Guidelines for Pickleball Play in HDB Public Courts Given Its Rising Popularity and Potential Noise Disamenities
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the inquiry by Associate Professor Jamus Jerome Lim on establishing guidelines for pickleball in Housing and Development Board (HDB) courts to manage noise disamenities. Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance Chee Hong Tat responded that existing community noise guidelines for quiet hours between 10.30 pm and 7.00 am apply to these common spaces. Between January 2024 and August 2025, 701 complaints were received, prompting Town Councils to implement local measures such as restricted usage hours and grassroots mediation. Town Councils may also apply to HDB for conversion works or sound dampeners, provided the proposals meet technical and safety requirements. HDB evaluates such applications to ensure recreational needs are balanced with the mitigation of potential disamenities for residents.
Transcript
67 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for National Development whether there are plans to issue guidelines or regulations for pickleball play in HDB public courts given its rising popularity and potential noise disamenities.
Mr Chee Hong Tat: My response will also cover the matters in the questions raised by Ms Yeo Wan Ling and Mr Jackson Lam, which are scheduled for a subsequent Sitting. If their questions are sufficiently addressed today, they may wish to withdraw their questions. [Please refer to "Pickleball-related Noise Complaints in Residential Estates and Measures to Balance Recreation with Residents' Rest", Official Report, 26 September 2025, Vol 96, Issue 6, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section.]
Under existing guidelines on community noise, residents are advised to be considerate towards others and observe the quiet hours between 10.30 pm and 7.00 am. This guideline applies to neighbours as well as common spaces, which include game courts in Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates.
Between January 2024 and August 2025, the Municipal Services Office received a total of 701 complaints about noise arising from pickleball play in HDB estates.
The Town Councils (TCs) have been implementing measures at the local level to address residents' concerns. These include putting up advisories, working with grassroots leaders to mediate between residents and pickleball players, and restricting the use of the game courts to certain hours.
On the Member's suggestion to convert sports facilities into multi-purpose facilities with safety enhancements and sound dampeners, TCs may apply to HDB for landowner's consent to carry out such conversion works. In approving such applications, HDB will consider whether the proposal meets prevailing technical and safety requirements, and whether it will cause disamenities, among other factors.