UPDATE: Chabad House Patong begins removing unauthorised rooftop extensions

Chabad House Patong has begun removing unauthorised rooftop extensions under an order from Patong Municipality, with officials continuing to review other alterations at the building.

Thai Post reported on 18 September 2026 that the building’s owner had started gradually demolishing the rooftop additions in compliance with the municipal order. The municipality set a one-month deadline for the work and is monitoring the demolition and improvements to the building.

The six-storey Jewish community centre had converted its former rooftop into a restaurant, club and banquet area, according to inspection findings. The addition covers about 14 by 12 metres and includes steel structures and white canvas roofing. The later report said inspectors found alterations that did not match the approved plans for the original six-storey building, including irregularities on the first and fifth floors as well as the rooftop.

Part of the parking area was enclosed and converted into a 15-by-12-metre restaurant, according to the earlier inspection account. Thai Post later referred to a coffee shop using the parking area and said that part of the building remained under inspection and further legal review.

Patong Municipality issued its order on 1 September 2026 under Section 40(1) of the Building Control Act. The order requires use to stop in affected areas and the alterations to be corrected. Officials said structural integrity and load-bearing capacity must be assessed before approval can be considered.

The municipality notified the company managing Chabad House Patong. If it does not respond or apply for the required permits within 30 days, officials will proceed with legal enforcement. If an application is submitted, engineers will assess whether the alterations meet safety and regulatory requirements.

The Phuket Express reported that the governor of Phuket had also ordered a comprehensive investigation into Chabad Patong, with officials given seven days to report their findings. The report said the order followed remarks by Deputy Interior Minister Polpree Suwanchawee concerning a foreign cemetery project.

Chabad House Patong provides religious services, kosher dining and cultural facilities. Its reported layout includes a lobby and women’s ritual bath on the ground floor, a kosher restaurant and offices on the first floor, a synagogue on the second floor, and operations and staff offices on the fourth floor.