Relevant laws in the case of wanting to sell things in front of the house
Last updated: 3 Aug 2025
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One question readers have asked about is the legal implications of operating a front-of-house store. Today, we'll discuss the details.
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Is it legal to operate a front-of-house store, such as a grocery store?
There are no specific laws governing front-of-house stores, but each type of product must be regulated by the relevant laws.
Most commonly sold by grocery stores are cigarettes and alcohol, which require a sales license from the Excise Department. Sales of cigarettes are prohibited to children under 20 years of age. Alcohol also has specific times and days when sales are prohibited.
Pharmaceuticals are permitted, but only common household medications are permitted. Other drugs are prohibited. Products that require FDA approval, such as prepared foods, cosmetics, and medical devices, must be properly FDA-approved. Without FDA approval, they cannot be sold.
Products that require Thai Industrial Standards (TIS) certification, such as power strips and electrical appliances, must be TIS-approved. Playing cards must be licensed by the Excise Department. For example, scales must be licensed by the Ministry of Commerce.
In addition to the above, there are also tax issues. If you earn 1,800,000 baht or more per year, whether as an individual or a juristic person, you must register for VAT. Products or services sold from your store must be added to the VAT and submitted to the Revenue Department monthly.
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Is it possible to operate a front-of-house food store?
Regarding food stores, they differ from grocery stores in that they are governed by specific laws. The Public Health Act requires that restaurant owners obtain a food sales and storage license from local authorities. For example, in Bangkok, this must be obtained from the district office, or in other provinces, from the local administrative organization.
If your store sells alcoholic beverages for sitting and drinking or tobacco, you must obtain a license to sell alcohol and tobacco. For stores located on public roads, you must obtain a license to sell goods in public places or roads, all of which must be obtained from local authorities.
Regarding tax If food sales generate revenue exceeding 1,800,000 baht per year, you must also register for VAT, similar to grocery sales.
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Is there a difference between operating a front-of-house shop in a housing development and a house outside of a housing development?
Selling groceries or food in a housing development is different from selling outside of a housing development in that you must consider the rules and regulations of the housing development to determine whether it is permitted. If it is not permitted and you persist in doing so, you may face enforcement measures from the housing development (whether or not it is registered as a juristic person).
For example, prohibiting customers from entering the development, prohibiting customers from parking, imposing wheel locks, issuing regulations to collect fines, or notifying local authorities with jurisdiction to inspect licenses and prohibit the operation.
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In the case of a front-of-house shop that affects the rights of neighboring houses,
It is natural that operating a front-of-house shop, whether a grocery store or a restaurant, may affect neighboring houses. This could be due to odors, noise, smoke, waste, or sewage, or even a large number of customers disturbing a neighbor's house or parking. This matter must be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Regarding issues with criminal penalties, such as odors, noise, smoke, waste, or sewage, the Public Health Act and the Cleanliness and Orderliness Act stipulate measures for these pollutants.
Local authorities, such as district offices or local administrative organizations, have the authority to order corrections or cessation of these activities, and have the power to prosecute criminal cases with fines or imprisonment.
In some cases, neighbors who are affected can file a complaint with these authorities. Even if the business has all the required permits, if the disturbance is later caused by unlawful activity, the license may be revoked.
Parking obstructing a no-parking zone is an offense under the Land Traffic Act. Affected neighbors can file a complaint with the local police, who have the authority to enforce the law.
Regarding cases where no criminal penalties apply, such as a large number of people passing by a neighbor's house or a frequent delivery driver or delivery driver, even if the area is on public land, Or, cars entering and exiting the neighborhood all day, even if they aren't blocking public roads.
In this case, if the disturbance to neighboring houses is so severe that it disrupts normal daily life, the affected neighbors can file a civil lawsuit to seek damages from the shop. In this case, there is no criminal penalty, as the court's judgment in the civil case only forces the losing party to pay damages.
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Thank you for the great information from DD Property.
___________________________________________
Is it legal to operate a front-of-house store, such as a grocery store?
There are no specific laws governing front-of-house stores, but each type of product must be regulated by the relevant laws.
Most commonly sold by grocery stores are cigarettes and alcohol, which require a sales license from the Excise Department. Sales of cigarettes are prohibited to children under 20 years of age. Alcohol also has specific times and days when sales are prohibited.
Pharmaceuticals are permitted, but only common household medications are permitted. Other drugs are prohibited. Products that require FDA approval, such as prepared foods, cosmetics, and medical devices, must be properly FDA-approved. Without FDA approval, they cannot be sold.
Products that require Thai Industrial Standards (TIS) certification, such as power strips and electrical appliances, must be TIS-approved. Playing cards must be licensed by the Excise Department. For example, scales must be licensed by the Ministry of Commerce.
In addition to the above, there are also tax issues. If you earn 1,800,000 baht or more per year, whether as an individual or a juristic person, you must register for VAT. Products or services sold from your store must be added to the VAT and submitted to the Revenue Department monthly.
___________________________________________
Is it possible to operate a front-of-house food store?
Regarding food stores, they differ from grocery stores in that they are governed by specific laws. The Public Health Act requires that restaurant owners obtain a food sales and storage license from local authorities. For example, in Bangkok, this must be obtained from the district office, or in other provinces, from the local administrative organization.
If your store sells alcoholic beverages for sitting and drinking or tobacco, you must obtain a license to sell alcohol and tobacco. For stores located on public roads, you must obtain a license to sell goods in public places or roads, all of which must be obtained from local authorities.
Regarding tax If food sales generate revenue exceeding 1,800,000 baht per year, you must also register for VAT, similar to grocery sales.
___________________________________________
Is there a difference between operating a front-of-house shop in a housing development and a house outside of a housing development?
Selling groceries or food in a housing development is different from selling outside of a housing development in that you must consider the rules and regulations of the housing development to determine whether it is permitted. If it is not permitted and you persist in doing so, you may face enforcement measures from the housing development (whether or not it is registered as a juristic person).
For example, prohibiting customers from entering the development, prohibiting customers from parking, imposing wheel locks, issuing regulations to collect fines, or notifying local authorities with jurisdiction to inspect licenses and prohibit the operation.
___________________________________________
In the case of a front-of-house shop that affects the rights of neighboring houses,
It is natural that operating a front-of-house shop, whether a grocery store or a restaurant, may affect neighboring houses. This could be due to odors, noise, smoke, waste, or sewage, or even a large number of customers disturbing a neighbor's house or parking. This matter must be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Regarding issues with criminal penalties, such as odors, noise, smoke, waste, or sewage, the Public Health Act and the Cleanliness and Orderliness Act stipulate measures for these pollutants.
Local authorities, such as district offices or local administrative organizations, have the authority to order corrections or cessation of these activities, and have the power to prosecute criminal cases with fines or imprisonment.
In some cases, neighbors who are affected can file a complaint with these authorities. Even if the business has all the required permits, if the disturbance is later caused by unlawful activity, the license may be revoked.
Parking obstructing a no-parking zone is an offense under the Land Traffic Act. Affected neighbors can file a complaint with the local police, who have the authority to enforce the law.
Regarding cases where no criminal penalties apply, such as a large number of people passing by a neighbor's house or a frequent delivery driver or delivery driver, even if the area is on public land, Or, cars entering and exiting the neighborhood all day, even if they aren't blocking public roads.
In this case, if the disturbance to neighboring houses is so severe that it disrupts normal daily life, the affected neighbors can file a civil lawsuit to seek damages from the shop. In this case, there is no criminal penalty, as the court's judgment in the civil case only forces the losing party to pay damages.
___________________________________________
Thank you for the great information from DD Property.
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