Authorities have set a final deadline of 7 July 2025 for the demolition of more than 30 beachside buildings in Hua Hin that have been deemed illegal due to encroachment on public coastal land.
The order comes from the Regional Marine Department Office in Prachuap Khiri Khan, which is working in coordination with Hua Hin City Municipality to enforce a demolition order originally issued in 2020. Officials say repeated warnings and delays have not led to compliance, prompting them to move forward with legal enforcement.
While officials maintain that the structures are illegally built on public land, some owners and occupants have claimed they were given documentation and assurances in the past that their buildings were legal. Following discussions in 2024, some said they had operated their businesses in good faith for years, believing they were authorised to do so.
On 24 June, Deputy Mayor Bussaba Choksuchart chaired a meeting at Hua Hin City Hall to discuss the next steps for dismantling the unauthorised structures. Representatives from various municipal departments attended, along with Mr Apisit Khamphiro, Director of the Marine Department’s regional office. Local residents were invited but did not attend the meeting.
Officials said residents now have until 7 July to voluntarily remove the structures. After that date, the Marine Department has stated it will take legal action to clear the area and address what it describes as environmental and public safety concerns.
The buildings in question include homes, guesthouses, and seafood restaurants, many of which have become familiar fixtures in the area over several decades. They are located along Naresdamri Road, stretching from the Fishing Pier to the Chaomae Tubtim Shrine, a section of Hua Hin’s beachfront long associated with local business and tourism.
Efforts to remove these structures have spanned more than a decade. In 2016, authorities sought to enforce a 2014 court ruling that ordered the demolition of 52 buildings encroaching on the beachfront. Arrest warrants were issued for some non-compliant owners, though no arrests were made at the time. A task force of police, military, and anti-corruption officials was also formed to investigate those involved and to hold local officials accountable for any negligence.
Despite some progress, including the removal of a few buildings and the partial demolition of others, many structures remain intact. In some cases, the concrete foundations of previously dismantled buildings still litter the shoreline.
In 2017, Kaow Mongkonthitiporn, the owner of the long-running Saeng Thai Seafood restaurant, agreed to demolish his premises after receiving an order from Hua Hin municipality. He admitted having no formal land ownership documents but said his family had operated in the area for more than three decades. Several other food vendors also agreed to comply with the demolition order issued that same year.
However, most of the properties remained in place, with some owners claiming to have documentation regarding the legality of their structures. In 2024, the issue resurfaced when municipal officials again raised concerns, reigniting debate about the future of the area.
With the latest deadline now in place, the dispute appears to have reached a critical stage. Whether the July enforcement date will result in meaningful change remains to be seen, but authorities say they are prepared to act if voluntary compliance is not achieved.