The Office of Environmental Policy and Planning has the nationwide authority over environmental regulation, while the authority on the development of land is under the jurisdiction of local authorities.

The Enhancement and Conservation of Natural Environmental Quality Act is a primary law regulating the environmental aspects in the use and occupation of real estate. Additional rules and regulations have been enacted to control the use and occupation for each specific area.

• Construction permit
• Building use permit, required for a building categorized as a controlled-use building, such as a building used in commercial business and as an assembly hall or office
• The approval of the relevant environmental reports, as follows:
  • Health Impact Assessment Report, required for certain industries that may cause serious impact to the community, such as mining, petrochemical and power plants
  • Environmental Impact Assessment Report
  • Initial Environmental Examination Report, required for land in certain sensitive areas such as Phuket, Pattaya and Hua Hin

If the property is a point source of pollution that shall be controlled in regard to the discharge of waste water, waste and/or the emission of polluted air into the environment, the owner or occupier of the property shall be required to construct, install or bring into operation an onsite facility for waste water treatment, waste disposal and/or air pollution control as determined by a competent official.

For factories and buildings categorized as controlled, the owner shall prepare an energy conservation policy that must be posted at a noticeable place in the controlled factory or building, or by another suitable method so that the personnel of the said factory or building may learn of and comply with the policy.

Additionally, the owner of the controlled factory or controlled building shall arrange for an inspection and a certification of energy management from an inspector and certifier. Reports of inspection and certification must be submitted to the authority every year.

Certain types of buildings must arrange for engineering and architectural inspections. Inspections must be conducted annually. A major inspection must be conducted every five years to examine the stability of infrastructure, equipment and security management, among other things.