Harassment and Neighbour Disputes in Singapore
Harassment and disputes between neighbours are two of the most common everyday legal problems in Singapore, and they are handled through two different regimes. This section explains how each one works and points to the detailed guides for the orders, offences and tribunals involved.
This is general legal information, not legal advice. Consult a qualified advocate and solicitor about your situation.
Information last verified on 23 July 2026. This page provides general legal information about Singapore law and is not legal advice in an individual case.
Two regimes, two forums
Singapore separates personal harassment from neighbour disputes, and each has its own law and its own forum.
Harassment, stalking and the publishing of someone's private identity information (doxxing) are governed by the Protection from Harassment Act 2014. Applications for orders and prosecutions under that Act are handled by the Protection from Harassment Court, a specialist court within the State Courts.
Disputes between people who live near one another, such as excessive noise, smell, smoke, littering or obstruction, are governed by the Community Disputes Resolution Act 2015. Those claims go to the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals, which are a separate track from the harassment court.
Protection from Harassment Act (POHA)
POHA creates both criminal offences and civil orders. On the civil side, a victim can apply for a Protection Order, which the court may grant if it is satisfied that a harassment offence has been committed and is likely to continue. In urgent cases the court can grant an Expedited Protection Order as an interim measure.
The 2019 amendments to POHA added the offence of doxxing and the offence of unlawful stalking, and created the Protection from Harassment Court from 1 June 2021. A further round of changes under the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025 took effect on 29 June 2026, extending the law to online stalking and adding orders that can be directed at the administrator of an online space.
The full detail on the offences, the orders and how to apply is in the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA) guide.
Noise and neighbour disputes (CDRA)
The Community Disputes Resolution Act 2015 sets up a statutory claim for interference with a neighbour's reasonable enjoyment of their home, and routes it to the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals. The tribunal can award damages up to S$20,000 and make orders such as an injunction or a court-ordered apology.
The regime was expanded by the Community Disputes Resolution (Amendment) Act 2024, in force from 24 March 2025, which introduced Community Relations Officers and a Mediation Direction framework. As of 2026 that new framework is being piloted in Tampines only, so most residents outside the pilot still rely on voluntary mediation and the tribunal.
The full detail, including who counts as a neighbour and what the tribunal can order, is in the noise complaints and neighbour disputes guide.
Where these sit alongside other claims
Money disputes that are not about harassment or a neighbour's conduct, such as a contract or a consumer claim, usually go to the Small Claims Tribunal instead. The wider legal map for the jurisdiction is on the Singapore law overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between POHA and the CDRA?
The Protection from Harassment Act 2014 deals with harassment, stalking and doxxing aimed at a person, and its cases go to the Protection from Harassment Court. The Community Disputes Resolution Act 2015 deals with disputes between people who live near each other, such as excessive noise or obstruction, and its claims go to the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals. They are separate laws with separate forums.
Which court handles harassment cases in Singapore?
Harassment applications and prosecutions under POHA are handled by the Protection from Harassment Court, a specialist court within the State Courts that has operated since 1 June 2021. Neighbour disputes under the CDRA go instead to the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals.
Can I get money for a noise or neighbour dispute?
The Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals can award damages up to S$20,000 under the CDRA, and can also make orders such as an injunction to stop the conduct or a court-ordered apology. The tribunal is the forum for these disputes rather than the harassment court.
Is mandatory mediation available for neighbour disputes across Singapore?
Not yet. The Mediation Direction framework and the Community Relations Unit introduced by the 2024 amendment to the CDRA are being run as a pilot in Tampines. As of 2026 they have not been rolled out nationwide, so most residents elsewhere still use voluntary mediation and the tribunal.
Sources and References
- Protection from Harassment Act 2014(sso.agc.gov.sg).gov
- Community Disputes Resolution Act 2015(sso.agc.gov.sg).gov
- State Courts of Singapore, Protection from harassment(judiciary.gov.sg).gov
- Ministry of Law, oral answer on community disputes (Parliament, October 2025)(mlaw.gov.sg).gov