How long does commercial renovation take?
Typical 2026 Singapore commercial fit-out durations by space type and project size — plus permit lead times for BCA, SCDF, URA, NEA and MOH HCSA.
How long does a commercial renovation take?
A 500 sqft basic office refit runs 2–4 weeks; a 2,000 sqft standard office 6–8 weeks; a 5,000 sqft premium fit-out 10–14 weeks. F&B and clinic projects are longer because of regulatory approvals — a 2,500 sqft restaurant with full kitchen typically takes 10–14 weeks on site (plus permit lead-time), a 1,500 sqft clinic with MOH HCSA approval is 12–16 weeks.
Permits are the silent timeline killer: BCA submission 2–4 weeks, SCDF FSC 4–6 weeks, URA Change of Use 4–8 weeks, NEA Food Shop 2–4 weeks, MOH HCSA 4–12 weeks. Many of these run in parallel with construction prep, but not all.
Timeline by space type & size
500 sqft basic refit
2–4 weeksPaint, flooring, light partitioning, replacement of fixtures. No structural change.
Cost context: S$60–100/sqft Source: Moom 2024 SG Office Fit-out Cost Benchmarks . Permits: typically none, or BCA minor works only.
2,000 sqft standard office
6–8 weeksFull fit-out with meeting rooms, M&E modifications, finishes. Tier-A building.
Cost context: S$100–180/sqft Source: JLL Asia Fit-Out Cost Guide . Permits: BCA building works + SCDF if M&E re-routed.
5,000 sqft premium CBD office
10–14 weeksCBD A-grade — bespoke carpentry, integrated AV, premium finishes, night-works constrained.
Cost context: S$180–280/sqft Source: CBRE Asia Pacific Fit-Out Cost Guide . Permits: BCA building works + SCDF FSC.
1,000 sqft cafe
6–8 weeksBasic kitchen, simple FOH, casual finishes. NEA Food Shop required.
Cost context: S$120–250/sqft Source: Moom 2024 SG Office Fit-out Cost Benchmarks . Permits: BCA + SCDF + NEA Food Shop.
2,500 sqft restaurant with kitchen
10–14 weeksProper exhaust, grease trap, decent FOH. Often requires URA Change of Use.
Cost context: S$200–400/sqft Source: Moom 2024 SG Office Fit-out Cost Benchmarks . Permits: BCA + SCDF + NEA Food Shop + possibly URA Change of Use.
1,500 sqft clinic with MOH approval
12–16 weeksHCSA-ready partitions, infection-control finishes, sterilisation room. MOH approval can dominate the critical path.
Cost context: S$150–350/sqft Source: MOH Healthcare Services Act licensing . Permits: BCA + SCDF + MOH HCSA.
Permit lead times
Run permits in parallel with detail-design wherever possible. Sequential submission is the most common reason a project misses its handover date.
| Authority | Submission type | Typical lead time |
|---|---|---|
| BCA | Building works submission | 2–4 weeks |
| SCDF | Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) | 4–6 weeks |
| URA | Change of Use | 4–8 weeks |
| NEA / SFA | Food Shop licence | 2–4 weeks |
| MOH | HCSA licensing (clinic / specialist) | 4–12 weeks |
Sources: Source: BCA Builder's Licence framework · Source: SCDF Fire Safety Certification · Source: URA Change of Use guidelines · Source: NEA / SFA Food Shop / Food Stall licensing · Source: MOH Healthcare Services Act licensing
What pushes timeline out
- Change of use. Converting an office unit into F&B or a clinic adds URA Change of Use (4–8 weeks) ahead of any building works submission.
- MOH HCSA for clinics. The longest single permit on the list. Specialist clinics with imaging or day-surgery scope add weeks.
- CBD night-works restriction. Most CBD A-grade buildings only permit noisy works after 7pm. Effective productivity drops 30–40%.
- Custom carpentry & long-lead items. Bespoke joinery and imported stone often add 4–6 weeks of fabrication time.
- Mid-project scope changes. The single biggest reason fit-outs miss handover dates. Freeze finishes before site-start.
- Public holidays. Chinese New Year typically adds 1–2 weeks; Christmas / NY adds 1 week.
Related guides
Get a realistic programme.
Two-minute brief. Up to three BCA-registered contractors with realistic week-by-week programmes.
Get matched with contractors