11. Completion Notice

Within 30 days of practical completion of the building works you need to formally notify the local mairie.

The form for doing so is called a Déclaration attestant l’achèvement et la conformité des travaux.

You will have received the form to be used with your planning consent/works declaration, but if you need a copy of the form then you can download it at Completion Notice .

The completed form should be posted to the planning authority by recorded delivery letter or handed to them, and a delivey receipt obtained.

The planning authority have three months in which to visit and contest your declaration of conformity, which is increased to five months for buildings in an area covered by a 'risk prevention plan', or in a conservation area.

In practice, few developments will receive a post-inspection, but there remains a residual liability if you have clearly carried out works which do no comply with the consent. Indeed, criminal proceedings are still possible, for up to three years, where there has been a breach of the consent.