Industry & regulation

Master Plan

What is the URA Master Plan?

The Master Plan is Singapore's statutory land use plan, prepared by URA. It guides development over the next 10 to 15 years and shows the permitted land use (zoning) and development intensity (plot ratio) for every site. It is reviewed every five years; the current edition is Master Plan 2025, which you can view on URA SPACE.

Key facts

Prepared by
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
Status
Statutory land use plan
Time horizon
The next 10 to 15 years
Reviewed
Every five years
Current edition
Master Plan 2025, gazetted on 1 December 2025
Shows
Permissible land use and density for each site
Where to view
URA SPACE, URA's online map

As of 6 Nov 2026. Source: URA, HDB.

How the Master Plan works

The Master Plan turns Singapore’s long-term planning into rules for each site. For every plot of land it shows two things:

What it showsWhat it means
Land use zoningWhat the land may be used for, such as residential or commercial, or a mix
Plot ratioHow much floor area may be built. See gross plot ratio

URA reviews the plan every five years. Master Plan 2025, the current edition, was gazetted on 1 December 2025 after a two-year public engagement that reached close to 220,000 people. Its housing plans include redeveloping the former Singapore Racecourse at Kranji and Bukit Timah Turf City as new housing estates.

Example

You are buying a condo and want to know what might be built on the empty plot next door. On URA SPACE you find that the plot is zoned residential with a gross plot ratio of 2.8. That tells you it is planned for housing. A future development there would need planning approval, and its floor area would be capped at about 2.8 times the plot’s area, plus any approved bonus.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming an empty plot will stay empty. Check its zoning and plot ratio.
  • Relying on an old edition. Use the current Master Plan and its gazetted amendments.
  • Treating zoning as a building approval. Any development still needs planning permission.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check the zoning of a property?

Look it up on URA SPACE, which shows the Master Plan 2025 zoning and plot ratio for each site. For an official record, URA's e-services can provide the latest planning decision and current zoning for a property.

Can the Master Plan change between reviews?

Yes. URA gives public notice of proposed amendments to Master Plan 2025. One listed in October 2026 would raise the plot ratio of a residential site at Ang Mo Kio Street 82 from 3.5 to a maximum of 4.4.

Why does zoning matter to home buyers?

It shows what can be built nearby, such as housing, commercial or other uses, and how intensely. It also affects HDB's property ownership rules: land under residential zoning, including some mixed zonings, counts as private residential property.

Sources

  1. Master Plan (URA)
  2. Gazette of Master Plan 2025 (1 December 2025) (URA)
  3. Amendments to Master Plan 2025 (URA)
  4. Eligibility for couples and families (definition of private residential property) (HDB)

Every figure on this page was checked against the official government sources above on 6 Nov 2026. See our editorial policy.

This is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice.