Hua Hin municipality has begun preparations to demolish 26 structures found to be encroaching on a public beach, despite a last-minute court bid by some owners seeking recognition of their occupancy rights.
Mayor Nopporn Wutthikul led 100 city officials to the disputed waterfront area on Friday 25 September 2026, after the municipality signed a contract with a demolition firm on Thursday. The buildings stand along around 500 metres of beach between the fishing pier and the Goddess of the Sea shrine in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Demolition work planned over 120 days
The dispute concerns 40 structures in total, many with long wooden piers extending into the sea. They include businesses such as restaurants and tourist accommodation.
Fourteen owners have already removed their buildings voluntarily. The remaining 26 properties are subject to a 2014 Supreme Administrative Court ruling which found they had been built illegally on public beach land.
Mr Nopporn said 15 waterfront buildings were due to be removed during a 120-day period, although demolition had not started during the site visit.
The municipality will pay for the removal of 15 buildings, while the Marine Department will fund work on the other 11.
"The municipality will carry out the work based on all the facts and will strictly follow all legal proceedings with fairness," Mr Nopporn said in a Facebook post.
He said Friday's visit was intended to collect information, coordinate with the contractor and state agencies, plan the work and explain the process to those affected.
Residents seek temporary protection
The legal fight over the beach dates back to around 2002. Some owners are now asking the Hua Hin Provincial Court to grant temporary protection allowing them to remain, while others have agreed to comply with the Supreme Administrative Court decision.
Mr Nopporn said authorities were awaiting the court's response. Unless a court order stops the work, he said the municipality and other agencies must continue enforcing the demolition orders or could themselves face dereliction-of-duty charges.
Residents opposing the removals say their community has existed for about 190 years. They cite house registrations and permanent water and electricity connections as evidence that authorities had acknowledged their presence.
A residents' representative said a court had previously declined to accept their petition to establish those rights, and that they are now appealing.
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27 September 2026
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