Singapore’s New Coastal Protection Bill – 3 Key Updates

By Jamie Chan 22 April, 2026

How will Singapore build 300km of watertight coastal infrastructure around its border? CWR's Chan breaks down its new sea level rise defence mandate into 3 private sector implications

SG's ambitious coastal defence plan now has legal backing with PUB the designated authority to enforce construction, repair & upgrading of this infrastructure
Private landowners own 30% of SG's coastline & must erect coastal structures or face penalties up to SG$200k; the govt's capital grant scheme will help alleviate costs
A mix of hard & soft coastal infrastructure solutions will be promoted for various land-use needs; expect growth in the coastal engineering & adaptation tech sectors

In early March, the Singapore parliament passed the Coastal Protection Bill, giving a legal backbone to the country’s ambitious coastal protection plans – to build a 300km continuous line of sea level rise defence around its entire coastline. This is a critical step as the island nation is low-lying and vulnerable to sea level rise: around 30% of its land is less than 5m above sea level.

So, while it’s been proactively future-proofing its coast since 2019, this new bill signals that Singapore is taking coastal fortification to the next level. Here are 3 key updates:

1) Structural shift: More power to the PUB to coordinate & enact Singapore’s Continuous Line of Coastal Defence

The Public Utility Board (PUB) oversees water and sanitation for Singapore, and in 2020 it gained an additional title as the National Coastal Protection Agency. The new bill reinforces PUB’s dual role by amending the Sewerage & Drainage Act, which underpins PUB’s responsibilities, into the Sewerage, Drainage and Coastal Protection Act.

PUB now has legal authority to construct, maintain & repair coastal infra

These new powers make it possible for PUB to enforce a continuous line of coastal defence, which must be seamless and watertight across property lines. This is a long-term commitment. After the initial construction, this infrastructure will need upgrading and repair indefinitely to adapt to rising risks. Also, PUB has been allowed forced entry into private lands in the event of a flooding emergency.

With all this in mind, PUB will also set up a Coastal Protection Interpretation Plan – a digital record of all coastal assets and defence measures nation-wide.

We have long said that coastline management is hampered by fragmented roles and overlapping responsibilities of various government departments. So, giving PUB authority to oversee the whole-of-life implementation of coastal defence – from planning and managing the buildout to inspecting and maintaining them – underscores Singapore’s priority to streamline coastal planning and ensure its sustainability.

The new bill also solidifies PUB’s holistic responsibilities to manage freshwater and saltwater threats – this is important as these threats are interlinked and compounding.

2) Shifting responsibilities: Private landowners must now protect their property or face penalties

To achieve a continuous line of coastal defence around Singapore, all coastal landowners need to be on board.

Since the government owns 70% of the coastline, most defences will be state-implemented. For the remaining 30% occupied by private landowners and their tenants, the bill gives them a new mandate: to erect coastal protection measures within 10 years of notice.

This 10-year countdown won’t start right away as the PUB is still formulating design and operation standards for these coastal protection structures. This “Code of Practice” is expected to be released in mid-2026 and time will be given to the private sector to digest the new code.

Failure to comply could mean penalties up to SG$200k & potentially up to 2 years imprisonment

For now, the government has indicated that the 10-year notice will likely kick in closer to the 2030s – so expect to see the “continuous line” completed around the 2040s. Failure to comply may result in penalties up to SG$200,000 and could even lead to imprisonment for up to 2 years.

Adapting the coastline costs money. Here, the Singapore government isn’t leaving private landowners high and dry – at least not figuratively – as a capital grant scheme will be set up to support the cost of studies, construction and diversion of services. PUB will also offer technical advice through consultations as well as train engineers for the task.

3) One-size doesn’t fill all: Singapore will promote a mix of coastal infrastructure solutions

For flexibility, the new bill distinguishes between two levels of coastal protection: absolute and transient.

Absolute Protection Boundary = must be dry at all times

Transiently Floodable areas = short-term flooding allowed

Anywhere within the “Absolute Protection Boundary” will need to be dry at all times – meaning safe from permanent submersion as well as from temporary tidal or storm surges.

Areas marked as “Transiently Floodable” may be places like beaches and boardwalks which will be designed to accommodate short-term flooding during storm events and thus require flood response plans.

After the PUB delineates these zones, private landowners can adopt the type of coastal infrastructure that works best for their operational needs, whether that is hard or soft structures or a mix. Much of the coast is occupied by shipyards, ports, and businesses in the oil, gas and manufacturing sectors, each with their unique land-use and timeline needs, so this decentralised approach to coastal management aims to meet landowners where they’re at.

The government also hopes that decentralisation avoids the need for state buy-outs of coastal plots so to preserve land value.

Coastal adaptation materials & tech will see growth & innovation

For the private sector, this signals that coastal adaptation materials and technology is on its way to becoming a burgeoning sector – for solutions like saltwater resistant construction materials, flood gates, living seawalls, or polders will face a surge in demand. More innovation in the field will push the boundaries for what coastal engineering could look like, so keep your eyes peeled in this space!

How high will this continuous line of coastal defence be?

While PUB hasn’t officially announced, Singapore’s Prime Minister Office expects sea levels to rise by up to 1.15m by 2100, but including storm surges and high tides brings that up to 5m, so expect protection levels to be at least around this range.

Already, new developments are required to be built 4m above sea level, and new critical infrastructure like the Tuas Mega Port and Changi Airport Terminal 5 are set to be at least 5m above current sea levels.

Singapore’s new bill is a sure-footed step forward in the direction the rest of the coastal world needs to follow, but as ice melt continues to intensify, sea levels are rising at an unprecedented rate – potentially reaching 1m by 2070. Critically, we need to stay afloat of what is happening in the cryosphere if we are to properly protect our coastal populations. See our “Stop the Melt” factsheets in English and Chinese to get the latest on sea level risks.

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Author: Jamie Chan
Jamie is a Research Analyst at CWR. She contributes to CWR’s research, publications, and monthly newsletters. She brings her experience in ethnographic research on climate adaptation issues to CWR, where she hopes to bridge science, business, policy & culture to build more climate resilience systems. Jamie holds a BA in Anthropology from Yale University and was the 2024 Yale Fox Fellow at the University of Cape Town.
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