Noise Limits

Noise Law in Thailand

A summary of the most-used Thai legal noise limits and standards — for anyone checking whether the noise around them is 'over the legal limit'.

Legal limit	Who it applies to / enforcement	Notification / law
Construction noise Must not exceed 75 dBA measured 30 m from the construction boundary	All construction projects in BangkokEnforced by: District Office	Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Ordinance, B.E. 2544 (2001)
Business premises / entertainment venues Average level over operating hours not exceeding 90 dBA Maximum level not exceeding 110 dBA	Business premises and entertainment venues in BangkokEnforced by: District Office	Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Regulation on Businesses Hazardous to Health, B.E. 2548 (2005)
General noise standard 24-hour average level ≤ 70 dBA Maximum level ≤ 115 dBA	Business premises and industrial factories of all typesEnforced by: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Ministry of Industry	National Environment Board Notification No. 15 (B.E. 2540 / 1997) Measurement method: Department of Industrial Works Notification on methods for measuring the disturbance noise level, the 24-hour average noise level and the maximum noise level arising from factory operations, B.E. 2567 (2024)
Nuisance noise standard Must not exceed 10 dBA above the background level Exceeding it constitutes a legal nuisance	Any activity causing disturbance — business to public, public to public, business to business, or state agency to publicEnforced by: Local authorities, municipalities, District Offices, Pollution Control Department	National Environment Board Notification No. 29 (B.E. 2550 / 2007) Department of Health Notification Measurement method: Pollution Control Committee Notification on methods for measuring the background noise level and the ambient level without disturbance, measuring and calculating the level during disturbance, calculating the disturbance level, and the noise-disturbance record form, B.E. 2565 (2022)
Vehicle and motorcycle exhaust noise Must not exceed 95 dBA	Vehicle usersEnforced by: Pollution Control Department; Department of Land Transport	Department of Land Transport Notification, B.E. 2563 (2020)
Occupational noise standard Average level over an 8-hour working day ≤ 85 dBA Above that, the employer must provide hearing protection and train employees in its use Above 85 dBA: hearing damage begins Above 140 dB: work in that area is strictly prohibited	Employers, operators and industrial factoriesEnforced by: Department of Labour Protection and Welfare	Department of Labour Protection and Welfare Notification on the standard noise level permitted for employees averaged over each working day, B.E. 2561 (Royal Gazette, 26 January 2018) Ministerial Regulation on standards for the administration, management and operation of occupational safety, health and working environment concerning heat, light and noise, B.E. 2559 (2016)
Rock quarrying noise standard Average level over an 8-hour working day ≤ 75 dBA 24-hour average level ≤ 70 dBA Maximum level ≤ 115 dBA	Quarry operatorsEnforced by: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Pollution Control Department	Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Notification

Notes

All values use dBA weighting for general impact; dBC may also be considered where low-frequency noise dominates.
Where a tone is clearly audible (tonal noise), an expert assessment should be made — it may meet the conditions for a 5 dBA penalty correction.
For very low-frequency noise, such as wind turbines, dBG weighting may be considered in the impact assessment.
The disturbance level is the difference between the measured level during the disturbance and the background level (LA90), with a time correction applied.
Results count as legal evidence only when taken with calibrated equipment, at the correct location and time, and assessed by an independent expert.

This summary reflects the law in force at the time of writing. Laws and notifications can change — please verify against the latest Royal Gazette, or consult Geonoise for accuracy in your specific case.

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