Do you need a city planning permit to dig a cellar?
Verified 23 February 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Yes, you must obtain an authorization if the cellar has a ceiling height greater than 1.80 meters. The cellar can be an extension of your house or be buried under a plot.
Depending on its surface area, you must make a prior declaration of works or apply for a building permit in town hall. In some situations, you don't need permission.
Under a house
The construction of a cellar of more than 1.80 meters under ceiling increases the floor area of the existing building.
Applications for authorization vary depending on the area of the cellar and the area where your project is located.
First of all, you need to check with your city hall to find out if your project is located in a protected area.
Protected sites are remarkable heritage sites, the surroundings of historical monuments, classified or pending sites, nature reserves, the heart of national parks or a future national park.
General case
In an urban area of the PLU
Increase in floor area | Approach |
|---|---|
Less than 5 m² | No statement in town hall |
Between 5 m² and 40 m² | |
More than 40 m² |
Warning
If your project is not subject to city planning authorization, however, you must follow the MORE: titleContent or the city planning document in its place.
Other situation
Increase in floor area | Approach |
|---|---|
Less than 5 m² | No statement in town hall |
Between 5 m² and 20 m² | |
Warning
If your project is not subject to city planning authorization, however, you must follow the MORE: titleContent or the city planning document in its place.
Protected area
In an urban area of the PLU
Increase in floor area | Approach |
|---|---|
Between 5 m² and 40 m² | |
Other situation
Increase in floor area | Approach |
|---|---|
Less than 5 m² | |
Between 5 m² and 20 m² | |
Under a piece of land
The construction of a cellar of more than 1.80 meters under ceiling constitutes floor area.
Applications for authorization vary depending on the area of the cellar and the area where your project is located.
General case
Increase in floor area | Approach |
|---|---|
Less than 5 m² | No statement in town hall |
Between 5 m² and 20 m² | |
More than 20 m² |
Warning
If your project is not subject to city planning authorization, however, you must follow the MORE: titleContent or the city planning document in its place.
Protected area
Increase in floor area | Approach |
|---|---|
Between 5 m² and 20 m² | |
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
- Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service
The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of housing and city planning.
Cost: free service
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
The service is available at the following times:
- Monday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Wednesday: 8:30 to 12:15
- Thursday: 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Friday: 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m
- City planning Code: Articles R421-14Work carried out on existing construction subject to a building permit
- City planning Code: Articles R*421-17Work carried out on existing construction subject to prior declaration of work
- City planning Code: Articles R421-9 to R*421-12New constructions requiring prior notification
- Prior declaration for a detached house and/or its annexes - DPMI
Form
- Prior notification (construction, works, installations and facilities not subject to a building permit)
Form
- Application for a building permit for a detached house and/or its annexes (CMIP)
Form
- Application for a building permit (other than for a detached house or its annexes)
Form
FAQ
- Advance Work Declaration (PNR)Service-Public.fr
- Building permitsService-Public.fr
- Viewing city planning Permission in the FieldService-Public.fr
- Declaration of the opening of the construction siteService-Public.fr
- Declaration of Completion and Conformity of Work (ACCED)Service-Public.fr
- GeoportalMinistry of the Environment