Commercial
Verified 07 May 2019 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Planning
A commercial sign is an inscription, form or image on a building, or on land, relating to an activity carried out there. It allows customers to identify the operating space (a store for example). It must respect certain rules of location, dimensions, among others. Installation requires prior approval in some cases.
The sign may be in the form of individual letters (cut out), a panel, a support band or be double-faced.
It must be made of durable materials and kept in good condition of cleanliness, maintenance and operation by the merchant.
It must not interfere with traffic, signage and road safety.
In the event of cessation or change of activity, in particular, the sign must be dismantled by the person who was engaged in the activity reported (e.g. trader, craftsman), within 3 months, unless the sign has a historical, artistic or picturesque interest.
The tobacco rates have exemptions in respect of signs.
Lessor Agreement
The agreement of the landlord who owns the commercial premises is not in principle necessary to install a sign, as it constitutes an element of the commercial fund.
However, clauses in the commercial lease, or even in the condominium regulation if they exist, may set conditions for the placement of a sign, particularly in relation to the characteristics of the building and its aesthetics, and subject to the agreement of the lessor or the trustee any modification of the sign.
Prior administrative authorization
Except for local advertising regulations (RLP), the installation of a sign is free if it complies with the installation conditions.
It is necessary to obtain an authorization before installing a sign:
- laser beam;
- located in a commune covered by an RLP;
- installed in a listed building or listed as a historic monument;
- placed on a natural monument or tree, in a classified site, a national park, a natural reserve, or in a protected area around a classified site, a regional natural park, within 100 m of a listed building.
Only one form can be used to declare up to 3 signs (beyond that, another application must be filed).
Warning
certain communes or EPCI: titleContent may establish local tax on external signs and advertisements (TLPE).. The rates are published by municipal decree and are generally available on the town hall's website.
Temporary signs may indicate:
- exceptional cultural or tourist events;
- exceptional transactions (e.g. balances, promotion or commercial liquidation) of less than 3 months;
- public works, real estate transactions, rental or sale of commercial funds for more than 3 months.
Their installation can be performed 3 weeks before the operation, but they must be removed 1 week after at the latest.
To be installed on the ground, their dimension must not exceed 1 m in height by 1,50 m in width outside agglomeration and in agglomerations of less than 10 000 inhabitants.
Furthermore, the maximum unit area of signs indicating a real estate transaction is limited to 12 m² when they are sealed or installed directly on the ground.
They cannot be more than 4 per demonstration.
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Speak with an advisor on Place des Entreprises- Environmental Code: Articles L581-1 to L581-3Protecting the living environment: provisions respecting advertisements, signs and pre-signs on the public highway - legislative part
- Environmental Code: Articles R581-1 to R581-88Protecting the living environment: provisions respecting advertisements, signs and pre-signs on the public highway - regulatory part
- Route code: Articles R418-1 to R418-9Provisions relating to public advertisements, signs and pre-signs
- Directive of 25 March 2014 on the national regulation of advertisements, signs and pre-signs (PDF - 1.5 MB)