Commune to use drones to enforce planning rules in south of France

A town in the south of France is to begin using drones to detect building permit infractions. 

Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes) will begin deploying drones in the first half of 2025 to assess building sites not visible to authorities from public spaces. The aim is to ensure construction is following both the general safety rules and specific regulations relating to each project.

The drones will be able to assess individual expansions to private properties as well as larger constructions by companies.

Images produced by the drones “can be used by the judicial authorities,” in cases where regulations are broken to issue penalties, the mairie said.

“They will also be used to improve municipal mapping and gain a better understanding of the state of the built heritage (of Cannes),” it added. 

Currently, Cannes authorities issue around 130 penalties per year to those caught breaking building permit rules.

Cannes already approves the use of drones to fight forest fires during the summer months, for safety during large public events, and as part of a project to sterilise the eggs of protected gull species in the commune.

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Permission required

The drones will be able to access all areas of the commune but will not automatically transmit data.

Images will only be authorised if agreement is given by the constructor or a court order to view them is put in place.

The town has signed an agreement with the Service de la navigation aérienne (that manages France’s air traffic) “to ensure that [the use of the drones] complies with the essential safety rules, legal provisions relating to image rights, respect for privacy and the procedures for producing evidence in respect of town planning offences,” the mairie said.

Use of the drone and its corresponding data “will save time during inspections and will free up municipal town planning staff from time-consuming tasks. This will allow them to focus more on the needs of Cannes' users and residents,” said mayor David Lisnard (quoted in Le Figaro).

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Drones will also expand geographical knowledge

Initially, one drone will be purchased to be shared between the local authorities and the Système d’information géographique (SIG) department which analyses geographical information in the area.

Three people – two from the town hall, one from the SIG – will be authorised to use it.

The SIG will use the drone to produce 3D models of the new buildings and constructions as well as to update information about the town’s existing geography. This will assist town planners and mairie authorities in planning future expansions to the town (sewage, road networks, etc).

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