Installation of a domestic or agricultural wind turbine
Verified 14 September 2026 - Entreprendre Service Public / (Prime Minister)
A wind turbine (or wind turbine) is a mechanical device designed to convert wind energy into electricity. A domestic or agricultural wind turbine is called small wind turbine. Before install a small wind turbine, you want to know where it is possible to install it, what authorizations to obtain. We present you the steps of the process.
The general urban planning and siting rules apply to wind turbines less than 50 m from above. Specific provisions may be included in the MORE: titleContent.
Step-by-step approach
You must respect a distance with respect to dividing limit from the neighborhood. This distance must be equal to half the height from the wind turbine, with minimum of 3 m. The blades must not overflow onto the neighboring terrain.
Example :
A wind turbine 30 m high, including blades, must be 15 m from the boundary of the land on which it is installed.
The installation of a domestic wind turbine may be prohibited in the following areas:
- Protected areas (national parks and nature reserves)
- Military areas
- Areas demarcated by the local urban planning plan (PLUS)
- Protective areas surrounding (within a radius of 500 m) buildings or classified or registered sites under historical monuments.
It is necessary to contact the town hall for any further information.
You must take into account the quality of the wind (speed, direction, absence of turbulence).
It may be useful to have a wind survey done by a specialist company.
You can also consult the mapping of areas favorable to the development of wind power with the regional prefecture.
Who shall I contact
Urban planning permission
The urban planning authorization to be applied for is different depending on the height your domestic wind turbine.
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Wind turbine less than 12 m
General scenario
The height of the mast of a wind turbine corresponds to the distance between the ground and the top of the nacelle without the bulk of the blades.
A wind turbine of less than 12 m can be installed without prior declaration nor building permit.
Your project must comply with all the rules relating to land use, location, destination, nature, architecture, dimensions, sanitation of buildings and the development of their surroundings.
You need to check with your town hall.
Please note
Owners of domestic wind turbines who do not comply with the urban planning regulations are liable to a fine of at least €1,200.
In protected area
The height of the mast of a wind turbine corresponds to the distance between the ground and the top of the nacelle without the bulk of the blades. For install a wind turbine of less than 12 m, in the classified or pending sites, the remarkable heritage sites or near the historical monuments, you must file a prior declaration (DPS).
Depending on your municipality, the way to submit your application 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).
On the internet
You can complete and submit your DP request file on the Internet:
Form
You can fill out your DP request using a form:
Prior declaration constructions and works not subject to building permits
Wind turbine from 12 m
The height of the mast of a wind turbine corresponds to the distance between the ground and the top of the nacelle without the bulk of the blades.
The installation of a wind turbine between 12 and 50 m is subject to the delivery of a building permit (PC).
Your project must comply with the rules regarding land use, location, destination, nature, architecture, dimensions, sanitation of buildings and the development of their surroundings.
You need to check with your town hall.
Owners of domestic wind turbines who do not comply with the urban planning regulations are liable to a fine of at least €1,200.
You must submit an application for a building permit in 4 copies to the town hall.
Depending on your municipality, the way to submit your application 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
On the internet
You can complete and submit your PC application file on the Internet:
Form
The PC form varies if you are making your works on a detached house or on another type of building:
Detached house
You can complete your PC application using a form:
Application for a building permit for a detached house and/or its annexes (PCMI)
Other type of construction
A form must be completed:
Application for a building permit (other than for a detached house or its annexes)
Declaration or authorization in respect of classified installations
The height of the mast of a wind turbine corresponds to the distance between the ground and the top of the nacelle without the bulk of the blades.
A wind turbine more than 12 m high (mast + nacelle) is considered a ICPE: titleContent. It is subject to specific regulations (section n°2980 of theICPE BOM).
The installation of the wind turbine must comply with distance and height criteria in order to preserve the safety of aircraft flights and not significantly disrupt the operation of radars and air navigation aids.
For the installation of a wind turbine with a height of between 12 and 50 m, the approach varies according to the total installed power:
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Power less than 20 megawatts
You must declare your wind turbine on the Internet as an installation classified for the protection of the environment (ICPE):
Declare an installation classified for environmental protection (ICPE) online
Power greater than 20 megawatts
You need to get a environmental authorization under the ICPE: titleContent.
You can submit your application:
- By dematerialized method according to the arrangements made by your municipality (find out more on the website of the town hall or on site)
- By letter RAR: titleContent or by hand.
It is strongly recommended to use the online service.
Form
You can apply using the following form:
Application for environmental authorization (cerfa n°15964)
Your request should be addressed to the department prefecture in 4 copies.
For information on ICPEs, please contact the Dreal: titleContent :
Declaration to operate an electricity generating facility
If the site power is greater than 50 megawatts, commissioning requires a declaration to operate an electricity generating facility.
Your declaration must include the following information and documents:
- Surname, first name and address for a natural person
- Name or business name, legal form, address of the registered office and capacity of the signatory for a legal person
- Note specifying the technical, economic and financial capabilities of the applicant
- Main characteristics of the production facility: production capacity, primary energies, production techniques used, energy efficiency, operating times (base, semi-base and peak), quantity of greenhouse gases emitted by the facility
- Location of the production facility
- Note on the energy efficiency of the installation compared to the best available techniques at an economically acceptable cost
- Intended destination(s) of the electricity produced (own needs of the producer, purchase obligation scheme for example).
You must send your declaration in 1 copy the Office of Electricity Networks and Energy Regulation.
Who shall I contact
Directorate-General for Energy and Climate
Ministry of Environment, Energy and the Sea
Sequoia Tower
95055 Defense Cedex
Connection request
Household wind turbines can be connected to the public electricity distribution network (purchase of the energy produced) or directly supply the building (self-consumption).
To electrify a building that is not connected to the public grid, the owner of the wind turbine must apply for connection to the public electricity distribution grid from Enedis, on the internet:
Request connection to the public electricity distribution network
Clearing Authorization
If the land on which the wind turbine is to be installed had a forest destination, you must obtain permission from clearing. It is not necessary to apply for such authorization, in particular in the following cases:
- Works of brush clearing
- Land clearing in state-owned forest
- Clearing in an isolated wood with a surface area below a threshold of between 0.5 and 4 hectares, fixed by the prefect
- Clearing in the park or walled garden of a main dwelling of less than 10 hectares. If the clearing is related to the carrying out of an operation subject to urban planning authorization, this area is lowered to a threshold of between 0.5 and 4 hectares, set by the prefect
You can submit your land clearance file:
- By dematerialized means (on the internet) according to the arrangements made by your municipality (inquire on the website of the town hall or on site)
- By letter RAR: titleContent or by hand (form).
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On the internet
Form
You can apply using the following form:
You must send your request to the Departmental Directorate of Territories (DDT) or the Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Forestry (DAAF) overseas.
Derogation for protected species
If the installation of the wind turbine presents a sufficiently serious risk of damaging protected species under the environment code (fauna, flora or their habitat), you must obtain a protected species exemption.
This derogation may be granted where 3 conditions are met:
- Lack of satisfactory alternative solution
- Do not interfere with the maintenance of populations of the species concerned in their natural habitat in a favorable conservation state
- A project which, by its nature and taking account of economic and social interests, meets an imperative reason of overriding public interest.
Please note
This exemption is mandatory only when the conservation of the protected species is threatened in the long term despite avoidance and reduction measures provided for in the project.
Your request for exemption can be made using the following forms:
You must send your request to the department prefecture:
Once installed, a domestic wind turbine of at least 12 m must undergo a mandatory technical inspection.
This check must be carried out by one of the recognized organizations, which issues you with an initial certificate of conformity.
You must submit a new inspection request in the event of changes to the installation concerning the following characteristics:
- Installed power
- Elements that determine the eligibility of the facility for the support requested, and on which this support and its value, if necessary, depends
- Counting device.
The inspection body will issue you a new certificate of conformity.
A wind turbine that is the subject of a purchase contract or additional remuneration may be subject to spot checks throughout its life.
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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The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of housing and urban planning.
For information about the local urban planning plan or your urban planning authorization application file
Town hallFor information on ICPE
French regional directorate of the environment, planning and housing (Dreal)For information on your environmental authorization file and the protected species exemption
PrefectureFor information on the declaration to operate an electricity generating facility
Directorate-General for Energy and Climate
Ministry of Environment, Energy and the Sea
Sequoia Tower
95055 Defense Cedex
For information on clearing authorization
Departmental Directorate in charge of territories (DDT or DDTM)For information on the Overseas Land Clearing Authorization
Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry (DRAAF and DAAF)
Rules of implantation
Urban planning permissions
Clearing Authorization
Clearing Authorization
Derogation protected species (Articles L411-2 and L411-2-1)
Connection to the public electricity grid
Declaration to operate an electricity generating facility
Spot checks and in case of changes
Technical inspection
Online service
FAQ
Ministry for the Environment
Ministry for the Environment
Ministry for the Environment
Ministry for the Environment
Ministry for the Environment