Bangkok —
On September 19, 2024, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesperson Ekwaranyu Amrapal announced that Governor Chadchart Sittipunthas signed a new regulation outlining updated criteria and conditions for street vending on public roads and spaces in Bangkok.
The guidelines aim to enhance public safety, ensure pedestrian access, and improve the management of street vending, according to the BMA spokesperson.
Under the new rules, streets with three or more traffic lanes must maintain a pedestrian walkway of at least 2 meters when vendors set up stalls. On streets with fewer than three lanes, vendors must leave at least 1.5 meters for pedestrians.
Stalls must not exceed 3 square meters, with a maximum depth of 1.5 meters, and can only be set up on one side of the street, at least 50 centimeters away from the traffic lane.
Additionally, for every 10 stalls, a 3-meter gap must be maintained for emergency access. The design and appearance of stalls, including umbrellas and roofs, must be orderly and appropriate for the area.
Vendor qualifications include Thai nationality and meeting specific criteria, such as holding a government welfare card, having income below 300,000 baht per year, or being a participant in the National Housing Authority’s low-income housing schemes.
Vendors must register with district offices and pay tax and are limited to selling in one designated area. District offices will review these vending zones every one to two years to assess the suitability and necessity of allowing street vending in the area.
