Why are there strict rules around façades on France's streets?
A range of regulations govern the exteriors of buildings in French towns and villages
France has expectations about colour and upkeep of buildings
Eric Bery / Shutterstock
Uniformity of building façades is a feature of many French towns and villages – and even written into local rules.
Examples include the obligation to choose from only 12 colours – mainly pastel greens or dull greys – when painting doors and shutters on the Ile de Ré, or making sure that replacement windows facing the street in Haussmann-style flats maintain the style of the originals.
One of the principles of town planning in France is that the exterior of buildings must be in harmony with buildings around it, and respect rules relating to the materials and colours used.
Read more: Do I need permission to paint the roof of my second home in France?
Rules and regulations
Details can usually be found in the Plan local d'urbanisme (PLU), which almost all communes in France have now drawn up.
If detail is lacking in the PLU, information can be found from the Conseil d'architecture, d'urbanisme et de l'environnement, which is organised on a departmental basis.
In practice, most builders know the rules in the areas they work and how to adapt your requirements to fit in with them.
Another rule for façades, which is often ignored, is a requirement in the Code de la construction (Article L132-1) that the exterior of buildings “must be constantly kept in a good and clean condition. Work to do this must be done at least every 10 years and should be monitored by local authorities”.
Read more: What are the rules for drying clothes outside in France?
Distinction is made between the renovation or facelift (ravalement) of façades, and their cleaning (nettoyage).
A further complication comes from a 2017 rule, which states that all façades made out of poured concrete, bricks, concrete blocks or metal should have exterior insulation applied during their 10-year ravalement – although there appear to be no cases of people being prosecuted for not doing so.
Stone buildings, Haussmann buildings, and those in the typical style of a region are not included.
The 2017 rule also states that exterior insulation can, in some cases, stretch the rules in PLUs, with energy performance trumping aesthetics. Details are in R-152-5 to R152-9 of the Code d’urbanisme.
