6. Making a Planning Application in France

1. 6.1. Who Decides?
   6.2. Getting Planning Advice in France
   6.3. Submitting a French Planning Application
   6.4. Decision Process
   6.5. Notice of Planning Consent
   6.6. Extension of Planning Consent

6.3. French Planning Application - Demande de permis de construire

As might be expected, the planning application itself is quite a complicated form to complete. Indeed, around 25% of applications are returned to the applicant as being incomplete!

You can download the form itself at French Planning Application .

You need to submit a minimum of four copies of the planning application to the local mairie. You should either deliver it by hand and get a receipt, or send it by recorded delivery.

Together with the planning application itself, you will need to submit:

• Location Plan between 1/5000 and 1/25000;
• Site Layout Plan (with infrastructure) between 1/50 and 1/5000;
• Elevations Plan;
• Written description of the project;
• Landscape Plan (showing in cross section relation of building local landscape);
• Photographs of site in proximity and from a distance;
• Coloured drawing that shows building in relation to surrounding environment;

In addition to completion of the forms and submission of the plans, you may also be required to undertake soil tests to establish the ground conditions. These tests are obligatory if you propose to install a septic tank.

You need to discuss with the planning authority precisely what it is they require, as the requirements differ depending on the nature and location of the project. They are required to present you with a checklist of documents and plans that need to be submitted with the application. Once you have been presented with the list of documents required, you cannot be asked to supply more documentation.

Sadly, whilst this new rule was introduced to stop a situation where planning authorities kept asking for more documents before they would make a decision, it has meant that, particularly for minor development proposals, they tend to ask for more than the project sometimes warrants.

No planning fee is payable, but there are taxes payable should you receive consent.

If you are seeking an amendment to an existing planning application yet to be determined, or one that has been approved, then you need to use Amendment to Existing Planning Application .

The line between an amendment to an existing application or a the need to submit a new application is a thin one. In general, an amendment will only be accepted if it does not increase the position, volume or height of the development although, where there are only minor variations, you should be able to get away with an amended application.