Building Regulations Koh Samui
Building regulations Koh Samui – So many islands around the world have a booming real estate trade, so if you’re looking to build a house on one of them, then you’re in luck to have landed here. Koh Samui, an island off the coast of Thailand is a great option for you, with beautiful vistas and beaches all around. The island is a popular tourist spot, so if you love meeting new people, they will never be scarce here.
Islands have always had an allure that just can’t be replicated anywhere else. It’s obvious with the way that Hollywood superstars and wealthy individuals find themselves islands to settle on. There are numerous wonderful islands around the world which are home to gorgeous beaches and the booming tourism industry. These islands give such peace and a closeness to nature that is unique, and everyone desires to live amongst such beauty.
What Are the Building Regulations on the Island of Koh Samui?
There are numerous reasons to want to build on the island of Koh Samui: perhaps a lovely home to retire to after a long illustrious career, maybe you are hoping to set up your business on the island, or maybe a beach house for you and the family to come to during the vacation months. Either way, it is absolutely integral to be familiar with the building regulations Koh Samui if you’re planning to build.
Being an island, Koh Samui has limited space and as such, significant and strict zoning regulations. Only certain zones are allowed for real estate purposes, so you must ensure that whichever plot you are planning to purchase is in an appropriate zone. The zones that are the most appropriate for residential purposes are zones 1, 2, and 3; while the zone best for commercial purposes is zone 3. However, each zone has individual nuances that must be taken into account.
Building Regulations for Each Zone
Building Regulations Koh Samui – Zone 1:
Intended as a low-density residential area, zone 1 is a viable choice for individuals looking to build a home on the island in a place that won’t have too many neighbors. Zone 1 is also the residential area with the most land area on Koh Samui. However, some building regulations on zone 1 in Koh Samui need to be noted when building.
All land 10 meters from the coast should not be built on, regardless of the need.
All land 6 meters from a municipal water conduit should not be built on, regardless of the need.
A building up to 50 meters from the coast can only be constructed to a maximum height of 6 meters, and a maximum area of 75 square meters.
A building between 50 to 200 meters from the coast can only be constructed to a maximum height of 12 meters, and a maximum area of up to 2000 square meters.
A building 200 or more meters from the coast can only be constructed to a maximum height of 12 meters.
The structure cannot take up all the space of the plot, and the space surrounding the structure must constitute two-fifths of the entire plot.
Building Regulations Koh Samui – Zone 2:
Zone 2 is also a residential area, and is appropriate for individuals looking to build on Koh Samui. The population density in this area is greater than that of zone 2. You will find that the building regulations of zone 2 are similar to that of zone 1. However, the following must be noticed:
Any hotels being constructed in zone 2 must not take up at most half of the plot, as the space surrounding the structure must constitute exactly half of the area of the plot at least. This space must also be left green.
Any large-scale residential projects in zone 2, that is, residential projects consisting of more than 10 different housing units on Koh Samui, must be approved for proper facilities as regards the water supply and waste disposal.
Building Regulations Koh Samui – Zone 3:
Zone 3 is intended as a zone for both residential and commercial purposes. There are some additional building regulations, which must be noted for any construction bound to take place in zone 3 on Koh Samui. The regulations include the following:
All plots intended for recreational purposes can only contain one building structure.
All residential buildings can only be built to a maximum height of 6 meters.
All residential buildings can only occupy a maximum area, which is exactly half of the total area of the plot. The surrounding space must be at least half of the total area of the plot and must be left green.
All residential building plots being built upon must have an area greater than 400 square meters.
All residential buildings must have a water-drainage system approved by the Town and City Planning Act.
All residential buildings must be built with an architectural style, which demonstrates Thai or tropical architectural design.
All residential buildings must have roofing, which spans over at least four-fifths of the total building area.
All residential buildings must have roofing, which is toned to match the surroundings of the building.
Buildings in zone 3.2, that is, buildings located on any land in zone 3, which is over 140 meters above sea level in Koh Samui, must not exceed a total area of 90 square meters.
It must be noted, however, that regardless of the zone, all buildings must be constructed with peaked roofs. Also, buildings on gradients exceeding 50 degrees are prohibited. Gradients between 35 to 50 degrees have additional regulations, however:
The plot can only hold a single residential building.
The total area of the plot must be at least 480 square meters.
All residential buildings must cover a maximum area of 80 square meters.
All residential buildings may cover a maximum area which is three-fourths of the total area of the plot, and this land must be green.
Half of the green land must be populated with native trees of Koh Samui.
Cost of Building on Koh Samui
Koh Samui is an absolutely gorgeous place to settle down, and the beauty and the beaches of the area make it a place in high demand. Unsurprisingly, many people clamor for plots on the island, particularly those on the beachside, and as a result, the prices are rather high. Prime beachfront locations can cost as much as $4 million, while less in demand regions further away from the shore is only about $500,000. Island real estate is in ridiculously high demand, and it shows in the pricing of these premium plots.
However, it is important to know that the straight-up purchase of land on Koh Samui is difficult. Most land is owned by the residents, and it is a very popular scheme to lease the land from the owner rather than purchase it outright. Prices for the actual construction vary between companies, and it is important to search around extensively for the company that works best for you.
How Long Does Construction Take?
Foreigners cannot own land, but they can own the structure they build on top of it. The land must either be leased or purchased by a Thai establishment. The first thing that needs to be done on Koh Samui when intending to build a structure is to obtain a building permit, which takes at least 45 days to have processed. Following that, there are numerous other steps that need to be taken, but these are best handled by your builder, who can expedite the process with their good relations with the people of the area.
Actual construction of a building is, of course, dependent on the contractor you decide on, and how readily available the funds are for construction. It is also a good idea to have a lawyer verify all legal documents to prevent any issues or scams down the line. The land on Koh Samui is too expensive to be scammed out of it.
Koh Samui is an absolutely gorgeous spot for both tourists and foreigners looking for spots for business investment or a place to settle down during the holidays or permanently. Due to the high demand of the land for real estate and the efforts of the government to avoid wild encroachment of the beautiful island with new buildings, a lot of hoops must be jumped through to finally be ready to build on Koh Samui. However, if you follow all the building regulations shown above, and do business with a reliable contractor, your dream house on the island will soon be a reality.
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