Determination of French Property Boundaries

1. 1. What is 'Bornage'?
2. 2. Determination by Agreement
3. 3. Determination by Court Order

2. Determination of French Property Boundaries - By Agreement

Demarcation of land is only possible between private properties, whose boundaries must be contiguous and separate two or more owners.

Boundaries are considered to be contiguous even though they may be separated by a small stream, ditch, footpath or track.

However, demarcation is not possible if the land is separated by a river, a public highway or railway crossing as, in these circumstances, the land is not considered to be contiguous.

The presence of a hedge does not necessarily establish a boundary line and does not prevent demarcation being carried out.

Only public authorities can determine your boundary where it borders a public space. You will need to ask the mairie or the préfecture. If you are not happy with their decision you can appeal to a court of law.

Where your land borders private space owned by a public body then demarcation is possible. This is not unusual in the case of disused communal rights of way.

Where the land is in multiple ownership any of the owners can ask for demarcation, although the law provides safeguards for other owners.

Where two owners want to proceed with demarcation then nothing prevents them agreeing between themselves the limits of the boundary, preparing a plan, and marking it out or fencing it.

If this is done then, if you wish to bind future owners of the neighbouring property, it is imperative that the agreement is registered with a notaire otherwise it will not be binding on them.

This process is called de depot avec reconnaissance d’écritures et de signatures.

The agreement is registered with the public land registry – the la conservation des hypothéques – by the notaire.

The géometre has a monopoly of this function in France and carries professional liability insurance.

S/he will examine historical documents as well as undertaking land measurement and any evidence produced by the owners.

When they have completed their work they will place a borne on the new boundary, provided of course the new boundary is agreed!

Both parties will then need to sign a plan agreeing to the changes, and this document is called a process-verbal (written report!).

The process-verbal is then registered at the land registry via a notaire.

The new boundary is mandatory on subsequent owners, provided it is registered.

The fees of géometre are freely negotiable. Normally, they should not be no more than a few hundred euros.

As well as their fees there are those of notaire and land registration costs. (circa €350)

This may occur, for instance, if the new boundary affects several different owners, all of whom it may be difficult to persuade to attend the notaires office, particularly if it is not in their interests to do so. Nevertheless, provided they have signed as having agreed the new boundary, it can be applied.