House: opening creation (windows, balconies, ...)
Verified 09 February 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You have the right to create openings in your house (windows, doors, balconies...). However, you must respect certain distance rules vis-à-vis neighboring properties if your work allows you to see in their garden or in certain rooms of their houses.
Opening with view
Certain distance rules must be respected when you create an opening (door, window, balcony...) that allows you to see at your neighbor's house.
FYI
you can decide, with the written consent of your neighbor, not to respect these rules. But you still have to get the city planning permissions may be necessary for your work.
If the opening allows you to see directly at your neighbor's house from inside your house without having to bend over, we are talking about right view.
In this case, a distance of 1,9 meters must be respected between
- the outside of the opening created (or its end if it is a balcony or a terrace),
- and the boundary of the neighboring land.
Please note
the local city planning plan (PLU) of your municipality may provide for an even greater distance, in some cases. Ask your local council for more information.
If the opening allows you to see at your neighbor's house, not directly, but by leaning outside (indirect visual access), we are talking about oblique view.
In this case, a distance of 0,6 meters shall be respected between
- the outside of the opening created (or its end if it is a balcony or a terrace),
- and the boundary of the neighboring land.
Please note
the local city planning plan (PLU) of your municipality may provide for an even greater distance, in some cases. Ask your local council for more information.
To challenge the creation of an opening and ask for its removal, you have to go to court.
The judge shall, on a case-by-case basis, determine the characteristics of the opening (straight view, oblique view, opening without view).
It mainly takes into account whether or not you can look at the nearby terrain:
- with or without particular effort,
- and consistently and normally.
Who shall I contact
No view
When it does not make it possible to look at your neighbor, the creation of an opening is subject to compliance with certain height rules if the opening gives on the side of the neighboring property. Otherwise, no specific height or distance rules apply.
Warning
of city planning permissions may, however, be necessary.
You can set up days of pain, i.e. windows that allow only light to pass through without allowing you to see into a neighbor's house.
For this purpose, they must consist of a fixed frame (not opening) and of translucent and opaque glass, lined with an iron lattice.
In addition, they must be placed at least:
- 2.6 meters above the floor if it is on the ground floor,
- 1.9 meters above the floor for upper floors.
Their size is not regulated.
If no view is possible on the neighboring terrain, the distance rules do not apply.
This is the case, for example, when the window gives:
- on a wall,
- on a closed roof,
- or on the sky.
To challenge the creation of an opening and ask for its removal, you have to go to court.
The judge shall, on a case-by-case basis, determine the characteristics of the opening (straight view or oblique view, day of suffering).
It mainly takes into account whether or not you can look at the nearby terrain:
- with or without particular effort,
- and consistently and normally.
Who shall I contact
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)
- House of Justice and the Law