New Samui Development Plans

The latest news for Samui is that the government has issued plans to enforce strict building zones around Samui before the end of this year. At present the whole island is still for sale and sold as if it is allowed to develop and build on every piece land in Samui. Under the new development regulations large areas of mountain, forest, nature areas, etc will become non-development zones. Meaning the government will not issue any new building permits within these zones and land may become worthless for residential purpose. Large and small investors who are currently buying plots of raw land or land that is in the process of being sub-divided may never be able to build their holiday home or develop the land.....

Foreigners are often misled (not only by the property dealers) by zone restrictions issued under the Building Control Act, governing the construction of buildings in the area where the building is located. These are only the general building restrictions. There are exemptions and zone restrictions or protected areas under other laws.

Construction in Thailand is mainly regulated by the Building Control Act and the City Planning Act, both of which have been extensively revised in 1992. While the former provides for governmental control of virtually all types of construction by means of various applications and punishment in case of violation, the latter deals with the permissible uses of land in different zones. A landowner may only use his land to the extent that the use is not prohibited in the zone or development plan to which his land belongs. With the new development plans for Samui landowners may see their land become worthless....