Open Concept HDB Living: Hacking Walls, What Is Allowed and What Is Not
An honest Singapore guide to open concept HDB layouts: which walls you can hack, which are structural and off-limits, and the HDB permits you need.
Open concept HDB living is allowed in most flats, but only for non-structural walls, and almost all hacking needs HDB approval before work starts. You can usually remove or shorten a non-load-bearing partition between the living room, kitchen and a bedroom, yet you cannot touch structural reinforced-concrete (RC) walls, columns or beams that hold the building up. The safe path is simple: get HDB permission through a renovation contractor registered under the HDB Registered Renovation Contractors Scheme, and never let anyone hack a wall without confirming it is non-structural first.
In practice most homeowners want that airy, borderless look where the kitchen flows into the living and dining area. That is achievable in many flats, but the outcome depends entirely on where the structural walls sit in your specific unit. This guide explains which walls you can hack, which are permanently off-limits, the permits involved, and how to plan an open layout that HDB will actually approve.
What does open concept mean in an HDB flat?
Open concept means removing internal partitions so that spaces like the kitchen, dining and living room share one continuous, open area instead of being boxed into separate rooms. The goal is more natural light, better airflow and a larger visual footprint, which matters a lot in compact HDB units.
In an HDB context, open concept almost always involves either fully hacking a partition wall or partially hacking it to create a wide opening or a pass-through counter. What you can do is capped by two things: which walls are structural, and what HDB permits for your flat type and floor level.
Which walls can I hack in an HDB flat?
You can generally hack non-structural walls, which are lighter partition walls that only divide space and do not carry the load of the floors above. These are the walls that make an open layout possible.
Whether a wall is structural is not something to guess. HDB and your contractor can confirm it against the approved building plans for your block before any hacking is planned.
Walls that are usually hackable (subject to HDB approval):
Lightweight partition walls between a bedroom and the living or dining area
Non-structural walls enclosing the kitchen, to open it up to the dining space
Non-load-bearing walls around a store room or study, in many layouts
Sections of a wall to form a wide doorway or serving opening rather than full removal
Which walls are structural and cannot be touched?
Structural elements carry the weight of the building and can never be hacked, shortened or drilled through beyond very limited allowances. Removing them risks the safety of your unit and the flats above and below you, which is exactly why HDB does not permit it.
Off-limits elements include:
Reinforced concrete (RC) structural walls, often thicker and shown as structural on the plans
Columns and beams, which transfer load down through the block
The household shelter (bomb shelter), which is fully structural: you cannot hack, drill, seal or alter its walls, ceiling, floor or door
Any wall your contractor or HDB confirms is load-bearing after checking the building plans
Do I need HDB approval to hack a wall?
Yes. Hacking of walls is a renovation item that requires HDB approval, and the application must be submitted before work begins. This applies whether the wall is a full removal or a partial opening.
The cleanest way to do this is to engage a contractor registered under the HDB Registered Renovation Contractors Scheme, since they apply for the permit on your behalf and are accountable for doing the work within HDB rules. Approval also comes with conditions, such as fixed permitted hacking hours (generally weekday and Saturday daytime, with no hacking on Sundays and public holidays) to protect your neighbours from noise.
What rules apply to newer flats and floor finishes?
Newer flats often have extra conditions. For BTO and other newer units, there is commonly a restriction period during which you are not allowed to hack the original floor finishes or screed, since the developer's finishing is still under a defects liability arrangement. Removing existing wall or floor tiles may also carry weight and debris conditions.
Because these rules change with flat type and age, confirm the specifics for your unit with HDB or your contractor before you commit to a layout. The design should be planned around what your flat actually permits, not a generic open concept template.
How do I plan an open layout that gets approved?
Start with your flat's approved plans, not a mood board. Once you know where the structural walls sit, you can design the open areas around them and treat any fixed columns or beams as features rather than obstacles.
A practical sequence looks like this:
Get the structural walls identified from HDB's approved plans for your unit
Decide which non-structural walls to fully hack and which to partially open
Have your contractor submit the HDB renovation permit for the hacking works
Confirm any restrictions for your flat type, such as floor-finish or hacking-hour conditions
Only then begin hacking, wiring and finishing works in the approved sequence
Getting the work done safely
Wall hacking touches structure, electrical points and plumbing lines all at once, so it is worth handling as part of a proper renovation rather than a piecemeal job. A registered contractor will verify which walls are non-structural, secure the HDB permit, and reroute any affected wiring or pipes that sat inside the removed wall.
Our renovation team handles open concept HDB layouts end to end: checking your flat's plans, applying for the right HDB approvals, and carrying out the hacking, electrical and plumbing changes so the finished space is both open and safe. If you are weighing up which walls to remove, an on-site assessment is the most reliable way to know what your unit actually allows.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hack the wall of my HDB bomb shelter to open up the space? No. The household shelter is a fully structural, protected space. You cannot hack, drill into, seal or alter its walls, floor, ceiling or door under any circumstances, even for an open concept design.
Do I need HDB approval to remove just part of a wall? Yes. Partial hacking to form a wide opening or a pass-through counter still counts as hacking works and needs an HDB permit before you start, the same as full wall removal.
How do I know if a wall is structural or not? It is confirmed against HDB's approved building plans for your specific block and unit, not by tapping the wall or guessing. Your registered renovation contractor or HDB can check this before any design is finalised.
Can I hack walls in a brand new BTO flat? You can usually hack non-structural walls with approval, but newer flats often have a period where you cannot remove the original floor finishes or screed. Confirm the exact conditions for your unit before planning the layout.