problems in HDB estates before requiring the removal of such awnings.

Flat owners who wish to install any items on HDB common property are required to seek permission from the respective Town Council, which will seek HDB’s consent before granting permission.

Canopies installed on common property behind ground floor units without the Town Council’s permission are unauthorised installations. Town Councils can take enforcement action to remove such unauthorised installations, as they may pose safety and fire hazards to the public.

High-rise littering is a serious form of anti-social behaviour that poses dangers to public safety and health. The National Environment Agency (NEA) works with Town Councils to tackle high-rise littering, such as conducting educational outreach to raise awareness of the effects of such anti-social behaviour. For areas with persistent high-rise littering, NEA deploys surveillance cameras and takes strict enforcement action.