The HDB Rules That Actually Matter
HDB flat owners no longer need to seek approval to install standalone CCTV cameras inside their flats, provided the cameras do not face the door or windows of another flat. This clarification from HDB removed a layer of paperwork that used to slow down installations, and demand for home surveillance devices has risen since the rule change in May 2023.
The rule sounds simple. Applying it in a real HDB block is where homeowners get stuck. Corridors are narrow, doors sit close together, and a camera pointed at your own doorstep often catches a neighbour’s gate in the frame. Understanding where the line sits between monitoring your own space and intruding on someone else’s saves you from complaints, awkward conversations and potential takedown requests.
Corridor-Facing Cameras: What Is Allowed Now
Since May 2023, HDB flat owners no longer require prior approval to install corridor-facing CCTV cameras within their homes. The camera must not point at the door or windows of another flat, and it should not be mounted on the building façade.
What does this mean in practice? A camera inside your flat, positioned to look through your doorway or mounted at your gate facing outward, is generally acceptable. The footage should capture your entrance area and the immediate approach to your unit. If the camera angle sweeps past your neighbour’s door or captures the inside of their unit through an open window, the installation crosses into privacy intrusion.
Homeowners who want to install cameras outside their flats, such as along the common corridor on HDB property, must approach their Town Council for advice. The Town Council assesses each request based on corridor width, obstruction and privacy impact. Approval is not automatic, and temporary permissions often carry a six-month limit.
Placement That Covers Your Door Without Catching Your Neighbour's
The most common mistake in HDB CCTV installation is aiming too wide. A camera with a 110-degree field of view mounted beside a main door will see the opposite unit’s gate, the lift lobby and possibly the neighbour’s shoe rack. That footage is useless for your own security and creates a privacy problem.
A better approach keeps the camera close to your own gate or doorframe and angles it to cover the approach path to your unit. The camera should see anyone walking toward your door, anyone standing at your gate, and any parcel left outside. It should not see the interior of a neighbour’s flat or the full length of the common corridor beyond what is needed for your own security.
Height matters, too. Mounting a camera too high looking down gives a clear view of heads and shoulders but makes faces harder to identify. Mounting too low risks tampering. The sweet spot for a door-level camera sits between 1.8 and 2.2 metres, angled slightly downward to capture facial features as someone approaches.
Drilling, Wiring and HDB Walls
HDB walls come in two broad types: load-bearing and non-load-bearing. Load-bearing walls carry structural weight and cannot be hacked or drilled freely. Non-load-bearing walls, often built from lightweight concrete or drywall partitions, accept camera mounts but may need special anchors for heavier units.
A CCTV camera and bracket typically weigh less than 500g, so standard masonry anchors handle the load in most cases. The bigger risk is drilling into concealed electrical conduits or water pipes. HDB flats have standard routing for services, and a drill bit that pierces a conduit can cause a short circuit or a leak behind the wall. A stud finder with AC detection, or a quick check against the block’s service drawings, prevents this.
For wiring, surface trunking along the top of the wall is the practical choice in an HDB flat. Concealed wiring requires hacking, which adds cost and may need approval if it touches structural elements. A neat trunking run painted to match the wall keeps the installation tidy without opening up the wall.
Power, Wi-Fi and the Connectivity Question
Wireless cameras need a power source. Battery-powered models exist, but Singapore’s heat shortens battery life, and a camera that dies after a week of heavy motion triggers defeats the purpose. The practical setup for most HDB flats is a camera plugged into a nearby power point, with the cable run along existing trunking or tucked behind furniture.
Wi-Fi coverage in HDB flats varies. A camera at the main door may sit far from the router in the living room, and concrete walls weaken the signal. A mesh Wi-Fi system or a powerline adapter solves most dead spots. For homeowners who want a wired connection without running Ethernet cable through the flat, PoE (Power over Ethernet) injectors send both power and data through a single cable, but they still need the cable run.
Storing Footage Without Monthly Fees
Local storage on a microSD card suits most HDB homeowners. A 128GB card in a 2K camera holds roughly a week of continuous recording, or several weeks if the camera records only on motion. Cloud storage adds convenience and protects footage if someone takes the camera, but subscription costs add up over years.
A hybrid approach works well: local microSD for continuous recording and cloud backup only for the entrance camera, where losing footage after an incident would matter most. High-endurance cards rated for surveillance use last longer than standard cards, especially in Singapore’s heat.
Setting Up Without Creating Friction
CCTV installation in an HDB flat is a small project with a few rules that matter. Keep the camera inside your flat. Point it at your own door and the approach to it. Do not mount on the façade. Use proper anchors and avoid drilling into conduits. Choose local storage to avoid ongoing costs. Settle those five things and the installation stays clean, legal and useful.
FixFirst handles CCTV installation across HDB flats in Singapore with proper wall anchoring, discreet cable routing and camera placement that respects HDB guidelines. Send your floor plan and camera requirements through Whatsapp for a clear quote and an installation slot that works around your schedule.
