Bangkok's getting a breather on its new pet rules. The BMA plans to push back enforcement of the 2024 Animal Keeping Ordinance, which was meant to kick in on January 10 2026, after realising the city isn't quite ready to handle the massive rollout. The delay gives everyone more time to get their furry friends microchipped and registered without the rush.
The goal is to cut down on neighbourhood complaints about barking and mess, get the stray population under control and build a proper citywide database so authorities actually know how many pets are out there.
The new rules set limits on how many pets you can keep based on your living space, and it counts dogs and cats together. Already got more pets than the limit allows? Don't panic. You can keep them for their natural lives as long as you register the actual number you've got.
For condos it goes like this. Up to 20 square metres means one pet. Between 20 and 80 square metres lets you have up to two. Anything over 80 square metres means up to three pets.
Houses and townhouses get more breathing room. Up to 200 square meters allows up to two pets. Between 200 to 400 square meters means up to four. Over 400 square meters gives you up to six.
Planning to run a mini animal sanctuary? You'll need to officially register as an animal shelter instead.
Here's the issue though. Bangkok has absolutely loads of pets, and the current services can't cope with getting them all registered and chipped in time. So the BMA is going all in on expanding free services across the city, which includes:
- Increasing One Stop Service centres from 8 to 10 locations
- Mobile veterinary units bringing vaccinations, sterilisation, microchipping and registration directly to communities and homes
- Extended hours including evenings and weekends
- Online queue booking and full digital registration
- Partnerships with over 100 private vet clinics citywide
Animal welfare groups reckon the delay is sensible but they're encouraging residents to get registered sooner rather than later. The whole point isn't about fining people but making Bangkok work better for everyone, pets included.