What are the rules for building a fence?
Verified 30 October 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You want to build a fence around your property: a gate, a fence, a fence door, a wall, a hedge or any other element to close a land? We present you with the information you need to know.
According to the fence type and sound location implementation, you must apply one or more of these regulations :
- City planning rules of your municipality for fence characteristics (height, materials, design)
- Distance rules with your neighbors' land depending on whether the fence is private or semi-private
- Distance rules with the public domain and taxiways
Regulation is different according to the type closing session.
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General case
Hedges and ditches are systematically exempted from city planning authorization.
In principle, fences are also exempt from formality.
However, you must file a Advance Work Statement (AD) in certain sectors:
- Sector bounded by MORE: titleContent
- Municipality or part of municipality where the municipal council has decided to make the walls subject to declaration
- Perimeter of a remarkable heritage site
- Historical monuments approaches
- Classified or Registered Site or pending filing
One gate or a fence levante, which limit access to a property, follow the same rules.
The construction of wall more than 2 meters high is subject to an RFP regardless of the municipality.
The MORE: titleContent may lay down rules concerning height, nature or external appearance.
To limit the consequences of a flood risk, it may, for example, provide for the use of vegetated or permeable fences which do not prevent the free flow of water.
You can consult the PLU in town hall.
Warning
Your project must comply with the MORE: titleContent even if it is not subject to authorization.
If there are no wall height rules in your municipality, you must respect a minimum height.
If no local hedge distance and hedge height rules exist, the minimum distance to be respected from neighboring terrain depends on the height of your plantations.
Fence for an agricultural or forestry activity
If the fence is necessary for farming or forestry activity, you do not need to apply for a city planning authorization.
However, the electrified agricultural fences are subject to specific regulations. Because of the potential danger, a Advance Work Statement (AD) accompanied by a certificate of approval of the equipment must be deposited at the city hall.
Fences in natural or forest areas of the PLU
If you are building a fence in a natural or forest area bounded by the MORE: titleContent of your municipality or in a natural area of free movement of wild animals, you must deposit a Advance Work Statement (AD) in town hall.
Your fence must meet the following criteria:
- Be placed 30 centimeters above the ground surface
- Have a height limit of 1.20 meters
- Be constructed of natural or traditional materials
- Be safe for animals
FYI
The houses and the seats farming or forestry activities in a natural environment may be surrounded by a watertight fence. It must be built within 150 meters of the boundaries of the dwelling or the farm's headquarters.
Before settling a fence, it is recommended that you limit your land to know ownership limits.
If you set the fence in removal of the property limit without encroaching on your neighbor's land, your fence is private. The construction and maintenance are then at your expense and you do not have to consult your neighbor.
If you implant it on the boundary separating your land from that of your neighbor, your adjacent fence. You then have to agree with your neighbor, because you pay the construction and maintenance costs together.
You must respect the easements existing in the field.
Thus, you cannot raise a fence on a easement and prevent its beneficiary from accessing the public highway.
You can't interfere with the natural flow of rainwater either.
You should not create an abnormal neighborhood disorder by raising a fence that deprives your neighbors of sight or sunlight.
In a subdivision, you must comply with the specification on the height, the choice of materials, the colors and the appearance of the fence.
In a joint ownership, you must respect the co-ownership rules.
In some cases, the right to close may be limited.
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Land on the edge of the maritime public domain
Owners who live by the public domain of the sea can close their land. They must leave a strip of at least 3 meters wide along the coast to ensure the passage of pedestrians.
Land on the edge of the river public domain
The riverside owners of the public river domain can close their land. They must leave a strip of at least 3.25 meters wide along the river to ensure the passage of pedestrians.
Land on the edge of a dangerous road
If the land borders a dangerous lane in its accesses, it is necessary to get closer to the road manager before settling a fence.
To Place a Fence at the Edge of a municipal road, you must contact your city hall:
Who shall I contact
To Place a Fence at the Edge of a departmental road , you must contact the departmental council:
Who shall I contact
To Place a Fence at the Edge of a national road, you should contact the Interdepartmental Road Directorate (DIR):
Who shall I contact
Land on the edge of a public road
Land on the edge of a rural road
It is forbidden to plant a hedge on the edge of a rural road, private domain of the commune.
To build or rebuild a wall or fence at the edge of a rural road, you must apply for a boundary certificate from the City Hall. This certificate makes it possible to know the boundaries between the 2 plots.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
For information on city planning regulations and administrative procedures
Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service
For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.
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The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of housing and city planning.
For information on your local city planning plan or advance declaration file
Town Hall
Work not requiring prior declaration
New buildings subject to prior notification (Art. R-421-12)
Fencing in natural or forest areas
Location on the edge of the maritime public domain
Installation of a fence along a rural road
roadside installation (Article L112-1)
Establishment on the edge of the river public domain
Regulatory Constraints for Installing an Electrical Fence
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Ministry of Agriculture