Do you need a city planning permit to build a mezzanine or an additional floor?

Verified 06 March 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Yes, you must file a city planning authorization at the City Hall, or at the BASU: titleContent in Paris, if you build a mezzanine or an additional floor with a ceiling height greater than 1.80 m.

A mezzanine is a small floor located between 2 large floors or an intermediate level arranged in a high ceiling room.

An additional floor is a level in its own right built without raising or raising the roof.

If you build a mezzanine or an additional level with a ceiling height greater than 1.80 m, a city planning authorization is required. Indeed, you create floor area.

Based on this area and the area where your project is located (urban area of a MORE: titleContent or protected sites), you have a preliminary declaration of works or a building permit to be deposited.

To know in which area is your construction, contact your city hall.

Who shall I contact

General case

The city planning authorization differs if your project is located in an urban area of a MORE: titleContent or not.

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In an urban area of a PLU

The choice of city planning authorization depends on the floor area of your project.

Mezzanine or additional level of 5 m² or less

You don't need any permission.

Warning  

Your project must comply with the MORE: titleContent, even if it is not subject to authorization. Before starting your work, you must consult the PLU or the city planning document in lieu in town hall.

Mezzanine or additional level from 5 m² to 40 m²

Your project is subject to Advance Work Statement (AD) up to 40 m², provided that the creation of floor area does not cause the total construction area to exceed the following thresholds:

  • 150 m² floor area for non-agricultural construction (e.g. house, building, store, warehouse)
  • 80 m² of floor area for agricultural construction

In the event of an overrun, a request for building permit is required beyond 20 m² of floor area created. The recourse to the architect is mandatory to develop the plans for the file.

You can make your requests on the internet or by using a form, depending on whether you are in Paris or in another municipality.

General case

You must file your file in the city hall:

  • By dematerialized according to the arrangements made by your municipality (inquire on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
  • By letter RAR: titleContent
  • In your own hand
Who shall I contact
Form

The form is different if your mezzanine or additional level is created in a detached house or in another type of construction.

Detached house

For a mezzanine or an additional level in a detached house, you must use the following form:

Prior declaration for a detached house and/or its annexes - DPMI

Other construction

For an additional mezzanine or level in another type of construction, you must use the following form:

Prior notification (construction, works, installations and facilities not subject to a building permit)

In Paris

You must submit your file to the BASU: titleContent by dematerialized means only:

Office Accueil et Service à l'Usager (BASU) de Paris: one-stop-shop

Mezzanine or additional level of more than 40 m²

Your project is subject to building permit.

Depending on the surface of your house before or after the work, the use of an architect may be required to file a building permit.

You can do your homework on the Internet or on a building permit form, depending on whether you are in Paris or another city.

General case

You must file your file in the city hall:

  • By dematerialized according to the arrangements made by your municipality (inquire on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
  • By letter RAR: titleContent
  • In your own hand
Who shall I contact
Form

The form is different if your mezzanine or additional level is created in a detached house or in another type of construction.

Detached house

For a mezzanine or an additional level in a detached house, you must use the following form:

Application for a building permit for a detached house and/or its annexes (CMIP)

Other construction

For an additional mezzanine or level in another type of construction, you must use the following form:

Application for a building permit (other than for a detached house or its annexes)

In Paris

You must submit your file to the BASU: titleContent by dematerialized means only:

Office Accueil et Service à l'Usager (BASU) de Paris: one-stop-shop

Outside an urban area of a PLU

The choice of city planning authorization depends on the floor area of your project.

Mezzanine or additional level of 5 m² or less

You don't need any permission.

Warning  

Your project must comply with the MORE: titleContent, even if it is not subject to authorization. Before starting your work, you must consult the PLU or the city planning document in lieu in town hall.

Mezzanine or additional level of more than 5 m² to 20m²

Your project is subject to Advance Work Statement (AD).

You can complete the RFP on the internet or by using a form depending on whether you are in Paris or another municipality.

General case

You must file your file in the city hall:

  • By dematerialized according to the arrangements made by your municipality (inquire on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
  • By letter RAR: titleContent
  • In your own hand
Who shall I contact
Form

The form is different if your mezzanine or additional level is created in a detached house or in another type of construction.

Detached house

For a mezzanine or an additional level in a detached house, you must use the following form:

Prior declaration for a detached house and/or its annexes - DPMI

Other construction

For an additional mezzanine or level in another type of construction, you must use the following form:

Prior notification (construction, works, installations and facilities not subject to a building permit)

In Paris

You must submit your file to the BASU: titleContent by dematerialized means only:

Office Accueil et Service à l'Usager (BASU) de Paris: one-stop-shop

Mezzanine or additional level of more than 20 m²

Your project is subject to building permit.

Depending on the surface of your house before or after the work, the use of an architect may be required to file a building permit.

You can do your homework on the Internet or on a building permit form, depending on whether you are in Paris or another city.

General case

You must file your file in the city hall:

  • By dematerialized according to the arrangements made by your municipality (inquire on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
  • By letter RAR: titleContent
  • In your own hand
Who shall I contact
Form

The form is different if your mezzanine or additional level is created in a detached house or in another type of construction.

Detached house

For a mezzanine or an additional level in a detached house, you must use the following form:

Prior declaration for a detached house and/or its annexes - DPMI

Other construction

For an additional mezzanine or level in another type of construction, you must use the following form:

Prior notification (construction, works, installations and facilities not subject to a building permit)

In Paris

You must submit your file to the BASU: titleContent by dematerialized means only:

Office Accueil et Service à l'Usager (BASU) de Paris: one-stop-shop

Sectors protected

In a sheltered area, the city planning authorization to apply for differs depending on the area of your project.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Mezzanine or additional level with an area of 20 m² or less

In a protected area, a Advance Work Statement (AD) is required for the construction of a floor area less than or equal to 20 m2.

You can complete the RFP on the internet or by using a form, depending on whether you are in Paris or in another municipality.

General case

You must file your file in the city hall:

  • By dematerialized according to the arrangements made by your municipality (inquire on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
  • By letter RAR: titleContent
  • In your own hand
Who shall I contact
Form

The form is different if your mezzanine or additional level is created in a detached house or in another type of construction.

Detached house

For a mezzanine or an additional level in a detached house, you must use the following form:

Prior declaration for a detached house and/or its annexes - DPMI

Other construction

For an additional mezzanine or level in another type of construction, you must use the following form:

Prior notification (construction, works, installations and facilities not subject to a building permit)

In Paris

You must submit your file to the BASU: titleContent by dematerialized means only:

Office Accueil et Service à l'Usager (BASU) de Paris: one-stop-shop

Mezzanine or additional level of more than 20 m²

Your project is subject to building permit.

Depending on the surface of your house before or after the work, the use of an architect may be required to file a building permit.

You can do your homework on the Internet or on a building permit form, depending on whether you are in Paris or another municipality.

General case

You must file your file in the city hall:

  • By dematerialized according to the arrangements made by your municipality (inquire on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
  • By letter RAR: titleContent
  • In your own hand
Who shall I contact
Form

The form is different if your mezzanine or additional level is created in a detached house or in another type of construction.

Detached house

For a mezzanine or an additional level in a detached house, you must use the following form:

Application for a building permit for a detached house and/or its annexes (CMIP)

Other construction

For an additional mezzanine or level in another type of construction, you must use the following form:

Application for a building permit (other than for a detached house or its annexes)

In Paris

You must submit your file to the BASU: titleContent by dematerialized means only:

Office Accueil et Service à l'Usager (BASU) de Paris: one-stop-shop

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • For information on city planning regulations and administrative procedures

    Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service

    For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.

    Cost: free service

    The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of housing and city planning.

    Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.

    The service is available at the following times:

      • 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

    Request a call

  • For information on your local city planning plan or file

    Town Hall

  • For information on the local city planning plan or your file in Paris

    Paris: Reception and service desk (BASU)