French property owners and tenants: what are rules for obligatory undergrowth clearance?

The advent of spring coincides for many people with an increased amount of time spent in their garden or land they own. 

It is not just a good idea to clear up your land so that it is in shape for summer, in many areas of France it is a legal requirement. 

To fight against wildfires, several regions of France have mandatory garden undergrowth clearance rules (obligations legales de débroussaillement) in place.

These require homeowners or tenants to maintain gardens, roads, and areas of land close to buildings, to prevent flammable plant material being present in the summer months, ultimately reducing the risk of damage from forest fires.

It can be a good idea to remind yourself of what is required if the rules apply to your property.

A recent change brought in for 2025 means incoming owners or renters must be made aware of any applicable undergrowth clearance rules applicable to the property before purchasing/renting it. 

It is up to current owners to inform incoming oweners/tenants, both during the advertisement period for the property and in the rental contract/sales deeds. 

Read more: New formality for homeowners selling a property in France

Where do rules apply? 

The rules mostly apply in five regions – Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Corsica, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur – however certain other forested areas may have similar rules in place. 

You can check on the official ‘géoportail’ website if the rules apply in your area. 

These rules apply for properties in both urban and rural areas situated in the zones. 

What must homeowners do? 

Homeowners must clear the land around their property at a radius of 50 metres from excess vegetation and undergrowth.

This 50 metre radius also applies to all buildings if multiple are owned – for example if there is a shed more than 50 metres from your home, you must clear the growth 50 metres around this. 

Roads and footpaths leading up to your property must be cleaned of undergrowth on either side up to 10 metres.

This radius may extend into other properties and public areas, although you are still required to clear the undergrowth. 

To clean up undergrowth in a plot of land owned by someone else, you must inform them in advance via a recorded letter with receipt of delivery (lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception). 

You can find an example letter from the government to use here.

If they do not respond to the request within one month – or do not clean the undergrowth themselves – you must inform the local mairie. 

The government recommends on its service Public site that major works such as cutting trees and shrubs should be carried out in autumn or winter, and that maintenance (keeping grass cut, removing branches and other combustibles, etc) be conducted in spring. 

In urban areas under a PLU (urban development plan, plan local d’urbanisme) you may be required to clear your entire plot of land, and properties close to certain features such as electricity lines may face further regulations.

Check with your mairie if you are unsure on specific rules for your property.

Read more: Explained: French garden rules on cleaning, bonfires, planting and more

Are rules the same for tenants? 

If you let your property the rules on who is responsible for clearing undergrowth must be detailed in your rental contract. 

It can either be the responsibility of the tenant or the owner to clear the undergrowth, however the owner will be responsible in the face of non-compliance even if the tenant is listed as responsible in the contract. 

What are the penalties? 

Failure to comply with the rules can lead to several fines and penalties: 

• The local mairie can order people to clear undergrowth by sending a letter by recorded post. If this order is not immediately followed, communes can issue fines of €100 per day, up to a maximum €5,000

• Communes can also issue fines of €50 per m² of undergrowth that is not cleared

• Judges can issue a criminal fine of up to €1,500 for failure to clear the undergrowth

• In case of a fire spreading due to uncleared undergrowth, property owners and tenants can face a €15,000 fine and one year in prison

Financial aid is not directly available to help clear undergrowth, however it is possible to receive help in clearing the overgrowth from a professional gardener and potentially benefit from tax credits for hiring them.

Our articles below explain these rules.

Read more: Checks, fines, help: rules for clearing undergrowth around French home

Read more: Can I get help meeting France’s mandatory garden clearance rules?