How to Check Land Expropriation Zones (Preliminary) Before Buying Property
Many people may think that land expropriation is something far removed from them—especially when purchasing a house or condominium from a large, well-known, and reputable project, which often creates a sense of confidence that such problems are unlikely to occur.
However, in reality, land expropriation risks can occur in any location, whether it is a detached house, townhouse, or condominium, if the property is located along government project alignments such as roads, railways, expressways, or other public infrastructure.
Once land expropriation actually takes place, property owners inevitably have to enter legal procedures, which involve time, opportunity costs, and a direct impact on the value of the property.
Therefore, before deciding to purchase real estate, checking land expropriation zones in advance—even at a preliminary level—is highly advisable.
Preliminary Land Expropriation Check: Easy Steps You Can Do Yourself
The following method provides a general overview to assess potential risks before making a purchase decision. It is not a legal confirmation, but it helps filter out locations that may be considered “high-risk.”
Steps to Check
Visit a city planning map or a government online mapping system:
https://thaivaluer.com/mapgis/map/
Select a map that allows you to enable layers related to urban planning, legal restrictions, or transportation.Enable terrain map mode (Terrain / Google Terrain) on the right-hand side
This allows you to clearly see road alignments, infrastructure corridors, and land-use zoning.Select the menu “Restrictions / Legal / Transportation”
Then check the option for “Land Expropriation” or other layers related to government projects.Observe the highlighted areas on the map
If colored bands or lines (such as yellow) appear across the area of interest,
the property may be located within a land expropriation zone or a future government project alignment.
What Can You Learn From This Check?
This type of land expropriation check helps answer important questions before purchasing, such as:
📍 Does the location you are interested in carry a risk of land expropriation?
📍 Is it too close to major roads, railways, or government infrastructure projects?
📍 Should you proceed with the purchase, or consider alternative locations?
If the property is found to be in a potentially risky area,
choosing a different location from the outset may be better than facing long-term issues later.
Additional Notes
This method is only a preliminary assessment.
If you intend to proceed with a purchase, you should verify the information with:
The local Land Office
The provincial comprehensive city planning authority
A legal advisor or real estate professional
Spending just a few minutes on this check may help you avoid major problems in the future and is well worth the effort.
