Summer Project in France : A New Fence

Summer Project in France : A New Fence

Summer is an ideal time to tackle outdoor renovation projects. From driveway paving to sidewalk repair, the fair weather can be an ideal time to not only enjoy the outdoors, but take some time to improve the curb appeal and value of your home.

One common outdoor project? A new fence. Whether you're looking to install a decorative wooden garden fence, a chain link border for your pets, or a substantial privacy fence, there are some things you'll want to keep in mind before you begin:

1. A permit may be required for fence construction. These may be issued by your mairie, depending on where you live and subject to planning regulations like POS, PLU, PNOS, NATURA2000 - Oh yes we love our abbreviations on France. Especially when you live in hamlets or villages (towns), make sure to check with the mairie before antagonizing the whole neighborhood.

2. The size of fence may dictate need for permit. Some communities do not require permits for smaller fences. If it needs a permit it is called the : Déclaration préalable de travail", which is in essence is not a demand for permit but an announcement of work which you plan. The mairie has one month to decline based on local regulations, otherwise it is rendered tacit.

3. If your fence shares a border with your neighbor, certain permits may require proof of your neighbor's consent, plus plans and/or drawings that detail how you'll go about building your fence.

4. Permit fees for fences can range anywhere from 20€ to above 300€. If you use a company to build your fence, often they will secure the permits for you (but you'll still be on the hook for the permitting fee).

5. You'll need to know how much concrete to buy for your fencepost footings. One easy way to figure this out is use this handy online concrete calculator:

http://www.calculator.net/concrete-calculator.html

6. Check YouTube for helpful fence tutorials, such as this handy and professional video produced by Lowe's:

Fence Installation Tips: Layout and Digging Post Holes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ24ykIBVOM

Best of luck with your next project! 

Now we wonder what projects will be for clients who already own a house in France. Send us an email and picture of your picture, and the best ones we offer a year's subscription to a magazine about France in your own language.

Send your emails and pictures to : info@terresdefrance.fr.

We look forward to coming back on this topic.