How do I know if my property is subject to the permis de louer?

The scheme only applies in zones delimited by the EPCI or the municipality. Check with your town hall or inter-municipal body, which can tell you the affected areas and the applicable regime (declaration or prior authorization).

Does the permis de louer need to be redone for every tenant?

Yes. Both the prior authorization and the declaration are valid for a given letting: they must be renewed for every new lease with a new tenant. A simple lease renewal with the tenant already in place is not concerned.

What is the risk of letting without a permis de louer?

The préfet can impose a fine of up to €5,000 for failing to file a declaration or obtain authorization, rising to €15,000 in the event of a repeat breach or letting despite a refusal. The lease, however, remains valid between the parties.

Permis de louer (rental permit): authorization and declaration before letting

Updated on August 24, 2026 · 6 min read

Introduced by the loi ALUR, the permis de louer (rental permit) lets certain municipalities check a home's condition before it is let, to fight substandard housing. It does not apply everywhere: only zones designated by a formal resolution are concerned. But where it does apply, letting without completing the procedure exposes you to a fine. Here are the two schemes and how to comply with them.

Two schemes not to confuse

The "permis de louer" actually covers two distinct regimes, which each EPCI (inter-municipal body) or municipality can introduce over all or part of its territory.

The déclaration de mise en location (declaration of letting, article L. 634-1 of the Code de la construction et de l'habitation, French building & housing code) is a simple declarative regime: the landlord informs the town hall after letting. The autorisation préalable de mise en location (prior authorization to let, article L. 635-1) is more demanding: the landlord must obtain approval before signing the lease.

The déclaration de mise en location

In a zone subject to declaration, the landlord files a declaration with the town hall (a dedicated Cerfa form, the French official form) within fifteen days of signing the lease. A receipt (récépissé) is issued in return.

This receipt must be passed on to the tenant and attached, where relevant, to the APL (housing-benefit) application file. The declaration does not trigger an upfront inspection of the home: it is a tracking formality, but failing to file it is sanctioned.

The autorisation préalable ("permis de louer")

In a zone subject to authorization, the procedure takes place before the letting: the landlord files an application (Cerfa form) together with the technical diagnostic file for the home. The authority has one month to rule; silence for more than a month is deemed to grant tacit authorization.

The authority can grant the authorization, make it conditional on works to be carried out, or refuse it if the home poses a risk to occupants' safety or health. The authorization must be attached to the lease and renewed for every new letting — it is tied to the home and the tenant, not acquired once and for all.

Which homes and which zones

The scheme is not nationwide: it applies only in areas delimited by a resolution of the EPCI or the municipality, generally older or run-down neighborhoods. To find out whether a property is affected, the safest approach is to check with the town hall or the inter-municipal body.

new lettings and re-lettings to a new tenant are covered;
a simple lease renewal or extension with the same tenant is not concerned;
certain lettings (social housing, conventioned housing, furnished tourist accommodation) may be excluded depending on the local resolution.

Penalties and best practices

Letting without having filed the declaration, or without authorization in a zone that requires it, exposes you to an administrative fine imposed by the préfet (prefect): up to €5,000, and up to €15,000 in the event of a repeat breach or letting despite a refusal.

In practice: check the zoning before publishing your listing, prepare the technical diagnostic file (it determines the authorization), and plan for the one-month delay of the prior authorization so as not to delay the tenant's move-in.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my property is subject to the permis de louer?: The scheme only applies in zones delimited by the EPCI or the municipality. Check with your town hall or inter-municipal body, which can tell you the affected areas and the applicable regime (declaration or prior authorization).
Does the permis de louer need to be redone for every tenant?: Yes. Both the prior authorization and the declaration are valid for a given letting: they must be renewed for every new lease with a new tenant. A simple lease renewal with the tenant already in place is not concerned.
What is the risk of letting without a permis de louer?: The préfet can impose a fine of up to €5,000 for failing to file a declaration or obtain authorization, rising to €15,000 in the event of a repeat breach or letting despite a refusal. The lease, however, remains valid between the parties.