How to settle outdoor annexes in your garden?
Verified 30 June 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
You are considering settling a permanent annex (shelter, pergola...) or temporary (above ground pool, arbor, greenhouse...) in your garden ?
It is sometimes necessary to ask for a city planning authorization to your town hall. This depends on the characteristics of your facility (permanent or temporary), the area where your land is located and the dimensions of your facility.
We present you with the information you need to know.
Permanent Annex
These may include the following annexes:
- Cabin or garden shed
- Pergola
- Barbecue fixed (stone, brick)
- Buried swimming pool
- Toilet or outdoor shower
Please note
specific rules apply to caravan and mobile home.
You need to know if your land is located in a protected area. It's the remarkable heritage sites, the surroundings of historical monuments, classified sites or pending classification, natural reserves, remarkable spaces and coastal environments to be preserved.
You can get this information from your city hall.
General case
If the dimensions of your installation do not exceed 12 m high and 5 m² (floor area and ground right-of-way), you do not have to ask for city planning authorization from your city hall.
However, if the dimensions exceed at least one of these thresholds, you must request city planning authorization.
Depending on the size of your installation, it is a preliminary declaration of works or a building permit. To find out the city planning authorization to apply in town hall, you can help yourself with an online service:
Support for your city planning authorization request
FYI
you can settle production frames and greenhouses without formality if their height does not exceed 1.80 meters.
Protected area
If your land is located in a protected area, you must request a city planning authorization from your city hall. Depending on the size of your installation, it is a preliminary declaration of works or a building permit. To find out the city planning authorization to apply in town hall, you can help yourself with an online service:
Provisional Annex
These may include the following annexes:
- Above ground swimming pool
- Arbor
- Garden greenhouse
- Lightweight playground structure (gantry, slide, swing, trampoline...)
You need to know if your land is located in a protected area. It's the remarkable heritage sites, the surroundings of historical monuments, classified sites or pending classification, natural reserves, remarkable spaces and coastal environments to be preserved.
You can get this information from your city hall.
General case
If your installation is installed maximum 3 months in the year, you don't have to ask your city hall for city planning authorization.
However, if your installation lasts more than 3 months, you must apply for a city planning authorization (depending on the size of your installation, preliminary declaration of works or building permit). To find out the city planning authorization to apply in town hall, you can help yourself with an online service:
Protected area
If your land is located in a protected area, you can settle your annex without asking for a city planning authorization from your city hall, provided that Maximum 15 days per year.
However, if your installation takes more than 15 days, you must apply for a city planning authorization. Depending on the size of your installation, it is a preliminary declaration of works or a building permit. To find out the city planning authorization to apply in town hall, you can help yourself with an online service:
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
For information
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.
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of housing and city planning.
For advice
Architectural, city planning and Environmental Council (CAUE)
Installations exempted from applications for authorization
Online service