Sengkang Town Council in SG Bans Pickleball on Courts Near Homes, Caps Hours from 1 November 2026
Singapore’s pickleball boom has run into another wall, and this one is made of public housing blocks.
Sengkang Town Council will ban pickleball on certain courts and limit play hours at the rest from 1 November. The measures are meant to tackle noise complaints, Sengkang Member of Parliament Abdul Muhaimin said in an Instagram post on 21 October.
What Changes
Under the new rules, courts judged too close to residential blocks, or which received an unspecified percentage of votes from residents, will be banned. Nine courts will remain open to pickleball:
- Anchorvale Vista, near Block 310B
- Anchorvale Vista, near Block 312A
- Aspella, near Block 275B
- Compassvale North Gate, near Block 262C
- Rivervale Gardens, near Block 120D
- Rivervale Bank, near Block 121B
- Rivervale View, near Block 161
- Rivervale Shores, near Block 175
- Rivervale Haven, near Block 197
Even at those nine, players will only be able to use the courts between 10am and 7:30pm from 1 November. Signage will state the permitted hours, and pickleball lines will be painted on the courts. At banned courts, signs will say so, and the lines will be removed.
How They Got Here
Residents voted on the two measures and chose them as the most acceptable options, according to the post. The decision also drew on pickleball survey data and the town council’s on-site research. Factors considered included the distance between courts and homes, resident feedback, the sound frequency of games, and site layout and environmental features.
“Balancing the diverse needs of residents can be challenging,” the post said. The town council said it hopes to support residents who enjoy active lifestyles while respecting those who value a quieter environment for rest and recuperation.
Not the First
Sengkang is the latest town council to act. In 2025, Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council banned pickleball on its community badminton court after noise complaints. Ang Mo Kio has set court hours of 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and it cited feedback about prolonged noise and court congestion, especially late at night. Mountbatten announced earlier this year that it would introduce foam-ball-only sessions in the mornings and evenings.
The foam-ball idea has some data behind it. Balls made from high-density foam have been shown to cut noise to around 60 decibels, comparable to normal conversation, versus the typical 70 to 80 decibels of a standard pickleball.
A Wider Problem
The numbers suggest this won’t be the last such move. According to reported statistics, pickleball has triggered more than 700 noise complaints over an 18-month period, with monthly court bookings rising to nearly 8,000.
Of course, rules like these cut both ways. Players lose courts and hours, while residents near the banned courts get relief. Indeed, with demand soaring and space scarce, the real test for Singapore may be whether it can build enough suitable venues (indoor, away from homes) to keep the sport growing without keeping neighbours awake.
