Obtaining a Building License in Thailand

Obtaining a Building License in Thailand

By Chaninat & Leeds

The following article is a rough outline of some of the regulations set out in the Building Control Act B.E. 2522 [1](henceforth referred to as “the Act”), specifically concerning application for a building license. The Act centers on implications surrounding matters other than requests for a building license, however these will not be included below. For specifics and additional information, refer to the Act or contact a local governmental office as appropriate. Furthermore, it is important to note that other laws exist for different types of construction. You will thus need to abide by all the laws applicable to what you are intending to build. The subsections and other laws governing construction of specific types of buildings are issued by different administrative departments. As this article only seeks to inform you of the preliminary information, the particulars for each building type which will not be covered in this article.

Under Thai law, you are obligated to obtain authorization from the local administration for constructing, altering, and moving buildings[2]. The definition of ‘buildings’ according to the Act covers a wide variety of edifices such as but not limited to houses, shops, bridges, tunnels, piers, signs, and parking lots[3]. The local administrator will consider applications for licenses according to standards and restrictions concerning numerous aspects of construction. These may include the physical form of the building itself such as size, shape, proportion, weight support and the materials used for construction. Technicalities such as the number and types of washrooms, as well as water, gas, and electrical systems planning will also be taken into account. The local administration will also regard safety plans for the prevention and management of fire or other hazards should they occur. Other environmental factors such as water drainage, waste disposal, the building’s location in relation to other buildings, public space and streets will be taken into consideration as well[4]. As mentioned earlier, depending on the type of building you are looking to construct, additional or different restrictions may apply.