No. Removing sand from Thai beaches violates the Beach Protection Act B.E. 2558 (2015) and the Mineral Resources Act B.E. 2560 (2017), with penalties including fines up to 100,000 THB and imprisonment. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) and the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) enforce these prohibitions, particularly in protected zones like Phuket, Krabi, and Koh Samui. Recent 2026 compliance directives mandate drone surveillance and community reporting to curb illegal extraction.
Key Regulations for Taking Sand from the Beach in Thailand
- Beach Protection Act B.E. 2558 (2015): Prohibits the removal, excavation, or destruction of sand in coastal areas without explicit permission from the DMCR. Violations trigger administrative penalties and criminal prosecution under Section 37.
- Mineral Resources Act B.E. 2560 (2017): Classifies beach sand as a “common mineral,” requiring a mining license for extraction. Unlicensed removal constitutes theft of state resources, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and fines up to 500,000 THB under Section 102.
- Local Ordinances: Provincial governments (e.g., Phang Nga, Surat Thani) impose additional restrictions in ecologically sensitive zones. The 2026 DMCR circular mandates prior environmental impact assessments for any sand-related activities, even for scientific purposes.