Urban planning regulations and administrative formalities for building a swimming pool

The legislation

Any swimming pool construction project requires compliance with the constraints related to the area where the pool will be installed. Before launching any project, it is essential to gather information:

The PLU regulations applicable to the project area

It is necessary to consult the PLU regulations applicable to the area in which the swimming pool will be built. There is 1 regulation per zone for each municipality with 3 main zones:
– Urban areas (U Zones): These are areas that have already been built or made serviceable.
– Agricultural zones (Zones A): Zones intended for agriculture where only constructions or installations necessary for public services and agricultural exploitation are authorized.
– Natural or forest areas (N Zones): not buildable.

5 articles are specifically dedicated to the construction of swimming pools:
– Article 1 – Prohibitions: it specifies the constructions which are prohibited in the zone.
– Article 2: it specifies what cannot be built in the zone.
– Article 6 – Location in relation to the public right-of-way: it gives the required distance from the construction to the public highway.
– Article 7 – Rules for implantation in relation to neighboring properties: it gives the imposed setback of the construction in relation to neighboring land.
– Article 9: Ground area and Ground Area Coefficient (CES): The ground area is the ground surface that all buildings (including annexes) occupy on a plot of land (number of m² that can be built on a plot).
Note: the basin and beaches are part of the land area calculation.

The regulations or specifications of a subdivision

The regulation sets out the town planning rules applicable to collective property and supplements those of the PLU in force in the municipality.
The specifications are a private law contract that binds all co-owners. This document sets out the rules of community life, formalizes easements, and defines the obligations and construction rules of which swimming pools are an integral part.

In the absence of regulations or specifications for a subdivision, it is advisable to refer to the Local Urban Planning Plan. In municipalities not covered by a PLU, it is the RNU (National Urban Planning Regulations).

Declaration of Intent to Commence Work – DICT

Before any construction, it is also necessary to find out whether or not there are any underground networks in the future area where the swimming pool will be installed (gas pipes, high-voltage lines, water pipes, etc.).

A declaration of commencement of work (DICT) must be completed and filed at the town hall or sent from the official administration website using form Cerfa 14434-03.

Administrative formalities – preparation of the file

Any new swimming pool construction is subject to different administrative formalities depending on the surface area of ​​the pool.
We can therefore distinguish 3 scenarios:

Note: Any swimming pool with a surface area between 10 m² and 100 m² and equipped with a mobile or fixed cover with a height greater than 1.80 m will require a building permit. Furthermore, for surface areas less than 10 m² for which no document needs to be filed, the installation provisions must be respected (property limits, etc.).

Learn more about administrative formalities .

Mandatory display: right of recourse for third parties

Any beneficiary of a building permit or prior declaration of work agreement must display on their land, using a regulatory sign, an extract of the authorization granted to them. From this date, the public has a period of 2 months to oppose the project, subject to valid reasons.

Certificate of completion of works / site

A declaration attesting to the completion of works (Daact) using CERFA document no. 13408*05 is mandatory for all construction sites that have been the subject of a prior declaration of works or a building permit. The Town Hall may, if it deems it necessary, carry out an inspection of the work carried out within 3 months of receipt of the declaration.