A field into a garden?

[Chris]

We are thinking about buying a property with an attached field and turning the field into a garden, since we are gardeners on a grand scale! In some parts of England this would be regarded as a 'change of use' requiring formal planning permission. Does anybody know what the legal position would be if we did this in France?   All advice gratefully received!

[chris pp]

The field will have a classification, it should be on your copy of the cadastrial plan, if not ask for one with the classifications on it or ask for this information to be provided to you. The chances are if it's a field then it is classified as agricultural and strictly speaking if you are going to create a proper garden, you should have the "use" changed to "jardin". Leaving it as agricultural could cause a problem in the future, apart from anything else it is taxed at a lower rate than a garden and someone, somewhere, may consider that you are being fraudulent.

Chris

[Chris]

Thank you for this. Would this require permission, or just a declaration on our part?

[hoverfrog]

first port of call, as always, the mairie. They will be able to tell you what the land is classified as, and how to go about changing it.

Each parcelle of land is classified, and you can't change its use without informing the authorities. This may or may not cost you (oh, it usually does!) but you do need to get it sorted.

It usually pays to do things the right way - and it's probably at the discretion of the mayor, so try not to mistake him for the artisan you rang - unless you have the requisite pastis to repair the damage with :)

(ho - hum, I think I got away with that one!!)

[Chris]

Thank you for this too, and the salutory warning!  As a country Vicar, on moving to new parishes over the years I've learned to treat everybody I meet as if they might be the mayor until they prove that they aren't!