Parks and Trees Regulations

Parks and Trees Act

(Chapter 216, Section 63)

Parks and Trees Regulations

Rg 1

G.N. No. S 519/2005

REVISED EDITION 2006

(30th November 2006)

[1st August 2005]

PART I

PRELIMINARY

Citation

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Parks and Trees Regulations.

Definitions

2.  In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —

“carpark” means any area that is within or adjacent to a national park, nature reserve or public park and is designated as a carpark by the Commissioner, and includes any access road to such an area;

[Deleted by S 479/2025 wef 03/07/2025]

“explosive” has the meaning given by section 4(1) of the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021;

[S 479/2025 wef 03/07/2025]

“park”, in relation to a vehicle, means to bring the vehicle to a stationary position and cause it to wait for any purpose;

“parking lot” means any space within a carpark marked out for the parking of any single vehicle;

“reserved parking lot” means any space within a carpark marked out for the parking of any specific vehicle authorised by the Commissioner;

“tout” means to solicit any person in connection with any trade or business, whether or not carried on by the person so soliciting;

“trap” means any contrivance, device or thing by means of which any animal can be captured.

PART II

MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF NATIONAL PARKS, NATURE RESERVES AND PUBLIC PARKS

Division 1 — Prohibited activities

Entry, etc., into national parks, nature reserves and public parks

3.—(1)  No person shall —

(a) enter any national park, nature reserve or public park or any part thereof that is closed to the public;

(b) enter or leave any national park, nature reserve or public park or any part thereof except at designated points of entry to or exit from, as the case may be, the national park, nature reserve or public park; or

(c) enter or leave any part of a national park, nature reserve or public park that is reserved for the use of particular persons or bodies or for a particular sector of the public unless the person is a person, or belongs to a body or sector of the public, for whose use it is reserved.

(2)  No person shall, except with the approval of the Commissioner and in accordance with the terms and conditions of such approval, enter or remain in any national park, nature reserve or public park or any part thereof outside of the days and beyond the times of admission specified by the Commissioner in notices posted at every entrance to the national park, nature reserve or public park.

Prohibited acts within national parks, nature reserves and public parks

4.—(1)  No person shall, within a national park, nature reserve or public park —

(a) cause any lake, pool or other body of water to be fouled;

(b) throw, deposit or leave behind any refuse, litter, object or article except in a litter bin provided for that purpose;

(c) soil or deface any building, structure, furniture, ornament, equipment or other property;

(d) gamble or assist in gambling;

(e) beg, tout or solicit;

(f) appear nude or be clad in such manner as to offend against public decency;

(g) behave in a disorderly or an indecent or offensive manner;

(h) enter or attempt to enter any public restroom designated for use by the opposite sex;

(i) bathe or wash in any body of water; or

(j) use any facility, utility or amenity for a purpose other than that for which it is provided.

(2)  Where the Commissioner has, by means of notice displayed in, or at the boundary of, a national park, nature reserve or public park or part thereof to which the notice relates, or by means of written notice issued to a user of the national park, nature reserve or public park —

(a) prohibited the use of any musical instrument or sound equipment in the national park, nature reserve or public park or that part thereof; or

(b) prohibited the carrying on of any activity which, in the Commissioner’s opinion, may endanger or cause discomfort or inconvenience to other users of the national park, nature reserve or public park,

a person shall not use such instrument or equipment, or carry on that prohibited activity, in the national park, nature reserve or public park or the part to which the notice relates.

(3)  For the purposes of paragraph (1)(g), a person does not conduct himself in an offensive manner as referred to in that paragraph merely by using offensive language.

Prohibited acts within public parks

5.  No person shall carry out any activity within any public park which he knows or ought reasonably to know —

(a) causes or may cause alteration, damage or destruction to any property, tree or plant within the public park; or

(b) causes or may cause injury to, or the death of, any animal or any other organism within the public park.

Smoking in national park, nature reserve or public park prohibited

6.—(1)  A person must not smoke within any part of a national park, nature reserve or public park, other than within an area designated by the Commissioner by means of a notice displayed in, or at the boundary of, the area as a smoking facility.

(2)  In this regulation —

“smoke” means to inhale and expel the smoke of tobacco or any other substance and includes the holding of any cigar, cigarette, pipe or any other form of tobacco product which is alight or emitting smoke;

“smoking facility” means an area of a national park, nature reserve or public park, within which smoking is permitted.

[S 504/2022 wef 01/07/2022]

Division 2 — Regulated activities

Residing in national park, nature reserve or public park

7.  No person shall reside in any national park, nature reserve or public park, unless the person has been granted a lease or licence to reside therein.

General acts requiring approval

8.—(1)  No person shall, except with the approval of the Commissioner and in accordance with the terms and conditions of such approval, do any of the following in any national park, nature reserve or public park:

(a) sell or hire, attempt to sell or hire, expose or display for sale or hire, or solicit for sale or hire, any article, thing or service to any person;

(b) organise or participate (other than solely as a member of an audience) in any amusement, entertainment, instruction, performance or activity for money or other consideration of any kind;

(c) film any video, movie or television film for sale, hire or profit;

(d) climb any wall, fence, barrier, railing, hedge, tree, post or other structure;

(e) hang or affix any light, bill, placard, notice or other thing on any plant, tree or structure;

(f) initiate, fire or discharge any explosive;

[S 479/2025 wef 03/07/2025]

(fa) shoot with or discharge any firearm, airgun, paintball marker, spear gun, stun gun or other like gun;

[S 479/2025 wef 03/07/2025]

(fb) shoot with any crossbow, longbow, bow and arrow, arbalest or blow pipe;

[S 479/2025 wef 03/07/2025]

(fc) launch any slingshot, shanghai or other like weapon;

[S 479/2025 wef 03/07/2025]

(g) remove or displace any seat, barrier, railing, post, structure, ornament or any implement used in the laying out or maintenance of the national park, nature reserve or public park.

(2)  No person shall, except with the approval of the Commissioner and in accordance with the terms and conditions of such approval, carry out any of the following activities within any public park:

(a) cut, collect or displace any tree or plant or any part thereof;

(b) affix, set up or erect any sign, shrine, altar, religious object, shelter, structure or building;

(c) clear, break up, dig or cultivate any land;

(d) use or occupy any building, vehicle, boat or other property of the Board;

(e) wilfully drop or deposit any dirt, sand, earth, gravel, clay, loam, manure, refuse, sawdust, shavings, stone, straw or any other matter or thing from outside the public park;

(f) capture, displace or feed any animal;

(g) disturb or take the nest of any animal;

(h) collect, remove or wilfully displace any other organism;

(i) use any animal, explosive or weapon mentioned in paragraph (1)(f), (fa), (fb) or (fc), net, trap, hunting device or instrument or means whatever for the purpose of capturing any animal;

[S 479/2025 wef 03/07/2025]

(j) carry or have in the person’s possession any explosive, net, trap or hunting device;

(k) erect any post, rail, fence, pole, booth, stand, stall or other structure.

(3)  In addition to paragraphs (1) and (2), no person may, except with the approval of the Commissioner and in accordance with the terms and conditions of such approval —

(a) carry out any play-reading, recital, lecture, talk, address, debate or discussion;

(b) organise or participate (other than solely as a member of audience), in any performance or exhibition; or

(c) organise any assembly or procession,

[S 561/2016 wef 01/11/2016]

at the area known as Speakers’ Corner in Hong Lim Park and described in the Second Schedule when the area is an unrestricted area under the Public Order Act (Cap. 257A).

[S 205/2016 wef 08/05/2016]

[S 502/2020 wef 30/06/2020]

(4)  To avoid doubt in paragraph (3), a person includes any company or association or body of persons, corporate or unincorporate.

[S 561/2016 wef 01/11/2016]

Camping and barbecues

9.—(1)  No person shall camp in any national park, nature reserve or public park or any part thereof except —

(a) with a permit from the Commissioner and in accordance with the terms and conditions of that permit; and

(b) within the area of the national park, nature reserve or public park that is set aside for camping.

(2)  No person shall light, maintain or use a fire or hold a barbecue in any national park or public park or any part thereof except —

(a) with a permit from the Commissioner and in accordance with the terms and conditions of that permit; and

(b) within the area of the national park or public park that is set aside as a fireplace or for barbecues.

(3)  No person shall leave unattended any fire that the person has lit, maintained or used.

(4)  Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the Commissioner may, in any particular case or class of cases, determine that no permit shall be required for the purpose of carrying out any of the activities referred to in paragraph (1) or (2).

Restrictions relating to animals in national park or public park

10.—(1)  No person shall, except with the approval of the Commissioner —

(a) bring an animal (other than a domestic animal that is his pet or guide dog) into, or allow any such animal belonging to him or under his charge to remain in, a national park or public park; or

(b) leave, abandon or release any animal in a national park or public park.

(2)  No person shall bring an animal (being an animal that is not prohibited under paragraph (1)(a)) into, or allow any such animal belonging to him or under his charge to remain in, a national park or public park unless —

(a) in the case of a dog, it is —

(i) on a leash, chain or cord which is suitable to restrain the animal except when in an area referred to in paragraph (4);

(ii) kept under the control of the person; and

(iii) restrained from causing annoyance or nuisance to any person, or damage to or interference with any plant or property or any other animal; or

(b) in the case of any other animal (being an animal that is not prohibited under paragraph (1)(a)), it is —

(i) kept under the control of the person; and

(ii) restrained from causing annoyance or nuisance to any person, or damage to or interference with any plant or property or any other animal.

(3)  Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), where the Commissioner has, by notice in, or at the boundary of, a national park or public park or part thereof to which the notice relates, prohibited the entry of any animal to any part of the national park or public park or part thereof, no person shall bring any such animal into, or allow any such animal belonging to him or under his charge to remain in, that part of the national park or public park.

(4)  Notwithstanding paragraph (2)(a), where the Commissioner has, by notice in, or at the boundary of, a national park or public park or part thereof to which the notice relates, designated any part of the national park or public park to be an area where dogs can run freely, a person shall not be required to restrain any dog belonging to him or under his charge on a leash, chain or cord but may let it run freely in that part of the national park or public park.

(5)  No person shall cause or permit any animal belonging to him or under his charge to enter any public restroom, lake, reservoir, pond, stream or fountain in any national park or public park.

(6)  A person who brings an animal into, or allows an animal belonging to him or under his charge to enter or remain in, a national park or public park shall pick up and remove from the national park or public park any faeces deposited by the animal and dispose of any such faecal matter properly in a hygienic manner.

Restrictions relating to vehicles, etc.

11.—(1)  No person shall, without the permission of the Commissioner, in any national park, nature reserve or public park —

(a) bring, ride or drive a vehicle except within a carpark;

(b) park a vehicle except in a parking lot (designated for the parking of that class of vehicle) within a carpark;

(c) obstruct any entrance, exit, road, path, carpark or parking lot;

(d) ride a bicycle or use skates except on any track or path specified, by notice, for such use or any road for use by vehicles;

(e) ride a motorised bicycle;

(f) secure a motorcycle or bicycle to any plant, tree or structure that is not constructed for that purpose; or

(g) park a motor vehicle in any parking lot reserved for handicapped drivers when he is not a handicapped driver.

(2)  No person shall drive, bring into or park any vehicle within a carpark otherwise than in an orderly manner with due regard to the safety of other vehicles, property and persons within the carpark.

(3)  Any person driving or parking a vehicle within a carpark shall obey all the signs exhibited in the carpark.

(4)  No person shall park any vehicle in such manner as to cause the vehicle to protrude beyond the boundary lines of the parking lot.

(5)  No person shall park or stop his vehicle so as to obstruct or prevent the smooth circulation of traffic in or around a carpark.

(6)  In this regulation —

“bicycle” includes any pedal cycle but does not include a child’s toy vehicle used solely by a child;

“motorised bicycle” means a bicycle that is equipped with a motor and that may be propelled by muscular power or by the motor with which it is equipped, or by both;

“signs” includes all warning sign posts, direction posts or other devices for the guidance or direction of persons driving vehicles within a carpark;

“skates” includes roller skates, roller blades, in-line skates and any skateboard.

Reserved parking lots

12.—(1)  No person shall park any vehicle in any reserved parking lot unless he is authorised by the Commissioner to do so.

(2)  Any authorisation under paragraph (1) must be displayed on the near side of the front windscreen of the vehicle, and where the vehicle is a motorcycle, such authorisation must be displayed in a conspicuous position on the motorcycle.

(3)  No person shall display on a vehicle any authorisation that has any alteration, erasure or other irregularity therein which indicates that the authorisation has been tampered with.

(4)  The Commissioner or any person authorised by him may require any driver of a vehicle parked in a reserved parking lot to produce for his inspection the authorisation displayed on such vehicle and may retain the authorisation.

(5)  The driver of a vehicle shall produce the authorisation to the Commissioner or any person authorised by him for inspection or retention in accordance with paragraph (4).

Boats

13.—(1)  No person shall moor a boat in a national park, nature reserve or public park or any part thereof except —

(a) with a permit from the Commissioner and in accordance with the terms and conditions of that permit; and

(b) at a public mooring within the national park, nature reserve or public park, or at a mooring within the national park, nature reserve or public park in respect of which the person is the licensee, or is the hirer from the licensee, of the mooring to which the licence relates.

(2)  No person shall store a boat in any national park, nature reserve or public park or any part thereof except —

(a) with a permit from the Commissioner and in accordance with the terms and conditions of that permit; and

(b) within the area of the national park, nature reserve or public park that is set aside for storing boats.

Division 3 — Regulation by notices

Display of notices

14.  The Board may affix or set up a notice in some conspicuous position in any part of the national park, nature reserve or public park, as the case may be, for the purpose of notifying the public that —

(a) the use of any musical instrument or sound equipment in that part of the national park, nature reserve or public park is prohibited;

(b) any activity in that part of the national park, nature reserve or public park is prohibited;

(c) that part of the national park or public park has been designated as a fireplace or an area where a barbeque may be held;

(d) that part of the national park, nature reserve or public park has been designated as an area where camping is permitted;

(e) that part of the public park has been designated as an area where boats may be moored or stored;

(f) the entry of any animal to that part of the national park or public park is prohibited;

(g) that part of the national park or public park has been designated as an area where dogs can run freely;

(h) that part of the national park, nature reserve or public park has been designated as a carpark or as a parking lot for any class of vehicle; and

(i) any track, path or road in that part of the national park, nature reserve or public park has been specified as a track, path or road where bicycles may be ridden or skates may be used.

PART IIA

MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF MARINE PARKS

[S 825/2024 wef 28/10/2024]

Division 1 — Regulated activities

Anchoring of boats

14A.—(1)  Subject to paragraph (2), a person must not anchor a boat on the seabed of a marine park except with a permit from the Commissioner and in accordance with the terms and conditions of that permit.

(2)  This regulation does not apply to, or in relation to, a boat operated by or on behalf of any of the following:

(a) Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore;

(b) Immigration & Checkpoints Authority;

(c) Singapore Civil Defence Force;

(d) Police Coast Guard;

(e) Republic of Singapore Navy.

[S 825/2024 wef 28/10/2024]

Swimming and diving

14B.—(1)  Subject to paragraph (3), a person must not swim in a marine park or any part thereof except —

(a) with a permit from the Commissioner and in accordance with the terms and conditions of that permit; or

(b) within the area of the marine park that is designated by the Commissioner for swimming.

(2)  Subject to paragraph (3), a person must not dive in a marine park or any part thereof except with a permit from the Commissioner and in accordance with the terms and conditions of that permit.

(3)  This regulation does not apply to an employee of any of the following acting in the course of their duties and functions:

(a) Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore;

(b) Immigration & Checkpoints Authority;

(c) Singapore Civil Defence Force;

(d) Police Coast Guard;

(e) Republic of Singapore Navy.

[S 825/2024 wef 28/10/2024]

Division 2 — Regulation by notices

Display of notices

14C.  The Board may affix or set up a notice in some conspicuous position in any part of the marine park for the purpose of notifying the public that that part of the marine park has been designated as an area where swimming is permitted.

[S 825/2024 wef 28/10/2024]

PART III

APPROVALS AND PERMITS

Application for approvals under section 12(1), 20(1) or 32(1) of Act

15.—(1)  The form to be used for the purpose of an application for the Commissioner’s approval under section 12(1), 20(1) or 32(1) of the Act —

(a) is that set out at the website at https://www.corenet-ess.gov.sg; and

(b) may be submitted through that website unless the Board requires a hard copy of the form to be served on the Commissioner.

[S 379/2011 wef 15/07/2011]

(2)  Every form referred to in paragraph (1) shall be completed in the English language and in accordance with such directions as may be specified in the form or by the Board.

(3)  The Board may refuse to accept any form that is not completed in accordance with this regulation.

(4)  Where strict compliance with any form is not possible, the Board may allow for the necessary modifications to be made to that form, or for the requirements of that form to be complied with in such other manner as the Board thinks fit.

Application for approvals and permits under Regulations

16.—(1)  A person applying for any approval or permit under these Regulations shall apply in such form and manner and furnish such particulars and information and pay such fees referred to in regulation 17.

(2)  The Commissioner may grant an approval or a permit under these Regulations subject to such terms and conditions as the Commissioner may impose.

[S 825/2024 wef 28/10/2024]

(3)  The Commissioner may, if he or she is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to do so, consult with any person, including members of the Friends of Marine Park, on issues that may involve environmental impact before granting an approval or a permit under paragraph (2).

[S 825/2024 wef 28/10/2024]

Fees

17.—(1)  The following fees shall be as specified in the First Schedule:

(a) the fee for any permit under regulation 9(1) or (2), 13(1) or (2), 14A(1) or 14B(1) or (2);

[S 825/2024 wef 28/10/2024]

(b) the fee for any application for an approval for the purposes of section 24, 26, 30 or 31 of the Act, being a fee which the Commissioner may require under section 32(1)(c) of the Act.

[S 379/2011 wef 15/07/2011]

[S 555/2015 wef 12/09/2015]

[S 660/2017 wef 20/11/2017]

(2)  The Commissioner may, in any particular case or class of cases —

(a) waive, in whole or in part, any fee payable under this regulation; or

(b) refund any such fee which has been paid or any part of it.

PART IV

POWER OF ENFORCEMENT

Removal, sale and disposal of vehicles, boats and things

18.—(1)  When any vehicle, boat or thing is removed by the Commissioner under section 42(4) of the Act, the Commissioner shall, as soon as is practicable, give notice in writing to the owner (if the name and address of the owner are known to him) of the removal, and if the vehicle, boat or thing is not claimed by its owner within one month of the date of notice, the Commissioner may sell or otherwise dispose of such vehicle, boat or thing.

(2)  Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Commissioner may immediately sell or dispose of —

(a) any perishable thing removed under section 42(4) of the Act; or

(b) any vehicle, boat or thing where the name or address of the owner cannot be ascertained with reasonable degree.

(3)  The proceeds of the sale or disposal of any vehicle, boat or thing sold pursuant to this regulation shall be applied in payment of any expenses incurred by the Board in connection with the sale or disposal of that vehicle, boat or thing.

(4)  After the application of the proceeds of the sale or disposal in accordance with paragraph (3), the remainder of the proceeds shall be applied in payment of all charges and fines payable under the Act and any regulations made thereunder.

(5)  Any surplus proceeds after such payment referred to in paragraph (4) shall be paid to the owner of the vehicle, boat or thing, or if not claimed by the owner of the vehicle, boat or thing within 12 months of the date of the sale or disposal, shall be forfeited to the Board.

(6)  Any expenses incurred in connection with the sale or disposal of any vehicle, boat or thing pursuant to this regulation shall be recoverable as a debt due to the Board from the owner of that vehicle, boat or thing.

PART V

GREEN MARGINS AND STREETSCAPES

Damage to tree planted pursuant to notice

19.  For the purposes of section 27(2) of the Act, any excavation, cementing or sealing up in any way, or otherwise rendering impervious to air or water, any part of the ground within a radius of 2 metres from the collar of a tree planted pursuant to a notice under section 27(1) of the Act shall be regarded as damaging the tree.

Reinstatement of tree planted pursuant to notice

20.—(1)  Where it appears to the Commissioner that there has been a contravention of section 27(2) of the Act, he may serve a notice on —

(a) any person who appears to the Commissioner to have been responsible for or participated in anything done in contravention of section 27(2) of the Act; or

(b) the occupier of the premises on which anything is done in contravention of that section,

requiring the person to take such remedial or reinstatement measures within such time as may be specified in the notice.

(2)  A notice under paragraph (1) shall specify the date on which it is to take effect and the period (which shall run from the date the notice takes effect) within which any step required by the notice shall be taken.

(3)  The person on whom a notice under paragraph (1) is served shall comply with all the requirements of the notice within the time specified in the notice.

(4)  Where the person on whom a notice under paragraph (1) is served fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with any requirement of the notice, the Commissioner may, at any reasonable time after the expiration of the time specified in the notice for the taking of the measures specified therein, enter upon the premises and carry out the remedial or reinstatement measures.

(5)  All costs and expenses incurred by the Commissioner under paragraph (4) shall constitute a debt due from the occupier of the premises or that person to the Board and be recoverable as such.

Measurement of girth size of tree and dimensions of planting area

20A.—(1)  For the purposes of section 14(4) of the Act, the girth of a tree must be measured one metre from the ground.

(2)  For the purposes of section 23(1) of the Act, the dimensions of a planting area must be measured along the ground.

[S 660/2017 wef 20/11/2017]

Planting areas

20B.  All premises mentioned in section 22 of the Act must be surrounded by a planting area measuring —

(a) not more than 2 metres wide, except as otherwise specified in paragraph (b); and

(b) not more than 5 metres wide from the front boundary of the premises adjoining or abutting a public street.

[S 660/2017 wef 20/11/2017]