What city planning authorization must be filed to settle an outdoor air conditioning or heat pump housing?
Verified 30 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you settle an outdoor air conditioning or heat pump (PAC) unit, the regulations differ depending on the location and type of unit. In some cases, prior notification (PNR) is required. We present you the information to know.
Air conditioning
Your installation must comply with the rules of MORE: titleContent of your commune. To know these rules, you must contact the city planning department of your town hall.
FYI
Your installation must not cause abnormal neighborhood disorder.
The approach to be taken varies according to whether you may or may not change the exterior appearance of the building :
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
With modification of the external appearance
You must file an RFP.
The way to create and transmit your PD file differs according to your municipality:
General case
You must complete and submit your RFP file by dematerialized means according to the arrangements made by your municipality or on a paper form. Ask on the website of the town hall or on site.
On the internet
You can complete and submit your RFP application on the Internet:
Form
You can complete your RFP application using a form:
Prior declaration of constructions and works not subject to building permits
In Paris
You must submit your file to the Reception and User Service Office (Basu: titleContent) only by dematerialized means.
Reception and user service office (Basu) in Paris: one-stop shop
Without changing the external appearance
You are exempt from administrative formalities.
However, in a protected area, if the installation of your housing requires the construction of a slabHowever, regardless of its surface area, you must file an RFP. The means of compiling and transmitting the DP file differs according to your municipality:
General case
You must complete and submit your RFP by dematerialization according to the arrangements made by your municipality or on a paper form. Ask on the website of the town hall or on site.
On the internet
You can complete and submit your RFP application on the Internet:
Form
You can complete your RFP application using a form:
Prior declaration of constructions and works not subject to building permits
In Paris
You must submit your file to the Reception and User Service Office (Basu: titleContent) only by dematerialized means.
Reception and user service office (Basu) in Paris: one-stop shop
Warning
If you are a condominium owner, you must request permission to settle your equipment at the general meeting of the condominium owners. This decision will be subject to an absolute majority vote (majority of the votes of all the co-owners of the building).
Heat pump
Your installation must comply with the rules of MORE: titleContent of your commune. To know these rules, you must contact the city planning department of your town hall.
FYI
Your installation must not cause abnormal neighborhood disorder.
The approach to be taken varies according to whether you may or may not change the exterior appearance of the building :
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
With modification of the external appearance
The regulations are different depending on whether the housing of PAC is visible or not from the public space (sidewalk, square, road open to the public...) or from a neighboring building:
Visible installation
You must file an RFP.
The way to create and transmit your PD file differs according to your municipality:
General case
You must complete and submit your RFP file by dematerialized means according to the arrangements made by your municipality or on a paper form. Ask on the website of the town hall or on site.
You can complete and submit your RFP application on the Internet:
You can complete your RFP application using a form:
Prior declaration of constructions and works not subject to building permits
In Paris
You must submit your file to the Reception and User Service Office (Basu: titleContent) only by dematerialized means.
Reception and user service office (Basu) in Paris: one-stop shop
Installation not visible
You are exempt from city planning authorization.
However, you need to make a RFP in town hall if your work is located in one of the following sectors :
- Remarkable Heritage Site
- Surroundings of historical monument
- Building classified or enrolled
- Nature reserve (area for the protection of fauna and flora that can be located in a natural park).
Without changing the external appearance
You are exempt from administrative formalities.
However, in a protected area, if the installation of your housing requires the construction of a slabHowever, regardless of its surface area, you must file an RFP. The means of compiling and transmitting the DP file differs according to your municipality:
General case
You must complete and submit your RFP by dematerialization according to the arrangements made by your municipality or on a paper form. Ask on the website of the town hall or on site.
On the internet
You can complete and submit your RFP application on the Internet:
Form
You can complete your RFP application using a form:
Prior declaration of constructions and works not subject to building permits
In Paris
You must submit your file to the Reception and User Service Office (Basu: titleContent) only by dematerialized means.
Reception and user service office (Basu) in Paris: one-stop shop
Warning
If you are a condominium owner, you must request permission to settle your equipment at the general meeting of the condominium owners. This decision will be subject to an absolute majority vote (majority of the votes of all the co-owners of the building).
Assistance for your planning permission application
Reception and user service office (Basu) in Paris: one-stop shop
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
For information on city planning regulation and administrative procedures
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30Horaires exceptionnels le jeudi 2 avril de 08h30 à 09h45 et de 14h00 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of housing and city planning.
For information on the local urban plan or on your advance declaration file
Town HallFor information on the local urban plan or on your prior declaration file in Paris
Paris: Reception and user service office (Basu)
Work subject to PD in protected area
Work carried out on existing buildings exempt from city planning authorization
Change in external appearance requiring RFP
Prohibition of harming the tranquility and health of others by noise
Majority vote at the general meeting of co-owners