(CU)
Verified 02 July 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Urban Planning
Want to buy a building plot or build a house? It is recommended to obtain a (CU). The CU informs on the city planning rules applicable to a land, taxes and easements. It exists 2 types from CU: the Information CU if you have no projects yet on-site and on-site Operational UC if you have one. The Operational UC tells you if your project is feasible on the plot. We explain how to get it.
Warning
The CU is not not a city planning authorization.
Information CU
Step-by-step approach
The following can be requested by the proprietor or by any other interested person through the field.
For example, a real estate agent, a building company, a prospective buyer or a notary may request a transaction for land they do not own.
Please note
When the administration delivers any other interested person through the land, she doesn't warn the owner.
The request for free.
You can make your request for a (CU) on the internet or use a form.
On the Internet
You should check with your city council or its website to find out if it has an online service to complete your application via the internet.
If your municipality has not set up an online service, you can use an Internet support service. It allows you to complete and print your UC application. If your municipality is connected to this tool, the file can be transmitted automatically.
Form
You must apply for your UA using the following form:
You must attach your application for CU one situational plan. You can get it on the Geoportal website.
Your application for CU must be made in 2 copies.
If your project is located within a protected perimeter under the historic monuments, your application must be made in 3 copies.
If your project is located in a national park core, your application must be made in 4 copies.
You can deposit or send the CU by mail RAR: titleContent the town hall of the municipality where the land is located.
From the date of acknowledgement of receipt of your request for 1 month to treat it.
In general, the CU is sent to the applicant during the period of investigation. However, the UA may not be transmitted at the end of this period.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You're getting the response from the city hall
The Information CU is notified to the applicant by letter RAR: titleContent, by simple letter or by electronic means. It takes the form of a decree.
It provides information on the following:
- City planning rules applicable to the land
- Administrative limitations on the right to property (easements of public utility, protected area within the perimeter of a historic monument)
- Location of the land in an area subject to right of first refusal
- City planning taxes and participations
- Location of the land in an old industrial site listed
- Location of the land in an area of polluted soil requiring soil studies and pollution management measures to safeguard public safety, health or hygiene and the environment.
- Draft submitted for the opinion or agreement of a government department.
If necessary, the certificate indicates the circumstances that could lead the city council to defer its decision on a prior declaration or a building permit. This postponement is called stay of proceedings.
You don't get an answer from the city hall after more than a month
Failure to respond by the City Hall at the end of the period of investigation shall be deemed to be the issuance of a tacit.
The tacit certificate only warrants the following points cannot be called into question:
- City planning rules applicable to the land
- Administrative limitations on the right to property
- List of taxes and participation.
The City Hall must issue a written response even late.
The period of validity of a 18 months from the date of issue.
The CU guarantees you the stability of all information which it provides.
The city planning authorization you will file during this 18-month period will be processed according to the rules in force when the certificate is issued and the fee will not be increased.
Well, if the right of first refusal is introduced after the issue of the certificate, it cannot be exercised during its entire period of validity.
You can request a extension of your CU. It may be granted for a period of time 1 year old if the city planning rules, easements of public utility and the taxes applicable to the land have not changed.
The request must be addressed to the City Hall at least 2 months before the end of validity CU.
It shall be drawn up on free paper, in 2 copies, accompanied by the UC to be extended.
You can find out from your city council or on its website how to send your request via the internet.
You can also drop it off or send it by mail RAR: titleContent the town hall of the municipality where the land is located.
LThe absence of a written reply, within 2 months of receipt of the request, equal to extension CU. The extension shall take effect at the end of the validity of the initial certificate for 1 year duration.
When the City Hall refuses extension of the CU, it must state the reasons for this. It is then advisable to file a new application for a new certificate whose content will be up to date. The period of validity of this new CU will also be 18 months from the date of issue.
Operational UC
Step-by-step approach
The following can be requested by the proprietor or by any other interested person through the field.
For example, a real estate agent, a building company, a prospective buyer or a notary may request a transaction for land they do not own.
Please note
When the administration delivers any other interested person through the land, she doesn't warn the owner.
The request for free.
You can apply for a CU on the internet or use a form.
On the Internet
You should check with your city council or its website to find out if it has an online service to complete your application via the internet.
If your municipality has not set up an online service, you can use an Internet support service. It allows you to complete and print your UC application. If your municipality is connected to this tool, the file can be transmitted automatically.
Form
You must apply for your UA using the following form:
Attach the following documents to your application for an operational UC:
- Situation plan (you can get it on the Geoportal website)
- Map of land if buildings exist, with their location
You must also make a brief description of the operation envisaged with the destination the building or buildings to be built and their approximate location. A framework is provided in the form to write this note.
Your certificate request must be made in 4 copies.
If your project is located within the protected perimeter of the historic monuments, you will attach 5 copies.
If your project is located in a core national park, you will attach 6 copies.
You can submit or send your request by mail RAR: titleContent the town hall of the municipality where the land is located.
Upon receipt of your request for an operational 2 months to treat it.
In general, the CU is sent to the applicant during the period of investigation. However, the UA may not be transmitted at the end of this period.
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You're getting the response from the city hall
The Operational UC tells you if the land can be used to carry out your project.
Positive response
The operational CU is notified to the applicant by letter RAR: titleContent, by simple letter or by electronic means. It takes the form of a decree.
The Operational CU tells you that the land can be used to carry out your operation.
The decision relates only to the following:
- Approximate location of the projected building(s) in the land unit
- Destination of future buildings
- Status of existing or planned public facilities (tracks and networks).
It also provides you with the following general information:
- City planning rules applicable to the land
- Administrative limitations on the right to property (easements of public utility, protected area within the perimeter of a historic monument)
- Location of the land in an area subject to right of first refusal
- City planning taxes and participations
- Location of the land in an old industrial site listed
- Location of the land in an area of polluted soil requiring soil studies and pollution management measures to safeguard public safety, health or hygiene and the environment.
- Draft submitted for the opinion or agreement of a government department.
If necessary, the certificate indicates the circumstances that could lead the city council to defer its decision on a prior declaration or a building permit. This postponement is called stay of proceedings.
Negative response
The negative operational CU tells you that the land cannot be used to carry out your operation. The administration shall give the reasons for its refusal.
It also provides you with the following general information:
- City planning rules applicable to the land
- Administrative limitations on the right to property (easements of public utility, protected area within the perimeter of a historic monument)
- Location of the land in an area subject to right of first refusal
- City planning taxes and participations
- Location of the land in an old industrial site listed
- Location of the land in an area of polluted soil requiring soil studies and pollution management measures to safeguard public safety, health or hygiene and the environment.
You don't get an answer from the city hall after more than a month
Failure to respond by the City Hall at the end of the period of investigation shall be deemed to be the issuance of a tacit.
The tacit certificate only warrants the following points cannot be called into question:
- City planning rules applicable to the land
- Administrative limitations on the right to property
- List of taxes and participation.
The City Hall must issue a written response even late.
The period of validity of a 18 months from the date of issue.
The CU guarantees you the stability of all information which it provides.
The city planning authorization you will file during this 18-month period will be processed according to the rules in force when the certificate is issued and the fee will not be increased.
Well, if the right of first refusal is introduced after the issue of the certificate, it cannot be exercised during its entire period of validity.
You can request a extension of your CU. It may be granted for a period of time 1 year old if the city planning rules, easements of public utility and the taxes applicable to the land have not changed.
The request must be addressed to the City Hall at least 2 months before the end of validity CU.
It shall be drawn up on free paper, in 2 copies, accompanied by the UC to be extended.
You can find out from your city council or on its website how to send your request via the internet.
You can also drop it off or send it by mail RAR: titleContent the town hall of the municipality where the land is located.
LThe absence of a written reply, within 2 months of receipt of the request, equal to extension CU. The extension shall take effect at the end of the validity of the initial certificate for 1 year duration.
When the City Hall refuses extension of the CU, it must state the reasons for this. It is then advisable to file a new application for a new certificate whose content will be up to date. The period of validity of this new CU will also be 18 months from the date of issue.
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