Exercising a professional activity at home

Verified 12 June 2026 - Entreprendre Service Public / (Prime Minister)

An individual contractor or legal representative of a business may carry out his professional activity at home only if it is his principal residence. He must verify that his lease and / or the regulation of co-ownership authorizes the exercise of a professional activity. In addition, an authorization to change the use of the premises may be necessary when the home is located in a tense area.

The professional who wishes to carry out his activity at home must carry out the following checks:

Step-by-step approach

When renting, the professional must verify that his residential lease authorizes the exercise of a professional activity.

If the lease prohibits the exercise of a professional activity, request authorization at landlord. This authorization is also necessary when fitting-out works are required (for example, for the installation of specific equipment in a medical practice).

Please note

The fact of install a professional activity in rented premises without authorization from the lessor constitutes grounds for termination of the lease.

When the home is located in a condominium, it is necessary to check that the condominium rules authorizes the exercise of a professional activity in the immovable.

This verification must be carried out by the liberal professional himself if he owns his principal residence. If he is a tenant, he can ask his landlord to carry out this verification or ask him to send him a copy of the condominium by-law or an extract relating to the destination locals.

An examination of the condominium by-law may result in one of the following situations:

  • Either one exclusively bourgeois dwelling clause is foreseen: in this case, it is forbidden to install a professional activity in the dwelling. However, it is possible to request the amendment of this clause. It must be adopted by the assembly of co-owners at theunanimity .
  • Either nothing is mentioned concerning the exercise of a professional activity: it is then necessary to ask the assembly of co-owners for the express authorization (i.e. written) to exercise the proposed profession.

Please note

It is necessary to wait for the authorization of the condominium to exercise a professional activity before affixing a professional plaque at the entrance of the building.

The rules are different depending on the location of the premises.

Where the domicile is situated in tense area it is sometimes necessary to request a change of use authorization from the town hall or the prefecture. If not, the rules are more flexible.

One list of municipalities located in tense area is available.

Home located outside tense area

In principle, where the dwelling is located outside a stretched area, the exercise of a professional activity at home is possible. In principle, it is therefore not necessary to apply to the mayor for a change of use of the living space to a business premises.

However, where there are serious difficulties in accessing housing throughout the existing housing stock, a deliberation of the municipal council or the body of theEPCI may require such prior authorization.

It is therefore necessary to verify the existence of such an obligation in the area concerned.

Home located in a tense area

Need for a change of use authorization

To exercise a professional activity at his home located in tense area, the professional must request a change of use authorization from the town hall. This approach consists in transforming a residential space into a professional or commercial space. The mayor may authorize a partial change of use premises (for example: a room dedicated to activity in a dwelling) or a total change.

Our sheet « Can a home be turned into a business premises? » specifies the procedure to be carried out.

The authorization issued by the town hall for the exercise of a professional profession is personal. This means that when the tenant moves, the premises regain their residential use.

FYI  

Within 90 days of the change of use or use of the premises, the owner of a commercial or business premises must file a ‘declaration of a commercial or business premises’ (Form 6660-REV) » to the company Tax Office (SIE).

Tolerance: can be exercised without authorization

The professional has a derogation and can practice at home without authorization in some cases. The regulations are different depending on whether the living space is located upstairs or on the ground floor:

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For a housing located upstairs

The trader may pursue his activity in a part of his principal residence without authorization if the planned activity does not require the receipt of customers or goods or employment of employees.

As a reminder, the following conditions must also be met:

  • The residential lease and/or the condominium rules authorize the exercise of a professional activity.
  • The premises are the principal residence of the trader.

For a housing located on the ground floor.

The trader may pursue his activity in a part of his principal residence without authorization if the proposed activity does not cause no nuisance or danger for the neighborhood, nor disorder for the building.

Moreover, the activity can only be carried out by the person or persons having their principal residence in that premises: it is therefore not possible to employ employees.

As a reminder, the following conditions must be met:

  • The residential lease and/or the condominium rules authorize the exercise of a professional activity.
  • The premises are the principal residence of the trader.

Please note

In this case, the professional can receive customers and goods.

FAQ