What are the urban planning requirements to be followed when making external thermal insulation (ITE)?

Verified 25 September 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

You want to achieve external thermal insulation (ITE). In general, it is mandatory as soon as you engage in large renovation works such as the renovation of heated walls overlooking the outside. You must file a prior declaration (DP) and, in some cases, comply with neighborhood, condominium or subdivision regulations. We present you the steps of the process.

Step-by-step approach

You should consult all of the following documents where special rules regarding materials, color, appearance and distances may be included:

  • Local urban planning plan (MORE: titleContent) of your municipality. You can consult it with the urban planning department of your town hall. You can also ask the town hall for a urban planning which specifies whether the proposed project is feasible.
  • Specifications or settlement of the subdivision if your land is in a subdivision. It is appended to the deed of purchase of your land. You can also obtain it from the president of your owner's union (ASP).
  • Regulation of co-ownership if your property is located in a condominium. It is attached to the deed of purchase of your property. You can also obtain it from your syndic of co-ownership or the President of the union council.

There are aids (MaPrimeRénov', PTZ eco, TVA at a reduced rate...) for energy renovation projects.

To find out about the conditions of obtaining, you can contact a France Rénov' advisor free of charge.

Who shall I contact

  • Allows to be accompanied free in its renovation works by advisors of France Rénov'.

    By phone

    0,808,800,700

    Open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. You must have your last tax notice.

    Free service + cost of a call

If your building is on the limit of ownership, your ITE: titleContent encroaches on nearby private property or the public domain.

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Private property

You benefit from a overhang right if you do not have an alternative that achieves equivalent energy efficiency or if the cost or complexity of the alternative is excessive. Your ITE is limited to:

  • 35 cm maximum thickness
  • 2 m minimum above foot of wall, from the foot of thehost or from the ground, unless agreed with your neighbor on a lower height.

You must notify to your neighbor by LRAR: titleContent or by deed of commissioner of justice your wish to obtain an overhang right. Your notification includes the following:

  • Contact details (surname, first name, postal address, email and telephone number)
  • Detailed description of your ITE with a plan of the facades before and after works
  • Evidence of no other solution that achieves an equivalent level of energy efficiency or that the cost or complexity of such other solution is excessive
  • Proposed prior compensation: compensation for overhanging rights and for the right to temporary access to the neighboring building and to install the temporary facilities necessary for the completion of the works
  • Draftauthentic act defining the conditions for implementing the overhang right
  • Draft convention defining the conditions for implementing the right of temporary access to the neighboring building and for the establishment of temporary facilities
  • Reproduction ofArticle R.113-5-1 of the Construction and Housing Code
  • Mention that the notification is the starting point of the neighbor's 6-month opposition period.

From this notification, your neighbor can object to the overhang right for 6 months for a serious and legitimate reason. Within the same period, it may refer the matter to the President of the court of justice to fix compensation in the event of disagreement on the amount of compensation.

THEauthentic act is published in real estate file by the notary. If the right to overhang is granted by a court decision, you must transmit this decision to the land advertising service of the place of the building for its publication.

Who shall I contact

As soon as you have made your choice of the person or company performing the works, you must send his contact details and his policy number ten-year guarantee by LRAR: titleContent to your neighbor. As soon as you subscribe, you must also send him the policy number ofnon-life insurance.

Public Domain

You must deposit by hand or send in LRAR: titleContent a request for road permission to the public person concerned (e.g. City Hall,EPCI: titleContent or the general council) with the following form:

Application for permission or authorization for roads, parking permits, or authorization to undertake works

From the deposit or the sending, the public person has 2 months maximum to answer you. Without a response within this period, your request is refused.

In case of agreement, you will receive a road permission order. It specifies its duration and the amount of a fee, payable in advance and annually, set by the public person. Permission for roads is precarious and revocable. To renew it, you must apply again.

You must attach your road permission to your application for urban planning authorization.

Your project requires a prior declaration (DPS) because you change the exterior appearance of the building.

Depending on your municipality, the way to submit your file to the town hall is different:

  • By dematerialized means (on the internet) according to the arrangements made by the municipality (consult the website of the town hall or inquire on the spot)
  • By letter RAR: titleContent or by hand against a receipt signed by the town hall (form).
Who shall I contact

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On the internet

You can complete and submit your application on the Internet:

Assistance with your urban planning permission application

Form

You can complete and submit your application using a form:

Prior declaration constructions and works not subject to building permits

You must also apply for the following permission if your project is located in a rental, condominium, subdivision:

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In a rental

You must request written permission by LRAR: titleContent to your owner. Otherwise, it may require the restoration of the premises, at your expense, upon your final departure. It can also keep the transformations without compensation.

In a condominium

If your project impacts the common areas (roof, facade...), you must request permission to carry out your project at the general meeting of co-owners. For this, your request should be addressed to trustee by LRAR: titleContent before the notice of meeting is sent to the general meeting. You must attach a document to your application that specifies the location and consistency of the works. This resolution shall be voted on at absolute majority.

In a subdivision

If the articles of your subdivision As provided for, you must request the authorization of the general meeting of the members of the owners' union association (ASP). In this case, the procedure (form of the application, majority vote...) is specified in the statutes.

As from the filing of your file, the town hall has 1 month to inform you if it is incomplete. If this is the case, you have 3 months to complete it otherwise your application is rejected.

When your file is complete, the response time of the town hall is 1 month. It is 2 months in protected area.

Warning  

From the filing of your file, the town hall has 1 month for you notify a longer response time. This is the case, for example, if it is necessary to consult the RCAP: titleContent.

The decision is addressed to you by LRAR: titleContent or by LRE: titleContent or an equivalent electronic process. There are several possible cases:

  • Authorization or lack of response
  • Authorization with requirements
  • Refusal
  • Stay of proceedings.

In the absence of a response within the deadline, your authorization is granted except in exceptional cases (this is the case, for example, for a project subject to an authorization under classified sites or nature reserves, or relating to a building registered under historic monuments).

Warning  

The town hall can withdraw its authorization within 3 months from its issue if it is illegal.

You must display your authorization on your land or the facade of the building as soon as notification and throughout the works period. You must use a rectangular panel with dimensions greater than 80 cm, readable from the public road.

Your display shows the following information:

  • Name, company name or company name of the beneficiary
  • Date and number of authorization
  • Nature of the project, land area
  • Address of the town hall where the file can be consulted
  • Name of the architect, author of the architectural project
  • Floor area and the height of the structure(s), expressed in meters in relation to the natural ground
  • Surface of the building(s) to be demolished if the project involves demolition.

He must also inform the public of the possibilities of appeal by mentioning the following information:

« Right of appeal:

The time limit for filing a dispute is two months from the first day of a continuous two-month period of display on the ground of this sign (Article R. 600-2 of the urban planning Code).

Any administrative appeal or any contentious appeal must, on pain of inadmissibility, be notified to the author of the decision and to the beneficiary of the permit or of the decision taken on the prior declaration. This notification must be sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt within fifteen clear days from the filing of the appeal (Article R. 600-1 of the urban planning Code). »

Please note

If you do not post your authorization, the time limit for third party is 6 months from thecompletion of works.

If you have requested permission from your landlord, condominium or subdivision, you must obtain their consent before starting your works.

You can start your works as soon as:

  • Signature of theauthentic act and the Convention for the overhang of the neighboring land, and payment of compensation in the event of encroachment on private property
  • Receipt of the decision or end of the processing time of your file in case of non-response for theurban planning authorization.

Once started, your works should not be interrupted for more than 1 consecutive year otherwise your urban planning authorization is no longer valid and you must file a new application. This is also the case if you do not start works within 3 years of the issuance of your authorization.

However, your authorization can be extended 2 times for 1 year under the following 2 conditions:

  • Urban planning rules and administrative easements unchanged between your 2 requests
  • Sending your extension request at least 2 months before the end of the 3-year validity period.

When your project is completed, you have to send a letter to the town hall Declaration of Completion and Compliance of works (DAACT).

Depending on your municipality, the way to submit your file to the town hall is different:

  • By dematerialized means (on the internet) according to the arrangements made by the municipality (consult the website of the town hall or inquire on the spot)
  • By letter RAR: titleContent or by hand (form).

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On the internet

You can complete and submit your application on the Internet:

Assistance with your urban planning permission application

Form

You can complete and submit your return using a form:

Declaration of completion and compliance of works

If you carry out your project without authorization or if it does not comply with the authorization obtained, you risk the following cumulative penalties:

  • Penal fine between €1,200 and €300,000 maximum (€1 500 000 maximum for legal persons)
  • Administrative fine from €30,000 maximum
  • Interruption of works
  • Obligation to comply or demolish your project with a penalty payment of €500 maximum per day late
  • Automatic compliance or demolition at your expense
  • 6 months imprisonment in case of recidivism.

Your project can affect your property taxes. For more information, you can contact your departmental property tax center.

Who shall I contact

Assistance with your urban planning permission application

Prior declaration constructions and works not subject to building permits

Who can help me?

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  • For information on available aids and competent professionals

    Allows to be accompanied free in its renovation works by advisors of France Rénov'.

    By phone

    0,808,800,700

    Open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. You must have your last tax notice.

    Free service + cost of a call

  • For information on property taxes

    Departmental Center for Property Taxes (CDIF)

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