Installing a fence seems straightforward: you choose your mesh or panels, dig, and install. Except that before taking out the spade, there is sometimes a mandatory step: the prior works declaration at the town hall. Depending on your municipality, this document may be required on pain of a fine or an obligation to demolish. So who must declare, how do you complete the file, and how long does it take? Let’s review the key points.
What exactly is a prior declaration?
The prior works declaration (often abbreviated as DP) is a planning permission. Unlike the more extensive building permit, it concerns minor works, of which installing a fence is part in certain cases.
In practical terms, it is a form that you submit to the town hall to inform the municipality of your project. The administration verifies that your fence complies with local regulations: height, materials, color, location. This is not a mere administrative formality: it is a means for the town hall to control architectural harmony and compliance with the Local Urban Development Plan (PLU).
Am I required to declare my fence?
This is THE question to ask first. The answer depends entirely on your municipality. In principle, installing a fence requires no procedure. But many town halls have established, by municipal council resolution, the requirement for a prior declaration for any fence on their territory.
The declaration becomes systematically mandatory in several specific situations:
- Your land is located in a protected heritage area or near a historic monument
- You live in a protected zone (classified site, notable heritage site)
- The municipality has passed a resolution requiring the declaration for all fences
- The PLU or the municipal map imposes this formality
The safest approach: call your town hall’s planning department before you begin. A phone call will save you considerable trouble. They will confirm whether your project is affected and specify local constraints (maximum height, permitted fence type, etc.).
What rules must you comply with for your fence?
Even if you are not required to declare, you must always comply with local planning regulations. The PLU often sets a maximum height (generally between 1.80 m and 2 m), sometimes imposes a type of material, or prohibits certain colors deemed too conspicuous.
Also pay attention to boundary regulations. If your fence is located on the boundary line with a neighbor, the Civil Code and local customs apply. In some municipalities, a fence on the property boundary may be considered a party fence, which implies shared costs. Find out in advance to avoid neighborhood disputes, which are unfortunately common when it comes to property boundaries.
How do you complete the declaration file?
The form to use is Cerfa no. 13703, entitled “Prior declaration for a detached house and/or its annexes.” You can obtain it directly from the town hall or download it from the service-public.fr website.
Here are the documents generally to be attached to your application:
- The Cerfa form duly completed and signed
- A site plan of the land (to locate the plot within the municipality)
- A site layout plan showing the precise location of the fence
- A cross-section plan or sketch with dimensions and height
- Photographs of the land and its surroundings
- A representation of the appearance of the future fence (materials, colors)
Take the time to prepare these documents carefully. An incomplete or imprecise file delays processing or even results in refusal. Do not hesitate to clearly indicate the type of product chosen: rigid mesh, screening panels, aluminum fencing, with references and colors.
Where and how do you submit your declaration?
Submission is made to the town hall of the municipality where the land is located. You have several options: submit it directly at the planning department counter, send it by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt, or use the online platform if your municipality offers online submission (mandatory for municipalities with more than 3,500 inhabitants).
Prepare the file in several copies if you are submitting in paper format: generally two, sometimes more depending on the zone. The town hall will then give you a receipt stating the submission date and registration number. Keep this document carefully; it establishes the starting point of the review period.
What is the waiting period before starting work?
Once your file is submitted, the town hall has a review period of one month for prior declarations. This period may be extended to two months if your land is located in a protected area requiring the opinion of the Architect of Historic Buildings.
If the town hall does not respond within this period, you benefit from tacit approval: you may begin work. However, as a precaution, still request a certificate of non-opposition from the planning department to have written proof. Before starting, you must also display the authorization on your land, visible from the public road, for the entire duration of the project. This display starts the third-party appeal period (two months), during which a neighbor could challenge your project.
What are the risks of proceeding without a declaration?
Installing a fence without a declaration when it was mandatory exposes you to very real penalties. The town hall may require you to submit a file retrospectively, or even demand compliance or demolition of your fence if it does not comply with regulations.
Financially, violation of planning regulations may result in a fine ranging from €1,200 to €6,000 per square meter concerned. Suffice it to say that a simple declaration, free and quick, remains far more advantageous. At Districlos, our customer service can help you choose products that comply with your municipality’s requirements: rigid mesh, screening panels, gates—everything is in stock and ready to install once you have obtained your authorization.
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