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According to the provisions of Article L

📅 Décision du 24 October 1990⚖️ Cour de cassation📖 2 min de lecture

Under the provisions of Article L. 480-13 of the Town Planning Code, where a building has been erected in accordance with a planning permission, the owner may be held liable by a judicial court for breach of town planning rules or public easements only if, beforehand, the permission has been annulled for excess of power or its illegality established by the administrative court. In application of this provision, a Court of Appeal may not order the demolition of a building without first ascertaining whether the disputed construction complies with the new planning permission, not annulled, granted following the first permission annulled by the administrative court.

Reference decision: cc • No. 89-10.514 • 1990-10-24 • View the decision →

This decision sheds important light on your property law. Here is what it changes for you.

The situation

Under the provisions of Article L. 480-13 of the Town Planning Code, where a building has been erected in accordance with a planning permission, the owner may be held liable by a judicial court for breach of town planning rules or public easements only if, beforehand, the permission has been annulled for excess of power or its illegality established by the administrative court. In application of this provision, a Court of Appeal may not order the demolition of a building without first ascertaining whether the disputed construction complies with the new planning permission, not annulled, granted following the first permission annulled by the administrative court.

What the law says

This decision confirms the fundamental principles of property law.

Key points to remember

  • Strictly comply with statutory time limits for appeals
  • Keep all your supporting documents (title deeds, instruments, correspondence)
  • Anticipate: preventive advice always costs less than litigation

For an analysis of your situation: 30-minute consultation at €45 with Maître Zakine.

📌 Does this apply to your situation? Maître Cécile Zakine, French real estate lawyer, practises throughout France.
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Informations juridiques

  • Numéro: 89-10.514
  • Juridiction: Cour de cassation
  • Date de décision: 24 octobre 1990

Mots-clés

droit immobilierjurisprudencefoncier

Cas d'usage pratiques

1

Landlord faces demolition claim over villa in Nice

A landlord owns a villa in Nice built in 2018 with a valid planning permission. In 2022, a neighbour obtains an administrative court annulment of that original permission for excess of power and sues in civil court for demolition. The landlord later discovers that in 2021 the town hall granted a new planning permission for the same building, which has not been annulled.

Application pratique:

Under Article L.480-13 of the Town Planning Code, the civil court cannot order demolition without first checking whether the construction complies with the new, unannulled permission. The landlord should immediately gather the new planning permission, obtain a certificate of non-appeal from the town hall, and present these to the civil court to halt the demolition claim. If the new permission covers the existing construction, the court must reject the demolition request. If the neighbour also challenges the new permission administratively, the landlord should file a defence in the administrative court to protect it.

2

First-time buyer worries about annulled planning permission in Lyon

A first-time buyer in Lyon is purchasing a renovated apartment in a building where an extension was added in 2019. The seller provides the original planning permission, but the buyer's notaire discovers it was annulled by the administrative court in 2020 for excess of power. However, a new planning permission for the same works was granted in 2021 and has not been annulled.

Application pratique:

Article L.480-13 means the buyer will not face civil liability or demolition if the construction complies with the new, unannulled permission. Before signing the sale, the buyer should request a copy of the new permission from the seller, verify with the mairie that it is still valid and has not been appealed, and have the notaire confirm it covers the extension. The buyer can include a suspensive condition in the purchase agreement requiring proof of the valid new permission, ensuring no future demolition risk.

3

Co-owner disputes rooftop extension in Paris

In a Parisian co-ownership building, one co-owner built a rooftop extension in 2017 with a planning permission. The co-ownership association (syndicat des copropriétaires) challenges the extension in civil court, claiming breach of building easements and planning rules, and seeks demolition. The original permission was annulled by the administrative court in 2019 for excess of power, but a new planning permission was issued in 2020 and has not been annulled.

Application pratique:

The co-owner should invoke Article L.480-13: the civil court cannot order demolition without first verifying whether the extension complies with the new, unannulled planning permission. The co-owner must obtain the new permission, a certificate of non-appeal, and any building permits showing compliance, then present these to the civil court to block demolition. If the co-ownership association separately claims breach of easements, that issue must be resolved independently, but the new permission protects against demolition based on town planning rules.

Maître Cécile Zakine

À propos de l'auteur

Maître Cécile Zakine — Avocate au Barreau des Alpes-Maritimes, Docteur en Droit. Chaque article de ce magazine est rédigé à partir de l'analyse d'une décision de jurisprudence réelle, commentée et mise en perspective par les équipes de Maître Zakine.

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