Plenty of building owners in Singapore pay the full price for a green roof or a living wall , and never find out that the government might have covered up to half of it. The Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme (SGIS) has been quietly funding rooftop and vertical greenery since 2009, and it’s still running in 2026. Yet most people we speak to have either never heard of it or assume it’s only for big developers. Here’s how it actually works, who qualifies, and how to claim it.
What the Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme actually covers
SGIS is run by the National Parks Board to encourage greenery on existing buildings, as part of Singapore’s City in Nature vision under the Singapore Green Plan 2030. In plain terms: if you add a qualifying green roof or green wall to an existing building, NParks can reimburse a share of your installation cost.
It has funded more than 200 buildings so far , edible community rooftop gardens, therapeutic roof gardens, extensive green roofs and lush vertical green walls. The point of the scheme isn’t decoration; it’s cooling, biodiversity and liveability in a dense city. That framing matters, because your application is assessed partly on how well your project contributes to those goals.
How much you can claim under SGIS
The headline is simple: the scheme funds up to 50% of installation costs, subject to a cap that depends on the type of greenery.
Rooftop greenery
Up to 50% of installation cost, capped at around S$200 per square metre of planted roof area. Green roofs are the workhorse of the scheme , extensive planting over a properly waterproofed and drained roof.
Vertical greenery
Up to 50% of installation cost, capped at around S$500 per square metre of green coverage. Living walls cost more per square metre to build and maintain, which is reflected in the higher cap.
One caveat worth saying plainly: grant caps and terms do get reviewed. Always confirm the current figures on the official NParks Skyrise Greenery site before you build your budget around them. The numbers above are the 2026 position at the time of writing.
Want to know if your building qualifies?
We handle SGIS-eligible rooftop and vertical greenery projects end to end , design, waterproofing, installation and the maintenance that keeps the grant valid. Tell us about your building and we’ll tell you honestly whether it’s worth applying.
Ask us about SGIS eligibility →
Who’s eligible , and who isn’t
This is where a lot of homeowners get disappointed, so let’s be direct about it.
SGIS supports new rooftop and vertical greenery on these existing development types: institution and community buildings (schools, hospitals, places of worship, community centres, public buildings), commercial developments, industrial developments, non-landed residential developments (common areas only), and mixed-use developments.
The building must physically exist and be occupied at the time of application, or be undergoing Additions and Alterations works. The applicant must be an owner or a tenant of the premises, and must not be receiving another grant for the same greenery.
The catch for private homeowners: a standalone landed house generally won’t qualify, and in a condominium it’s the common areas that are eligible, not your private balcony or roof terrace. If you own a landed home, SGIS usually isn’t your route , but there’s still a strong case for building the garden well, and we’re happy to talk through the options.
How to apply for the SGIS grant, step by step
The process is more straightforward than the paperwork makes it look, especially if your contractor has done it before.
Step 1 , Submit an application. You provide your proposed rooftop or vertical greenery plan and the estimated installation cost to NParks before you start work. Applying after you’ve built is the most common, most avoidable mistake.
Step 2 , Get approval. NParks assesses the project on its merits and its contribution to climate, ecological and social resilience. Approval comes before installation.
Step 3 , Install within the required window. Once approved, the greenery has to be installed within the scheme’s timeframe. Build it properly , waterproofing, root barrier, drainage and the right plant palette , because it has to survive an inspection.
Step 4 , Pass the site inspection. NParks inspects to confirm the planned greenery coverage has genuinely been achieved before reimbursement. Skimpy planting that doesn’t meet the coverage target puts your claim at risk.
Step 5 , Submit the reimbursement form. After completion and inspection, you submit for reimbursement of the approved share of your costs.
This is the part most guides skip.
What the grant looks like in real dollars
The percentages are easier to grasp with a worked example. Imagine a commercial building adding an extensive green roof over 300 square metres of planted area, with an installation cost of S$150,000 , roughly S$500 per square metre.
The scheme funds up to 50% of installation cost, but it’s also capped per square metre. For rooftop greenery that cap sits around S$200 per square metre, so on 300 square metres the reimbursement is limited to about S$60,000 rather than the full 50% of S$150,000. The building owner still receives a substantial sum , but the per-square-metre cap, not the 50% headline, is what sets the ceiling on a well-finished roof.
The lesson: run both calculations , 50% of your cost, and the per-square-metre cap times your area , and budget around the lower of the two. A good contractor will do this with you before you apply, so there are no surprises at reimbursement.
The five-year condition most people miss
SGIS isn’t a build-it-and-forget-it cheque. Approved projects come with a maintenance obligation , typically a five-year period during which the greenery must be kept alive and intact.
Reduce the green area during that period without NParks’ approval, and the funding can be recovered on a pro-rated basis. In other words, if your green roof dies from neglect two years in, you may have to give some of the grant back. This is exactly why we build SGIS projects with maintenance designed in from the start , the grant rewards greenery that lasts, not greenery that photographs well on day one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme?
The Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme (SGIS) is an NParks funding scheme that reimburses up to 50% of the cost of installing rooftop or vertical greenery on eligible existing buildings in Singapore. It supports the City in Nature vision under the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and has funded more than 200 buildings since 2009.
How much can I get from SGIS?
Up to 50% of installation costs, capped at around S$200 per square metre for rooftop greenery and around S$500 per square metre for vertical greenery. Caps are reviewed over time, so confirm the current figures with NParks before budgeting. The final amount depends on your planted area and approved costs.
Can I get an SGIS grant for my landed house?
Generally no. A standalone landed home usually isn’t eligible. In condominiums, only common areas qualify, not private balconies or roof terraces. SGIS is aimed at commercial, industrial, institutional, community and non-landed residential common-area greenery on existing buildings.
Do I apply before or after installing the greenery?
Before. You must submit your application and get approval from NParks before installation begins. Applying after the work is done is the most common reason owners miss out on the funding entirely.
What happens if the greenery dies after I get the grant?
SGIS comes with a maintenance obligation, typically five years. If the green area is reduced during that period without NParks’ approval, the funding can be recovered on a pro-rated basis. Building with maintenance designed in protects both the greenery and your grant.
The bottom line
If you own or lease an eligible building, the Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme can turn a green roof or living wall from a nice-to-have into an easy yes. The money is real, the scheme is active in 2026, and the main reasons people miss out are simple: they never checked eligibility, or they built before applying. Get those two right and half the cost can come back to you , as long as the greenery is built to last.
Thinking about a green roof or living wall?
We design, waterproof, install and maintain SGIS-eligible greenery across Singapore , and we’ll guide you through the application so nothing trips up your claim. Start with a free eligibility chat.
