The rules that apply everywhere in France. Your PLU or your situation may refine them: the town hall and your notary always confirm.
The general rules of the French Planning Code. Your local plan may be stricter: the town hall planning office always confirms before you apply.
| Project | Permission | Rule of thumb |
|---|---|---|
| Partition wall, new room inside | None | Unless the façade changes or the property is in a protected area. In a co-ownership building, the owners' meeting may have to vote if common parts are affected. |
| Roof window, façade change | Prior declaration | Any change to the external appearance. |
| Extension in an urban zone of a local plan | Declaration up to 40 m² Permit above | Permit and architect as soon as the total area exceeds 150 m² after works, even under 40 m². |
| Extension outside an urban zone or without a local plan | Declaration from 5 to 20 m² Permit above | Same 150 m² threshold for the architect. |
| Change of use (garage, shop → home) | Prior declaration or permit | Permit if the façade or load-bearing structure is altered. |
| Dividing land to build | Prior declaration or development permit | Development permit if roads or shared spaces are created, or in a protected area. |
Third-party appeal period: two months from when the permission is displayed on site. Wait for this period to end before selling a property whose value depends on the permission.
Added value is measured net: what you gain on the sale price, minus works, costs, tax and time. Three things to check before any quote.
The sale of your main residence is exempt from capital gains tax. A second home or rental property is taxed, with allowances based on how long you have owned it: exempt from income tax after 22 years and from social charges after 30 years.
Works carried out by contractors, with invoices, reduce the taxable gain.
Buying, renovating and reselling several properties in a short time can lead the tax authorities to treat you as a property dealer, with business taxation. A one-off project on your own property is not affected.
If in doubt, a notary or accountant can settle it before the sale.
Asbestos survey before works if the building permit predates 1 July 1997. Lead to check for before 1949. Electrical installation over 15 years old: inspection required on sale.
Ask for three quotes on the same specification, check each tradesperson's ten-year liability insurance, pay only a limited deposit and sign a formal handover report.
Property adviser, 5 Ter rue Notre Dame, 03100 Montluçon, France. Phone: 06 01 71 39 91 (from abroad: +33 6 01 71 39 91). Email: contact@allier.immo.
Publication director: Frédéric Riot.
Sales and letting mandates are signed in the name of SARL Agence.immo, represented by its manager Jérémy Jaujard, share capital €100,000, 8 rue de Balzac, 37,000 Tours, France. SIRET 793,466,996 00014, VAT FR48 793,466,996.
Professional licence CPI 3701 2,018,000,027,034 issued by the Touraine Chamber of Commerce (CCI). The company may not receive or hold any funds, bills or assets other than those representing its fees or commission. No financial guarantee. Professional liability insurance: Allianz, policy no. 49,911,793, 24 rue Victor Hugo, 37,000 Tours, France.
Consumer mediator: Médiation Vivons Mieux Ensemble, 465 avenue de la Libération, 54,000 Nancy, France, mediation-vivons-mieux-ensemble.fr.
Search mandates are signed in the name of Chasse.immo, with share capital of €100,000, 8 rue Honoré de Balzac, 37,000 Tours, SIREN 793,466,996, RCS Tours, a brand of the solution.immo group, agence.immo network (professional licence CPI 3701 2,018,000,027,034, CCI de Touraine). Website: chasse.immo.
Fees are paid by the buyer, only if the purchase goes through, according to the scale shown on this site; if the property is sold by an agency, that agency's fees apply and are shared, at no extra cost to the buyer.
Frédéric Riot works in property as an umbrella employee (portage salarial) of IMMOPORTAGE, SASU with share capital €10,000, 84 voie du Toec, 31,300 Toulouse, France, RCS Toulouse 925,371,296, a company of the 2iGroup group. His professional liability is covered by the insurance taken out by Immoportage.
Hostinger International Ltd, 61 Lordou Vironos Street, 6023 Larnaca, Cyprus. hostinger.com.
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