Reviewed by ThaiLawOnline, a licensed Thai law firm practising in Thailand since 2006. Thai lawyer of record: Wichuda Atthamethakon, LL.M., Thai Bar Licence 3149/2556.
Last updated on September 5, 2026
A tambon (ตำบล, sometimes spelled tambol) is a sub-district of Thailand, the third-level administrative division below the district (amphoe) and above the village (muban). There are about 7,255 tambon nationwide, each grouping several villages. In Bangkok the equivalent unit is the khwaeng (แขวง). The tambon is the unit that identifies land on a title deed and the second-to-last line of every Thai address.
Table of Contents
Two structures in one tambon
A tambon is administered by two parallel systems. The first is the state administration under the Provincial Administration Act B.E. 2457 (1914): the tambon is headed by a kamnan (กำนัน), chosen from among the village headmen (phu yai ban) of the tambon. Since Amendment No. 11 of B.E. 2551 (2008) a kamnan, like a village headman, holds office until the age of 60 rather than for a fixed term. The kamnan reports to the nai amphoe and deals with public order, civil registration liaison and local certifications.
The second is local self-government. Outside municipal areas the tambon is served by a Tambon Administrative Organisation (Aor Bor Tor) under the Tambon Council and Tambon Administrative Organisation Act B.E. 2537 (1994). Where the area has urbanised it is served instead by a tesaban (municipality). Building permits, local taxes and public health licences come from this second structure, not from the kamnan.
Why the tambon matters for property
The Land Department keeps its cadastral records by tambon. A chanote or Nor Sor 3 title identifies the parcel by land number, dealing file number, tambon, amphoe and changwat, and the Treasury Department’s official appraisal prices (used to calculate transfer fees and taxes) are published by tambon and block. Zoning under the Town Planning Act B.E. 2562 (2019) and the local building rules that apply to a plot are also determined by which tambon and which local authority it falls under, which is one of the checks in a property due diligence.
A common source of confusion: a tesaban tambon (เทศบาลตำบล) is a sub-district municipality, a local government body, not the same thing as the tambon as a territory. A tambon may contain a tesaban tambon, an Aor Bor Tor, or be split between the two.
Tambon, amphoe and khwaeng compared
| Unit | Thai | Level | Head / body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amphoe | อำเภอ | District | Nai amphoe (appointed official) |
| Tambon | ตำบล | Sub-district | Kamnan; Aor Bor Tor or tesaban for local services |
| Khwaeng | แขวง | Sub-district of Bangkok | Khet office of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration |
| Muban | หมู่บ้าน | Village | Phu yai ban |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a tambon and an amphoe?
An amphoe (district) is the larger unit and contains several tambon (sub-districts). The amphoe has a district office with a registrar for marriages and house registration; the tambon has a kamnan and, for local services, an Aor Bor Tor or a municipality.
Who is the kamnan?
The kamnan is the head of the tambon under the Provincial Administration Act B.E. 2457. He or she is selected from among the village headmen (phu yai ban) of the tambon and serves until age 60. The kamnan is a state official, not part of the elected Aor Bor Tor.
What is a khwaeng?
A khwaeng is the Bangkok equivalent of a tambon: a sub-district of one of Bangkok’s 50 khet (districts). Bangkok has 180 khwaeng.
See also: changwat (province), amphoe (district), Aor Bor Tor, tesaban (municipality), phu yai ban (village headman) and our guide to due diligence before buying property.
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