Home: exterior work
Verified 13 July 2020 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You can freely do some work outside your home. Depending on their nature and scale, it may be necessary to apply for a city planning authorization (prior declaration or building permit).
Generally, maintenance or repair work that does not alter the exterior appearance of your home is not subject to any authorization. This may in particular be the case for the following works:
- Refurbishment or Repair of Roof
- Replace doors and windows
- Replace gutter
- Repair of a chimney
However, if this works or repairs have the consequence of modifying the exterior appearance of your house, an authorization is required: they are subject to a prior declaration or a request from building permit, according to their size and characteristics. This is also the case for expansion and new construction.
FYI
there is no formality in the alteration of the facade, except in certain protected areas (heritage, environment) or if the municipality has decided otherwise.
It is possible to fence off one's land to prevent access. However, if easement on your land, you can fence it on condition that you leave a passage for your neighbor (for example, by adding a door).
Where should your fence be?
Before fencing off your land, you need to limitWell, if it's not already done.
The boundary line is used to delineate your land, i.e. to locate the boundary between your land and that of your neighbor.
You must settle the fence back from the boundary between your land and your neighbor's land. If you settle your fence to the boundary between the lots, your fence encroaches on your neighbor's land. In this case, he can demand its demolition by bringing the matter before the court.
Who shall I contact
Even if your fence is located on your land, it should not be an embarrassment to your neighbor. The latter could apply to the court for damages or the demolition of your fence, if he considers that your fence is damaging to the sunshine of his land.
Who shall I contact
Please note
2 neighboring owners may decide to settle a fence located on the boundary of their land, sharing the cost. Before settling it, it is necessary to establish a joint citizenship agreement with the notary. Maintenance and repair work on a common fence is subject to specific rules.
Who shall I contact
Can you freely choose the characteristics of your fence?
The rules to follow depend on the type of fence (wall, hedge, fence or palisade):
Wall
What are the rules?
You should contact the city planning department of your city hall to find out if there are any local rules provided for by the local city planning plan (PLU) or the municipal map or by the local customs
In the absence of applicable local rules:
- If your land is located in a municipality of less than 50,000 inhabitants, your wall including the chaperon (top of the roof-shaped wall) must respect a minimum height of 2,60 meters
- If your land is located in a municipality of 50,000 inhabitants or more, your wall including the chaperon (top of the roof-shaped wall) must respect a minimum height of 3,20 meters
Do you need to obtain a city planning authorization (prior declaration or building permit)?
Before you build the wall, you'll have to make a preliminary declaration of works to the town hall if:
- the local city planning plan (PLU) requires it
- or if the height of the wall will be greater than or equal to 2 meters
- or if your land is located in an area where it is mandatory. It can be the vicinity of a remarkable heritage site classified or a historic monument, a registered site (classified or awaiting classification), an area delimited by the PLU, an area defined by the municipality or theEPCI: titleContent.
If your land does not match any of these scenarios, you do not need a city planning authorization.
Vegetable fence (hedge formed by trees or shrubs)
What are the rules?
Plantations such as trees, shrubs and shrubs can be planted close to the boundary separating your land and that of your neighbor, provided you respect a minimum distance.
This minimum distance may be fixed by local rules laid down in existing special regulations or by constant and recognized local practice. To find out about the existence of these local rules, you must ask your local council.
If there are no local rules, the minimum distance to respect from the nearby land varies according to the height of your plantation:
- When the height of the plantation is less than or equal to 2 meters, the minimum distance to be respected at the neighboring property limit is 0,5 meters.
- When the height of the plantation is greater than 2 meters, the minimum distance to be respected at the neighboring property limit is 2 meters.
The distance is measured from the middle of the tree trunk. The height of the plantation is measured from the ground to the top of the tree.
If you don't follow these rules, your neighbor may require your plant fence to be torn off or reduced to the legal height.
Please note
there are rules about maintenance of plantations (hedges and trees) and fruit picking located close to your neighbor's land.
Do you need to obtain a city planning authorization (prior declaration or building permit)?
Before you build the wall, you'll have to make a preliminary declaration of works to the town hall if:
- the local city planning plan (PLU) requires it
- or if your land is located in an area where it is mandatory. It can be the vicinity of a remarkable heritage site classified or a historic monument, a registered site (classified or awaiting classification), an area delimited by the PLU, an area defined by the municipality or theEPCI: titleContent.
Other type of fence (gate, fence, palisade, ...)
What are the rules?
You should contact the city planning department of your city hall to find out if there are any local rules provided for by the local city planning plan (PLU) or the municipal map or by the local customs
In the absence of applicable local rules:
- if your land is located in a municipality of less than 50,000 inhabitants, your wall including the chaperon (top of the roof-shaped wall) must respect a minimum height of 2,60 meters
- if your land is located in a municipality of 50,000 inhabitants or more, your wall including the chaperon (top of the roof-shaped wall) must respect a minimum height of 3,20 meters
Do you need to obtain a city planning authorization (prior declaration or building permit)?
Before you build the wall, you'll have to make a preliminary declaration of works to the town hall if:
- the local city planning plan (PLU) requires it
- or if your land is located in an area where it is mandatory. It can be the vicinity of a remarkable heritage site classified or a historic monument, a registered site (classified or awaiting classification), an area delimited by the PLU, an area defined by the municipality or theEPCI: titleContent.
FYI
there are other rules that depend on the specific features of your land (land in subdivision, near a road, ...).
You do not have to make a declaration in town hall if you set up an outdoor terrace on one level, that is to say not raised or very slightly raised.
On the other hand, terraces requiring an elevation are subject to building permit.
In the absence of legal and administrative precision on the significance or otherwise of an elevation, it is preferable to consult the city planning department of your municipality before starting the work.
The construction of a veranda has the consequence of modifying the exterior appearance of your house. One prior declaration or a request for building permit is necessary, depending on the size of the construction.
FYI
the rules of joint seniority must also be respected.
In general, only one prior declaration town hall is required. It is recommended to contact the city planning department of your city hall to obtain information about the scope of your earthworks project.
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
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 16h15
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Departmental Agency for Housing Information (Adil)
For advice
Architectural, city planning and Environmental Council (CAUE)
New constructions exempt from formality
Works and changes of destination subject to prior declaration
New buildings subject to prior notification
New buildings subject to building permits
Obligations relating to plantations: Articles 668 to 673
In the absence of local rules
FAQ
Service-Public.fr