Driving in low-emission mobility zones (EPZ or EPZ-m)

Verified 18 July 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The low mobility emission zones (LMAs or LMA-s) are territories in which the movement of certain vehicles may be restricted to reduce air pollution. Vehicles circulating in these areas must have a Crit'Air thumbnail certifying that they have permission to move.

One low-emission mobility zone (LEMA) is an area created on all or part of the territory of a municipality or EPCI: titleContent by the mayor or the president of the EPCI, in order to combat air pollution.

It exists 2 types of EPZs :

  • EPZs established due to regular exceedance of pollution standards (metropolises from Paris and Lyon). These are “ EFA territories ».
  • EPZs in all agglomerations more than 150,000 inhabitants of metropolitan France, the establishment of which is mandatory since 1er January 2025. These are “ territories of vigilance ». The list of the agglomerations concerned and the municipalities they include can be consulted in an order available on Legifrance.

EPZs are established by a mayor's decree or the President of theEPCI: titleContent which determines the:

  • Territories of the agglomeration in which the EPZ applies
  • Restriction measures applicable traffic rules
  • Categories of vehicles concerned, in particular as a function of Crit'Air thumbnail of vehicle
  • Legitimate reasons why individual exemptions can be granted (example: collector vehicles).
ZFE National Portal - Breathing Better in the City

Ministry for the Environment

Pour en savoir plus

Please note

The site “Better breathing in the city” provides access to:

  • To the regulations in place in each metropolis
  • On the calendar of restrictions related to Crit'Air vignettes
  • To a tool for requesting local exemptions to circulate in EPZ.

It exists more than 20 EPZs in metropolitan France. The updated list of existing EPZs is available on the “Breathing Better in the City” website dedicated to information on EPZs:

List of Low Emission Areas (LEAs)

Ministry for the Environment

Pour en savoir plus

Please note

The creation of an EPZ is accompanied by a local information campaign, lasting at least three months, which informs the public of the controlled perimeter and the traffic restrictions implemented.

The EPZs do not generally cover the entireconurbation.

Agglomerations that have EPZs have generally created a dedicated EPZ website. These sites have a mapping of the territory covered by the EPZ.

FYI  

Links to these sites are available on the “Better breathing in the city” website dedicated to EPZs.

Specificities of each EPZ

All vehicles operating in an EPZ must have a Crit'Air thumbnailwhich certifies the vehicle's authorization to circulate.

FYI  

THEunique official website to order the Crit'Air est sticker certificate-air.gouv.fr.

Each EPZ has specific characteristics:

  • Restriction measures applicable traffic rules
  • Categories of vehicles concerned, in particular according to the Crit'Air sticker of the vehicle
  • Legitimate reasons why individual exemptions may be granted.

In case of peak pollution, temporary measures traffic restrictions may be in addition to those provided for by the EPZ.

FYI  

The site Itineriz, funded by the Ministry for the Environment, provides access to:

  • All the characteristics of existing EPZs (territory and vehicles concerned, derogations, etc.)
  • A travel simulator to ensure the authorization to circulate of his vehicle.

Routes: list of EPZs and route simulation

Additional restrictions in the EPZ territories

In EPZs established for regular exceedance of pollution standards (metropolises of Paris and Lyon), also known as “LFE territories”, vehicles 4 wheels of less than 3.5 tons following have theprohibition of movement :

  • Diesel, diesel and hybrid diesel/electricity vehicles of which 1re registration date before 31 december 2010
  • Gasoline and hybrid gasoline/electricity vehicles of which the 1re registration date before 31 December 2005.

This does not apply to vehicles with an all-electric range in the city greater than 50 kilometers.

Access to the EPZ is still allowed vehicles of the following categories:

  • Of general interest : ambulances, first aid vehicles, etc.
  • Displaying a mobility inclusion card with the words ‘ parking for people with disabilities or another disabled parking card.

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