Things t.m.y.g. Hmmmmm. Planning, Forms & Permits. Certificat d’Urbanisme

Since October 2007 a new set of planning application forms have been used in France to replace previously used building planning forms. This was accompanied by a new national planning procedural reform. Some of the forms retain the same name as the previous ones, however, all have been altered and only the new forms are now acceptable. Part 1.

Certificat d’Urbanisme

Outline planning/planning in principle. The old Certificat d’Urbanisme forms were poorly written with the result that many requests were not actually what the beneficiary required. For example, A request for the “renovation of an existing building, barn” when the beneficiary wanted the “change of use (transformation) of an agricultural building to habitation”. The former allows the renovation of a barn into a better barn; the latter allows the barn to be converted to a house. This is particularly important to note for those who are in the process of purchasing a property for conversion. In an attempt to rectify any confusion the format has changed, there are now two forms for a Certificat d’Urbanisme:

Form A – Informative (certificat d’information générale)

Form B – Operational (certificat opérationnel)

An informative request is one that establishes the existing planning status of a building or piece of land. This may be used if, in the case of a derelict cottage, the applicant wants to know if in planning terms it is still classed as a cottage or if it has been de-classified. If it has been de-classified, a permit is required to change the use (changement de destination) of the building to habitation. Planning in France goes with the building and not with the land; if the building is classed as agricultural even though it clearly was, and looks like, a cottage then it is agricultural.

An operational request is a request to “perform an operation on a building” for example changes an agricultural barn to habitation (house). There is an additional note descriptive succinct du projet that accompanies each operational request. It requires a short written description of the project and enables the applicant to add maps and photographs to support the request; it is imperative to mark on the plan which building the request is for if there is more than one building on a site. Ensure that transformation de bâtiment agricole en bâtiment d’habitation is clearly written if the intention is to convert a building for use as habitation.

Dossier consists of:

Plan Cadastral 1:2000/1000

A written submission explaining the project + photos optional

a)  Informative 2 copies of the application form delivered to the Mairie
Response to application: 1 month from application

b) Operational  4 copies of the application form and 4 copies of the dossier (plan cadastre, photos etc) delivered to the Mairie. Response to application: 2 months from application

Note: A Certificat d’urbanisme is an approval “in principal” subject to the granting of a building permit (Permis de construire).