What are the rules on building a fence at French property?

Reader Question: I want to build a wooden fence on my property at my second home. Do I need to inform the mairie if it is wholly within my land?

Anyone can put a hedge, fence or wall on their own property in France so long as they respect the local town planning rules. However, boundary walls are subject to more rules, particularly in towns and urban areas.

The French Civil Code stipulates in article 647 that anyone can put a fence on their property if they so wish.

However, it adds specific stipulations concerning the height of boundary fences and walls (clôture mitoyenne) in towns and urban areas.

What are the rules about fences and walls in France?

While you are allowed to put a hedge, fence or wall on your own property, the local planning code (plan d'urbanisme local or PLU) may stipulate what kind of structure you can build.

You can consult your local PLU at your mairie. It will also inform you if any other authorisation is required, which may be the case if your property is near a historic monument, for instance.

A wall placed along the shared boundary with a neighbour’s property is a shared wall and comes with shared costs and divided responsibility. If in doubt about exactly where the border is, you can pay a professional surveyor (géomètre) to carry out a study called bornage.

You can read about the rules for shared border walls and fences below.

Read more: Can I build on shared wall between neighbour’s and my French property?

In urban areas and towns, article 663 of the Civil Code applies, which stipulates that in the absence of local rules to the contrary:

• Walls/fences must be at least 2.6m high in urban areas and towns with fewer than 50,000 inhabitants

• They must be at least 3.2m high in urban areas and towns with more than 50,000 inhabitants 

Note that constructions with a height of more than 2m also require you to submit a déclaration préalable de travaux (DP) to your local mairie.

In most communes, there are no rules on the maximum height for fences or border walls, although common sense prevails.

For example, if your fence is too big and disrupts your neighbour (such as by blocking sunlight) then you may be forced to take it down in case of complaints.

One exception to these rules for a wooden fence is if your property is situated in a natural or forested zone (this will be specified in the PLU). 

If this is the case, fences must be 30cm off the ground, and have a maximum height of 1.2m, in order to minimise disruption to wildlife. 

Additional rules may apply if your property borders public land, such as roads or rivers.

For example, fences beside a river must be at least 3.25m from it to allow walkers to pass. 

If alongside a public road, the fence must align with it.