Works on historic monuments or its surroundings
Verified 14 August 2026 - Entreprendre Service Public / (Prime Minister)
You want to make works on a historic monument or its approaches. Depending on the nature and situation of the project, you must obtain a urban planning authorization or authorization of works on historic monuments. We're taking stock of the regulations.
It exists multiple levels of protection in the case of historical monuments:
- The classified buildings are those whose conservation is of public interest from the point of view of history or art. Ranking is the highest level of protection.
- The registered buildings are those of sufficient historical, architectural or artistic interest to justify their preservation.
- The buildings located near a historic monument are protected within a perimeter generally defined by decision of the regional prefect. If this perimeter is not delimited, protection applies to buildings located within the field of visibility of a historic monument within 500 meters of it.
To find out if a building is protected as a historic monument and to know the perimeters protected as a surrounding area, you can consult theAtlas of Heritage.
You can also ask your town hall or contact theUDAP: titleContent.
The steps to follow are different depending on whether your works are real property classified, a building enrolled where are on the outskirts of a historic monument :
Classified building
Works on listed building under historical monuments are subject to authorization by the regional prefect or the Minister of Culture in certain cases.
Step-by-step approach
You must request permission for buildings or works that affect the consistency, jeopardize the conservation or appearance of the listed building.
The works include:
- Scouring and enhancements in a classified plot
- Deforestation or clearing on classified land
- Removal from water, consolidation, development, restoration, upgrading, enhancement, clearing or sanitation of a listed building
- Works of temporary cover or shoring, except in cases of immediate danger
- Works of refurbishment
- Works on classified interior parts, in particular the modification of horizontal or vertical volumes or distributions, the modification, restoration, restoration or creation of supporting elements or decorations such as floors, carpentry, murals, paintings, stained glass or sculptures
- Works for the permanent installation of objects in a listed building, on its facade or roof
- Works for the installation of installations or temporary constructions with a surface area of more than 20 m² and a duration of more than 1 month on a listed land.
Warning
The Maintenance works are not subject to authorization. These are the works intended to keep the building in good condition, to prevent its deterioration, to restore it to its condition while respecting its appearance, its consistency and the materials used.
The works are carried out under the scientific and technical supervision of the State departments responsible for historic monuments. Before you start your works, you should contact the Drac: titleContent.
The services of the Drac inform you of the following information:
- Scientific and technical conditions under which interventions will be studied
- State of knowledge on the monument
- Regulatory, architectural and technical constraints to be respected
- List of scientific and technical studies to be carried out prior to the determination of the operational program, depending on the nature, importance and complexity of the works envisaged
- Skills and experience to be presented by architects applying for the project management works, defined in the light of the particularities of the operation.
For restoration and repair works of a listed building, you must entrust the project management works to an architect.
The prime contractor can be chosen from the following architects:
- Chief Architect of Historic Monuments (CAHM)
- Heritage Architect
- Architect with a diploma of specialization and deepening in architecture with a mention of « architecture and heritage » or any other recognized European diploma of equivalent level.
Who shall I contact
Before entering into the prime contracting, you must provide the Drac: titleContent evidence of the training and professional experience of the contractor chosen. These documents attest to the historic, architectural and technical knowledge necessary for the design and conduct of the works.
You must apply for an authorization for works on a property listed in Drac: titleContent :
You must send 4 copies the application and the accompanying file.
This file includes the following documents:
- Operation program describing and justifying the projected works and the final preliminary draft containing a presentation report, a detailed quantitative description and all the graphic and photographic documents allowing the understanding of the planned works
- Scientific and technical studies prior to the works, depending on the nature, importance and complexity of the project.
The application for authorization shall be delivered by hand against receipt or sent by letter RAR: titleContent to the Drac: titleContent.
The processing time is different depending on whether your file is complete or incomplete:
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Your file is complete
When the file is complete, the regional prefect will send you the date and registration number of the application for authorization.
The regional prefect shall give his opinion within 6 months after the date of registration of the application. However, if the Minister responsible for culture has decided to take up the file, he informs you that the authorization is issued within 12 months from the same date.
Your file is incomplete
If the file is incomplete, the regional prefect shall, within a period of1 month from the receipt of the request, the list and content of the additional documents to be provided.
If the applicant does not submit the documents within 2 months of the date of receipt of the request for supplement, the request shall be rejected.
Your works can have an impact on local taxes. You can also pay the following tax and royalty:
For more information, contact the departmental center of property taxes.
You can simulate the amount of your development tax and the preventive archeology tax:
Estimate the amount of urban planning fees (development fee and preventive archeology fee)
Please note
The connection to the sewer of new or existing constructions generates the payment of the participation for the financing of the collective sanitation (Pfac: titleContent or Pac).
Registered building
If your works is for a listed building, you must obtain an authorization.
Step-by-step approach
You must obtain authorization for the following works:
- Works to modify, repair, or restore a registered building or a part of a building registered as a historic monument
- Works on immovable property or part of immovable property listed as historic monuments not subject to formality under the urban planning code
- Household effects spare works attached to perpetual dwelling in a protected building or part of a building protected as a historic monument
- Works for the installation of installations or temporary constructions with a surface area of more than 20 m² and a duration of more than 1 month on a listed land.
Before starting your works, you should consult the Drac: titleContent. This service provides information, advice and guidance. It provides you with all the useful information, including the state of knowledge she has about the building.
Works on a building listed as a historic monument are subject to urban planning authorization. These works can be the creation of floor area orright-of-way, interior or exterior works and changes to the exterior appearance of the building.
Warning
All other works that are not subject to urban planning authorization shall be subject to a declaration with the Drac: titleContent at least 4 months prior to commencement. The works you must report include:
- Road works
- Infrastructure works
- Works in a garden without a building
- Works on a courtyard, an outdoor area
- Felling of trees.
The procedure is different depending on whether you make a application for urban planning authorization or a declaration with the Drac: titleContent.
Apply for urban planning authorization
The application for urban planning authorization differs depending on the type of works you are considering:
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Repair or maintenance works
You are dispensed of any formality.
New construction, works on existing construction, works on all or part of a listed immovable
All works relating to a building or part of a building listed as a historic monument are subject to building permit (PC).
Warning
Depending on your municipality, you can submit a prior declaration (DPS) for small-scale works. This may be the case, for example, for works for restoring roofs, taking over assemblies of frames, joinery, structures, consolidation and/or refixing of wall paintings, restructuring and interior fittings.
Demolition
You must apply for permit to demolish.
Make a statement to Drac
The making of works or constructions on listed immovable or part of immovable, exempt from urban planning authorizations, must be the subject of a declaration to the Drac: titleContent.
You must declare works on real estate listed in Drac at least 4 months prior to commencement.
Authorized works shall be carried out under the scientific and technical supervision of Drac.
The request for authorization of works shall be made in 2 copies by RAR letter or deposited with Drac. The application file is then forwarded without delay to the regional prefect for examination.
You must use the following form:
The starting point for the processing time for the urban planning authorization or declaration differs depending on whether your file is complete or not:
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Your file is complete
The time limit is different depending on whether the urban planning authorization or the declaration to Drac is concerned:
Urban planning permission
For urban planning authorizations, the deadlines are as follows:
- 2 months for a prior declaration of works
- 5 months for a building permit, a development permit (PA) and a demolition permit.
Statement to Drac
For the declaration of works to Drac, the time limit for investigation is 4 months.
Your file is incomplete
The time limit is different depending on whether the urban planning authorization or the declaration to Drac is concerned:
Urban planning permission
Within 1 month as from the filing of your request to the town hall, it sends you by letter or by electronic means a request for the missing parts.
You have 3 months to send the requested parts. If you do not provide them, your request will be considered rejected. The investigation delay starts when your file is complete.
Statement to Drac
Within 1 month from the filing of your application to the Drac: titleContent, the regional prefect sends you by letter or by electronic means a request for the missing parts.
You have 2 months to send the requested parts. If you do not provide them, your request will be considered rejected. The investigation delay starts when your file is complete.
Your works can have an impact on local taxes. You can also pay the following tax and royalty:
For more information, contact the departmental center of property taxes.
You can simulate the amount of your development tax and the preventive archeology tax:
Estimate the amount of urban planning fees (development fee and preventive archeology fee)
Please note
The connection to the sewer of new or existing constructions generates the payment of the participation for the financing of the collective sanitation (Pfac: titleContent or Pac).
Around a historic monument
If your works are located near a historic monument, you must obtain authorization.
The protection of surroundings shall apply to the following buildings or parts of buildings:
- Building located within the field of visibility of a listed or listed building located within 500 m of the monument
- Building located within an adapted or modified perimeter of protection, now demarcated perimeters of the surroundings (PDA)
- Building that forms a coherent whole with a historic monument or that contributes to its conservation or enhancement
- Unprotected part of a partially classified building.
Works near a historic monument are subject to urban planning authorization. These works can be the creation of floor area orright-of-way, works for interior or exterior fittings and modification of the exterior appearance.
Warning
Works not subject to urban planning authorization shall be subject toa special authorization works located near historic monuments.
These works are as follows:
- Construction and temporary installation
- Sign Installation on the outskirts of historic monuments, exempt from all formalities under the environment code
- Awning, access ramp and terrace, attached to light recreational housing or mobile leisure residences installed within the perimeter of authorized premises
- Underground pipeline, line and cable
- Works requiring secrecy for security reasons necessary for the protection of national defense interests and requirements
- Installation for the production of electricity from renewable energy sources, including its works for connection to public electricity networks, located on the maritime public domain submerged beyond the low sea leash
- Other construction, installation, modification ofbuildings built or unbuilt (example: cutting and felling of trees(b) exempt from authorization under the urban planning or environment codes.
The procedure is different depending on whether you are applying for an urban planning authorization or a special authorization.
Apply for urban planning authorization
Depending on the nature of the proposed works, you may file the following urban planning authorizations:
- Prior declaration (DPS) for small works or modifications on a building. It is mandatory to carry out works that are not subject to building permits. It can be the creation of a surface, an interior and/or exterior layout or even a change of destination of your good.
- Building Permit (PC) to build a building of more than 20 m² or make significant works on an existing building
- Planning permissions (PA) to set up a subdivision, a campsite, a parking area, a sports or leisure field, a AGVA: titleContent or earth-moving works
- Demolition permits for works intended to demolish or render inoperable all or part of a building located on the outskirts of a historic monument.
Apply for special authorization
The request for special authorization shall be made in 3 copies by letter RAR: titleContent or deposited at the town hall of the commune in which the works are envisaged.
You must use the following form:
Please note
You can contact theUDAP: titleContent for any application for special authorization.
Who shall I contact
The starting point for the processing time for the urban planning authorization or special authorization differs depending on whether your file is complete or not:
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Your file is complete
The time limit is different depending on whether the urban planning authorization or the special authorization is concerned:
Urban planning permission
For urban planning authorizations, the time limit for the investigation from the filing of the file in the town hall is:
- 2 months for a DP,
- 3 months for a PC of a detached house,
- 4 months for other PCs and an AP,
- 3 months for a demolition permit.
Special authorization
For special authorization, the time limit for investigation is 2 months.
Your file is incomplete
Within 1 month as from the filing of the application for authorization of works to the town hall, it sends you by letter or by electronic means a request for missing pieces.
You have 3 months to send the requested parts. If you do not provide them, your request will be considered rejected.
The investigation delay starts when your file is complete.
This procedure is the same for urban planning authorizations and for special authorizations.
Your works can have an impact on local taxes. You can also pay the following tax and royalty:
For more information, contact the departmental center of property taxes.
You can simulate the amount of your development tax and the preventive archeology tax:
Estimate the amount of urban planning fees (development fee and preventive archeology fee)
Please note
The connection to the sewer of new or existing constructions generates the payment of the participation for the financing of the collective sanitation (Pfac: titleContent or Pac).
Assistance with your urban planning permission application
Reception and user service office (Basu) in Paris: electronic one-stop shop
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
For information on urban planning regulation and administrative procedures
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Please note: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their progress.
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- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of housing and urban planning.
For information on your special authorization application file
French regional directorate of cultural affairs, DracFor assistance or recommendations in drawing up specifications for works subject to special authorization
Departmental Architecture and Heritage Unit (UDAP)For information on your urban planning authorization application file
Town hallFor information on your urban planning authorization application file in Paris
Paris: Reception and user service office (Basu)
Urban planning permissions
Classification and inscription of buildings as historic monuments
Surroundings of historical monuments
Works on a building classified as a historic monument
Works on a building listed as a historic monument
Special authorization for works near historic monuments
Deadline for processing an application for authorization of works on a listed immovable
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