Short answer
A shophouse in Singapore is a narrow, multi-storey terrace building with a commercial unit at ground level and living or working space above, typically fronted by a covered five-foot way. Many historic shophouses sit in URA conservation areas such as Chinatown, Kampong Glam, Little India, Joo Chiat and Balestier, where works must follow conservation guidelines. The word is also used by some modern venues.
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Key facts
- Layout
- Shop at street level, space above, shared party walls, covered five-foot way
- Conservation areas (URA)
- Historic districts include Boat Quay, Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India; secondary settlements include Balestier, Geylang, Jalan Besar and Joo Chiat
- Inspection
- BCA requires structural inspection every 5 years for non-residential buildings
Anatomy of a shophouse
The covered walkway, called the five-foot way, runs along the front. Neighbouring units share party walls. Facades range from plain early styles to Art Deco and Chinese Baroque.
Types of shophouse people search for
| Type | What it means | Read next |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation shophouse | A heritage building in a URA conservation area | Conservation shophouses for sale |
| Commercial shophouse | Zoned commercial, often for retail or F&B | Commercial shophouses for sale |
| HDB shophouse | Shop units in HDB estates | HDB shophouses |
| Shophouse for rent | Leasing a frontage | Shophouses for rent |
Venues and news people ask about
People also ask
What is a shophouse in Singapore?+
A narrow multi-storey terrace building with a shop at ground level and space above, typically with a covered five-foot way.
Are all shophouses conserved?+
No. Many are in URA conservation areas, but not all. Check URA's Conservation Portal for a given address.
Can foreigners buy shophouses?+
Rules depend on zoning and use. See our guides and verify with a lawyer.
Where are shophouses found?+
Chinatown, Telok Ayer, Kampong Glam, Little India, Joo Chiat, Balestier, Geylang and other areas. See our areas pages.
Sources
Facts as of 5 November 2026. Pages we link to may have changed since.
- Conservation Guidelines, Urban Redevelopment Authority. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- Periodic Structural Inspection (PSI), Building and Construction Authority. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- Sim Kwong Ho Shophouses, Roots.gov.sg. Accessed 2026-11-05.
Next step
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Browse conservation shophousesLast reviewed 5 November 2026. See all shophouse explainers.