Amusement Ride Legislation for Industry Professionals

Ensure amusement ride safety in Singapore. Learn key statutory duties, permit application process, fees, and incident reporting under the Amusement Rides Safety Act 2011.

Last updated 6 March 2026

To ensure amusement ride safety, stakeholders must fulfil the following statutory duties and liabilities as stated in the Amusement Rides Safety Act:

Roles and legal responsibilities for ride operations, detailing duties of Permit Holder, Qualified Person (QP), and Ride Manager.

Position	Legal responsibility
Person Responsible (Holder of Operating Permit)	Has the charge, management, or control of the ride. Overall responsible for all matters concerning ride safety.
Qualified Person (QP) (Appointed by permit applicant/permit holder)	Carries out specific technical duties. These include certifying technical compliance with design codes, supervising ride installations or modifications, and conducting annual inspections certifying that the ride is safe for operation. These are the prerequisites for BCA to issue the Operating Permit.
Ride Manager (Employed by operating permit holder)	Manages and oversees daily operations, plus routine maintenance of the ride. Must possess prescribed technical qualifications and experience.

Permits for operating amusement rides

Permits from BCA are required if you are:

Operating a new or existing amusement ride.
Starting installation works for an amusement ride.
Modifying an amusement ride.

Types of Permits

BCA issues 3 permits in the life cycle of an amusement ride. The permits help to ensure compliance to safety requirements, based on the Amusement Ride Safety Act.

Key requirements and submission deadlines for Installation/Modification and Operating Permits for amusement rides.

Permit type	Key requirements	Submission deadline
Installation/Modification Permit	Design plans, safety assessments, and tests must be reviewed and certified by a Qualified Person (QP).	Approximately 4 weeks before installation or modification begins. Delays may occur if documentation is incomplete, or issues remain unresolved.
Operating Permit	Ride must be inspected and certified safe; requires SCDF certificate of compliance, appointment of a qualified ride manager, and public liability insurance coverage of a minimum of S$1 million per occurrence per amusement ride.	At least 1 month before the intended start date; inspection should also be conducted at least 1 month prior.

Permit application process

Before starting work on an amusement ride, apply for and obtain an installation permit by following these steps:

Meet with BCA for consultation.
Appoint a Qualified Person (QP). For major rides, also appoint a Conformity Assessor.
Have the QP review and certify the ride design.
Get approval from the Commissioner of Civil Defence for fire and rescue system plans.
Get approval from the Commissioner of Building Control for any building works related to the ride.

Submit all amusement ride permit applications via the ARiES portal. If you cannot access the portal, you can also download and complete the relevant forms for manual submission.

Please refer to the following guides for more information about permit applications:

Permit application fees

Revised Amusement Rides Safety Fees (Effective 30 December 2024):

Application fees in SGD for installation, operating, and modification permits for major and other amusement rides.

Application type	Fee (SGD)
Installation Permit – Major Amusement Ride	$2,000
Installation Permit – Other Amusement Ride	$750
Operating Permit (New/Renewal) – Major Ride (≥12 patrons)	$4,500
Operating Permit (New/Renewal) – Major Ride (<12 patrons)	$1,500
Operating Permit (New/Renewal) – Other Amusement Ride	$200
Modification Permit – Major Amusement Ride	$1,000
Modification Permit – Other Amusement Ride	$375

Fees are payable by credit card (except AMEX), PayNow, or internet banking. You can submit all applications via BCA’s ARiES portal. If you are unable to access the ARiES portal, please contact the BCA officer handling your ride, or contact us via our feedback form.

Incident notification

In the case of an adverse amusement ride incident, the ride manager and person responsible must report it to the Commissioner of Amusement Rides Safety as soon as possible. This in accordance to Section 54 of the Amusement Rides Safety Act (Chapter 6A).

This applies to the installation, operation, modification, and relocation stages of the amusement ride.

List of adverse incidents

Adverse incidents are grouped into three categories by severity. The most serious, Category 1, includes ride-related injuries needing hospital or professional medical care.

Please check this webpage regularly for updates to this list.

Category 1

Category 1 amusement ride incidents and the authorities to inform, covering death, injuries, ride failures, derailments, collisions, and restraint system failures.

Area	Category 1 Incident	Authority to inform
Death	Death linked to the ride (e.g., falling objects). Death of an employee or agent during installation, testing, maintenance, or operation.	SCDF, Police, and BCA (MOM for death or injury of employee)
Medium to Serious Ride-Related Injuries	Injuries needing hospital or professional medical care.
Evacuation Using Reach Equipment	Static evacuation using height rescue equipment like boom lifts or rappelling.
Fire	Any fire on or near the ride, including smoke or harmful emissions.
Failure of Ride	Failures where safe operation of the ride are compromised such as: Cracks at load bearing parts Cracks in welds Any ground settlement Movement or deflection beyond design Breakage of lay wires or strands beyond those allowed by standards and manufacturer’s recommendation Kinks, or other damages that affect the strength of haulage rope Physical damage or failure of bungee cord during operation Failure of any load-bearing bolt Dents or bends at truss elements Any drive system, control and safety devices	BCA
Derailment	Derailment/detachment from track or hauling system of any patron carrying unit, such as roller-stocks, capsules or seats.
Collision	Major damage from collisions (excluding bumper cars) resulting in major damage to the cars like dislodgement, bending, or breakage of parts or components.
Restraint System Failure During Operation, Testing, or Inspection	Failure of passenger restraint during operation, testing, or inspection.

Category 2

Category 2 amusement ride incidents and the authority to inform, covering minor injuries, minor collisions, unintended stoppages, and bungee safety device contact.

Area	Category 2 Incident	Authority to inform
Minor Ride-Related Injuries	Localised scrapes or superficial cuts, nose or ear bleed, sprains, and injuries needing only first aid treatment. Other minor ride-related injuries could also arise from: Employee performing testing or demonstration of ride Removing or dislodging an object (such as a mobile phone) from a patron or any part of the ride Disembarkation during a ride evacuation Slipping or falling while in queue for a ride	BCA
Collision	Collision that results only in minor damage of vehicles such as dents.
Unintended Ride Stoppage	Unintended ride stops for more than 10 minutes with patrons on board, due to weather, malfunction, or other factors.
Contact with Safety Device During Use of Bungee Device	Any contact with a safety device outside normal operation or disembarkation.

Note: Employee injuries from slips or falls during maintenance cannot be reported.

Category 3

Category 3 covers any adverse incident not listed in Category 1 or 2. Examples include:

Vomiting or nausea experienced by a patron.
Loss of electrical power to the facility.
Evacuation without using reach equipment, such as offloading patrons via evacuation paths while the ride is operating.
Evacuation at the normal exit of the ride.
Other malfunctions of the amusement ride.

Who to contact in case of incidents

Procedures for reporting amusement ride incidents by category

Type of incident	What to do	Incident report submission
Category 1 and 2 Incidents	Call BCA at 9088 7289, 9782 7296, or at the BCA Hotline 1800-3425-222 as soon as practicable. Call relevant authorities immediately with: Date and time of the incident Location of incident Brief description of the incident Description of any injuries Information about any other parties that have been contacted Name and contact details of the person making the notification	Submit the incident report via the Amusement Ride Incident Form
Category 3 Incidents	-	Submit the incident report via the Amusement Ride Incident Form

Type of incident

What to do

Incident report submission

Category 1 and 2 Incidents

Call BCA at 9088 7289, 9782 7296, or at the BCA Hotline 1800-3425-222 as soon as practicable.

Call relevant authorities immediately with:

Date and time of the incident

Location of incident
Brief description of the incident
Description of any injuries
Information about any other parties that have been contacted
Name and contact details of the person making the notification

Submit the incident report via the Amusement Ride Incident Form

Category 3 Incidents