4. Planning Advice Certificates

1. 4.1 Status of a Certificat d'Urbanisme
2. 4.2 Types of Certificat d'Urbanisme
3. 4.3 Application for a Certificat d'Urbanisme

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4.1. Status of a Certificat d'Urbanisme

A certifcat d’urbanisme is a planning advice certificate issued by the mairie or Direction Départementale de l’Equipement (DDE), which gives general planning information on a particular site.

It may be best described as an 'in principle' planning consent, but it is most definitely not planning permission for a particular project, for which specific planning consent must be sought.

The certificate will advise you whether there exists a right to build on the land and under what conditions - the planning rules and limitations of use on the site.

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4.2. Types of Certificat d'Urbanisme

There are actually two types of certificat d’urbanisme:


i. Certificat d’urbanisme d'information


This merely states whether or not the land is zoned for building, together with information on public utilities and local taxes, and any rights of pre-emption that might exist on the site to the benefit of the commune.

If you have purchased land for building or redevelopment then you should have been provided with this document by the notaire at the time of purchase.

A certificat d'information does not state what permitted development may take place on the site, which is only elaborated by the more detailed certificate outlined below.


ii. Certificat d’urbanisme opérationnel

This sets out the rules on density and size of building that may be permitted, as well as any architectural rules that may apply.

The certificate is not always highly specific where there are few architectural planning constraints, as is often the case in rural areas.

If you have a specific project then you can provide basic details to the planning authority and, provided its complies with the planning rules, an operational planning certificate can be issued. You then have a fairly strong assurance that a later planning application on the same terms will be approved.

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4.3. Application for a Certificat d'Urbanisme

If you are seeking a certificate as part of the process of buying a property, the notaire should obtain it for you.

Otherwise, you need to complete an application form. A certificate can be obtained free of charge from the mairie, or DDE if the mairie is so small it does offer a planning service.

You can also download the form by visiting Application for Planning Certificate .

If it is a operational certificate then you need to submit with the form a description of the proposed development and a site plan. Otherwise, you need merely submit a location plan.

The planning authority are obliged to respond within one month for a basic certificate, and two months for a detailed certificate, provided all necessary information has been provided. If they do not reply within the prescribed timescale, then the certificate is deemed to have been granted tacitly.

The certificate is valid for eighteen months, which can be extended by a further year, provided the planning rules have not changed in the meantime. To extend the certificate you need to make application at least two months before the expiry of the current certificate.

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Next: Do I Need Planning Permission?