Regulations and building permits for your conservatory or terrace
Before embarking on the construction of a conservatory, it's essential to take into account the administrative rules in force. Depending on the surface area created and the location of your home, you may need to obtain either a simple prior declaration or a building permit.
What administrative procedures are required for your conservatory or terrace in France?Simply understand when a declaration or permit is required
.When you add a conservatory to your home or create a covered terrace, you're modifying the living space or external appearance of the building. As such, town planning rules apply.
Here are the main principles to be aware of:
- Conservatory:
- Less than 5 m²: no formalities.
- Between 5 and 20 m² (or 40 m² in urban areas with PLU): preliminary works declaration.
- Over 20/40 m²: permis de construire obligatoire.
- Attention, if the conservatory brings the total surface area of the house over 150 m², the use of an architect is mandatory.
- Terrace:
- Single-storey terrace with no cover: no formalities.
- Raised terrace or with awning/adjoined pergola: declaration or permit depending on surface area.
Each commune may have its own Plan Local d'Urbanisme (PLU): some impose aesthetic constraints (color of joinery, type of roof, etc.).
Failing to comply with these rules can lead to penalties, or even the obligation to demolish.
A professional Installux partner will be able to guide you through these steps: putting together the file, plans, declaration or permit application, compliance with local rules.
Finally, note that some projects may be eligible for tax incentives or reduced VAT, particularly if they are part of an energy improvement scheme (conservatory with high-performance double glazing, for example).
These projects may be of interest to you
Breiz Alu builds a high-performance thermal house extension in Brittany
Lhermet Menuiserie builds a 50m² conservatory in the Haute Loire region of France
