Landing page banner

The different categories of Public Entertainment, types of Public Entertainment licence and accompanying fees can be found here

Under the Public Entertainments Exemptions Orders¹, certain events or activities are exempted from a Public Entertainment licence or Arts Entertainment² licence, respectively, if a stipulated set of conditions is met. In addition, specific events/activities that are exempted require the organiser to notify the Police at least 7 days before the event/activity may be carried out.

If you require the notifications forms, please select the appropriate forms below;

• Notification Form A
• Notification Form B
• Notification Form C

¹ Public Entertainments and Meetings (Exemptions) Order and Public Entertainments (Specified Arts Entertainment) (Exemption) Order 2005.

² The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) regulates AE.

To be eligible for a Public Entertainment licence, the following criteria must be met:

1. The applicant must satisfy the criteria and requirements published by the Licensing Officer*;
2. The premises that would provide the public entertainment must be in an approved place, i.e. it must also meet the requirements under Section 2(3) of the Public Entertainments Act.

* For more information, please refer to : “Guidelines on the criteria and requirements for a person to be fit and proper to hold a public entertainment licence"

Responsibility of the Organiser

As the organiser, you are to conduct your event in a socially responsible manner and ensure that it does not cause any danger or undue alarm to the general public. Due considerations are to be taken to ensure all aspects of public safety, security, law and order are not compromised in the organisation of and during the event, and that the event activities do not contravene any legislation. If in doubt, you should seek your own legal counsel.

Sunk Investment Not Ground For Grant of Licence

Sunk investments e.g. renovation, purchase of equipment, rental of premises are not grounds for a licence to be granted. You should ensure that you have obtained the necessary Public Entertainment licence/ approval before starting renovation works or use the premises. Hence, you should consider the financial commitment to your business carefully if a licence/exemption has yet been granted. The following highlights two important considerations that you should take note before submitting an application to operate a Public Entertainment outlet.

• Suitability of Location
  • Existence of Public Entertainment outlets in the vicinity of a proposed location does not automatically indicate that your application would be approved as other factors such as the law and order situation are taken into consideration when assessing your application.
• Processing Fees by URA and HDB
  • Processing fees charged by URA and HDB (if applicable) for the planning permission or approval granted does not guarantee the approval of your Public Entertainment licence.

Category 1

Category 2

Category 3

Category 4

With effect from 10 August 2021, golf simulator centres are exempted from applying for a public entertainment licence if such a centre is able to fulfil a set of pre-determined conditions under Order 3(9E) of the Public Entertainments (Exemptions) Order.

Applicants may wish to note that a new Public Entertainment licence is unlikely to be granted at the following locations. This is to manage the number of Public Entertainment establishments and mitigate law and order concerns in the areas:

1. Orchard Towers*
2. Orchard Plaza
3. Cuppage Plaza
4. Parklane Shopping Mall
5. Golden Mile Tower
6. Golden Mile Complex
7. Concorde Hotel & Shopping Mall
8. Geylang
9. Joo Chiat

*One of the two buildings comprising Orchard Towers was renamed “One Claymore” on 1 August 2022

A Public Entertainment licence is also unlikely to be granted at the following Historic Conservation Areas because URA intends to maintain the character and ambience of these areas.

1. Chinatown
2. Little India
3. Kampong Glam
4. Boat Quay
5. Blair Plain
6. Cairnhill
7. Emerald Hill