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Last updated on September 5, 2026
Aor Bor Tor (อบต., also written Or Bor Tor, OBT, TAO or SAO) is the Thai abbreviation of Ongkan Borihan Suan Tambon (องค์การบริหารส่วนตำบล), the Tambon (Sub-district) Administrative Organisation. It is the elected local government of a rural tambon, created by the Tambon Council and Tambon Administrative Organisation Act B.E. 2537 (1994). More than 5,000 exist, covering most of rural Thailand; in urban areas the same role is played by the tesaban (municipality).
Table of Contents
How the Aor Bor Tor is organised
The Aor Bor Tor is a juristic person with its own budget, staff and by-laws. It is led by the nayok Or Bor Tor (นายก อบต.), a chief executive directly elected by the residents of the tambon since 2003, and a council whose members are elected from the villages of the tambon, all for four-year terms.
It is a separate structure from the kamnan and the phu yai ban (village headmen), who belong to the state administration under the Provincial Administration Act B.E. 2457 (1914) and answer to the district chief. Nor should it be confused with the Or Bor Jor (องค์การบริหารส่วนจังหวัด), the Provincial Administrative Organisation at changwat level.
What the Aor Bor Tor does
Building permits. Where the Building Control Act B.E. 2522 (1979) applies, the nayok Or Bor Tor is the local official who issues the permit to build, extend or demolish. For a house on village land this is the office to visit, and the permit it issues is valuable evidence that the foreigner, not the landowner, built and paid for the house.
Land and building tax. Under the Land and Building Tax Act B.E. 2562 (2019) the Aor Bor Tor assesses and collects the annual tax on land, houses and condominiums in its area (see property taxes in Thailand).
Public health licences and local services. It issues licences under the Public Health Act B.E. 2535 (1992) for food shops, markets and businesses classed as hazardous to health, maintains local roads, water supply and waste collection, and handles complaints about encroachment on public land, noise and nuisance.
What it does not do. The Aor Bor Tor does not register marriages, divorces or house registration books; those are done at the amphoe (district office). It does not transfer land; that happens at the provincial land office.
Why a foreign buyer should visit the Aor Bor Tor
Before buying or leasing land in a village, ask the Aor Bor Tor whether the access road is public or private, whether the plot is affected by planned roads, flood zones or town-planning restrictions, and whether any building on it was permitted. These checks are part of a proper due diligence and complement the title search at the land office and the title deed itself. See also the risks of buying property in Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Aor Bor Tor and the tesaban?
Both are elected local governments with the same kinds of powers (building permits, local taxes, public health licences, local services). The Aor Bor Tor serves a rural sub-district; the tesaban serves a municipality (town or city). A growing Aor Bor Tor can be upgraded to a tesaban tambon.
Does the Aor Bor Tor register marriages or house books?
No. Marriage, divorce and civil registration (tabien baan, yellow book, births and deaths) are handled by the district office (amphoe) or, inside a municipality, the municipal registrar. The Aor Bor Tor deals with permits, local taxes and services.
Who is the nayok Or Bor Tor?
The nayok Or Bor Tor is the chief executive of the Tambon Administrative Organisation, directly elected by the residents of the tambon for a four-year term. He or she signs building permits and represents the organisation.
See also: tesaban (municipality), tambon (sub-district), phu yai ban (village headman), amphoe (district office) and our guides to building permits as proof of ownership and construction law in Thailand.
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