Do you need a permit to divide a building into lots?

Verified 14 May 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

No, a division into several lots (parts of a divided assembly) does not require authorization. However, in some cases, you need a city planning authorization to divide a building (house, commercial premises, apartment, barn) into several lots (apartment, commercial premises). You may also need to request permission from the co-ownership. Finally, a division can have an impact on your taxes.

In general, the division of a building into several lots is exempt from city planning formalities.

However, some work to carry out a division is subject to prior declaration of works (DP) or building permit (PC).

This can be a division:

  • Either with interior fittings (modification, creation, removal of partitions, interior stairs, load-bearing walls...) and/or external (creation, extension or removal of doors, windows, exterior stairs, creation of parking spaces...),
  • Either with change of destination (conversion of a dwelling into a commercial premises, a barn into a dwelling, etc.) with or without interior and/or exterior fittings

Warning  

The MORE: titleContent the creation of several lots may be linked to the design of parking spaces for cars and bicycles.

To find out if this obligation exists, you should contact the city planning Department of the City Hall or the Basu: titleContent for Paris:

Who shall I contact

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With interior and/or exterior fittings

By performing a division, protected elements can be modified or deleted. This protection can come from the following documents:

  • MVSP
  • MORE: titleContent of the municipality
  • Deliberation of the municipal council in the absence of MORE: titleContent

In this case, your work is subject to DP.

To find out if there is any special protection, contact theUDAP: titleContent, the city planning Department of the City Hall or the Basu: titleContent for Paris.

General case

A division is exempt from city planning authorization on 2 conditions:

  • Making interior fittings only
  • Do not modify or delete an item protected by the MVSP: titleContent, on MORE: titleContent or, failing that MORE: titleContent, a deliberation by the municipal council
Item protected by a PSMV

Jobs can modify or delete a architectural and decorative element only one MVSP: titleContent (in effect or in the study phase) protects. For example, it may be a woodwork, a fireplace, an ironwork, a statue, a framework or even a vaulted room. It can also be organization, distribution or interior layout.

In this case, a preliminary declaration of works must be deposited at the town hall or the Basu: titleContent for Paris. This can be done on the Internet or using a form, depending on whether the project is located in Paris or another municipality.

General case

The file must be submitted to the City Hall:

  • By dematerialized means according to the provisions adopted by the municipality (information on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
  • By letter RAR: titleContent
  • In your own hand
Who shall I contact
On the Internet

The RFP application file can be completed on the Internet:

Support for your city planning authorization request

Form

The form is different if the development is for a detached house or another type of construction.

In Paris

The file must be submitted to the Basu: titleContent by dematerialized means only:

Office Accueil et Service à l'User (Basu) de Paris: one-stop-shop

Element protected by the PLU or the communal map

Jobs can modify or delete an item that the MORE: titleContent or the municipal map of your municipality protects. These are items identified as having a cultural, historical, architectural or ecological interest.

In this case, a preliminary declaration of works must be deposited at the town hall or the Basu: titleContent for Paris. This can be done on the Internet or using a form, depending on whether the project is located in Paris or another municipality.

General case

The file must be submitted to the City Hall:

  • By dematerialized means according to the provisions adopted by the municipality (information on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
  • By letter RAR: titleContent
  • In your own hand
Who shall I contact
On the Internet

The RFP application file can be completed on the Internet:

Support for your city planning authorization request

Form

The form is different if the development is for a detached house or another type of construction.

In Paris

The file must be submitted to the Basu: titleContent by dematerialized means only:

Office Accueil et Service à l'User (Basu) de Paris: one-stop-shop

Protected by a municipal council decision

Work may modify or delete an element that is protected by a municipal council decision. These are items identified as having a heritage, landscape or ecological interest.

In this case, a preliminary declaration of works must be deposited at the town hall or the Basu: titleContent for Paris. This can be done on the Internet or using a form, depending on whether the project is located in Paris or another municipality.

General case

The file must be submitted to the City Hall:

  • By dematerialized means according to the provisions adopted by the municipality (information on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
  • By letter RAR: titleContent
  • In your own hand
Who shall I contact
On the Internet

The RFP application file can be completed on the Internet:

Support for your city planning authorization request

Form

The form is different if the development is for a detached house or another type of construction.

In Paris

The file must be submitted to the Basu: titleContent by dematerialized means only:

Office Accueil et Service à l'User (Basu) de Paris: one-stop-shop

With change of destination

By dividing a property, the destination of all or part of the property can be changed. For example, a dwelling can be transformed into several commercial premises, a farm barn or a church into one or more dwellings.

Change of destination without modification of load-bearing structures or facade

Internal modifications accompanied by a total or partial change of destination shall be subject to preliminary declaration of works.

General case

The file must be submitted to the City Hall:

  • By dematerialized means according to the provisions adopted by the municipality (information on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
  • By letter RAR: titleContent
  • In your own hand
Who shall I contact
On the Internet

The RFP application file can be completed on the Internet:

Support for your city planning authorization request

Form

The form is different if the development is for a detached house or another type of construction.

In Paris

The file must be submitted to the Basu: titleContent by dematerialized means only:

Office Accueil et Service à l'User (Basu) de Paris: one-stop-shop

Change of destination with modification of the supporting structures and/or the facade

A change of destination accompanied by modifications of the load-bearing structures and/or of the facade is subject to building permit.

Modifying load-bearing structures can involve modifying or removing a load-bearing wall, a slab, or a beam, for example.

The modification of the facade may consist in the installation, modification or removal of an entrance or garage door, window or exterior staircase.

General case

The file must be submitted to the City Hall:

  • By dematerialized according to the arrangements made by your municipality (inquire on the site of the town hall or on the spot)
  • By letter RAR: titleContent
  • In your own hand
Who shall I contact
On the Internet

The application form for PC can be completed on the Internet:

Support for your city planning authorization request

Form

The form is different if the development is for a detached house or another type of construction.

In Paris

The file must be submitted to the Basu: titleContent by dematerialized means only:

Office Accueil et Service à l'User (Basu) de Paris: one-stop-shop

FYI  

A division subject to city planning authorization may be refused if it involves works on public water, sewerage or electricity networks and if the capacity of those networks is insufficient.

In an existing condominium, the authorization of the general meeting of the condominiums may be necessary to carry out a division into several lots.

If the work to carry out the division has an impact on the common areas (e.g. load-bearing wall, slab, sewage column) or the external appearance of the building (facade, roof), an authorization from thegeneral meeting of co-owners must be requested.

To do this, a letter must be sent to the trustee in RAR: titleContent asking the General Assembly to include the item on its agenda in the next General Assembly.

This item will be voted on by an absolute majority (majority of votes of all co-owners of the building).

Please note

Any building with a central heating or cooling system, or supplied by a heat or cooling system, must have individual meters.

If after the division of a building, at least 2 lots belong to different owners, a condominium must be created. This is not the case for the division of a building into several lots which ultimately belong to one and the same owner.

Local taxes

Dividing a building or apartment into several lots can have an impact on local taxes. For more information, please contact the Departmental Property Tax Center.

Who shall I contact

Contribution towards the financing of collective remediation (PFAC or CAP)

A division may result in a new connection to the public domestic wastewater collection system. The Pfac: titleContent is a levy payable by owners of buildings subject to the connection obligation. Each municipality decides whether or not to introduce it.

For more information, please contact the City Hall.

Who shall I contact

Support for your city planning authorization request

Office Accueil et Service à l'User (Basu) de Paris: one-stop-shop

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