What are the rules on installing a cat flap or doggy door at my French home?
Local heritage rules must be respected
Doors to let pets in and out of your home can be useful, but insurers need to be made aware of their presence
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Reader Question: We want to bring our dog over to our new property in France and install a ‘doggy door’ so it can go to the garden when it wants. It is a King Charles Spaniel, so only a small dog. How will this affect our insurance?
Before installing a cat flap or doggy door, you should ensure you are allowed to do so at your property.
Those who are renting would need to ask permission from their landlord or agency, and if they live in a shared building, from other owners and the syndic.
In co-ownership buildings you may also need express permission even if you own your own flat, if there is an impact on the outside of the building or any communal areas.
If you are a homeowner of your own, detached property, you do not need any kind of permit to install a pet door and do not need to inform the mairie about the change.
However, you may need to abide by local planning rules, such as if your property is in a historic area where the exterior must conform to heritage standards.
In this case, there may be strict limits on changes affecting the appearance of the property.
Typically, this would relate to larger charges, but if your property is subject to strict local planning regulations you can check with your mairie about this. You should also reach out to the local service territorial de l’architecture et du patrimoine (STAP) to see about obtaining permission, if necessary.
We would consider that it is unlikely the installation of a small cat flap will be rejected, however.
How is insurance affected?
There are no overall rules about cat flaps/doggy doors and insurance in the French legal codes, meaning insurers can set their own rules on this matter.
These installations are very common and it is unlikely that an insurer will refuse to cover you if you have one or wish to install one (unless the door is sufficiently large that a human could fit through or if it is placed too close to a window latch).
Claims could be rejected if it can be proved burglars used the flap to enter the property without forcing entry.
Companies may offer additional cover following the installation of a cat flap as part of an add-on policy, likely to raise the cost of cover.
If you have not yet installed the flap, it is worth reaching out to your insurer prior and getting confirmation about how your policy/cover may change following this.
Have you completed steps to bring your pet?
Be aware that to bring a pet to France, you must ensure it has up to date vaccinations and be microchipped.
It must be registered with a French vet within a week of arrival in France.
Our article below explains the steps you need to take.
Read more: What is the process for obtaining a French pet passport for animal from UK?
