Disputes between neighbors: the guide

This guide gathers the 23 situations in this category already settled on Who's Right. For each one: the short answer and a link to the full article with both sides, the verdict and the compromise.

Published 18 October 2026 · Updated 24 October 2026

Noise

My neighbour's dog barks all day long: what can I do?
In France, a dog that barks often, for long periods or loudly can count as an abnormal neighbourhood nuisance, day or night, and its owner is responsible. Talk to your neighbour first, then write to them, then go to a mediator, the town hall or the courts.
Neighbour's party on a weeknight: how late is OK?
In France, night-time noise rules apply from 10 pm, on weeknights and weekends alike, but noise that is too loud, too long or repeated can be fined even earlier. On a weeknight, turning the music right down at 10 pm is the reasonable limit.
Neighbor's loud music at night: knock or call the police?
In France, the recommended first step is to calmly ask your neighbor to turn the music down. If they refuse, do it again, or you don't feel safe, call the police or gendarmerie (17): they can confirm the nighttime noise on the spot and issue a fine.
My neighbour makes noise after 10 pm: what does the law say?
In France, noise that disturbs your neighbours between 10 pm and 7 am can be penalised as night-time disturbance, even if it's short or happens only once. But careful: unreasonable noise before 10 pm can be penalised too.
Neighbour upstairs walking in heels at night: a nuisance?
In France, yes: footsteps in heels count as behavioural noise that can be penalised, especially between 10 pm and 7 am. But the noise must go beyond normal flat life through its loudness, length or repetition.
Neighbour plays piano every evening: is that allowed?
In France, playing the piano at home is allowed, but no noise may disturb the neighbours through its duration, repetition or intensity, day or night. After 10 pm it counts as night-time disturbance; before that, playing every evening too loudly or for too long can still be a problem.
My neighbour mows his lawn on Sundays: is he allowed to?
In France, no national rule bans mowing on Sundays, but a town or prefecture order can set allowed hours, or ban it altogether. At any time of day, noise must not disturb the neighbours through its length, repetition or loudness.
Neighbour doing DIY at 8am on Saturday: is it allowed?
In France, no national law sets DIY hours: prefecture or town hall orders do, and several départements only allow noisy DIY from 9am on Saturdays. Even within the allowed hours, noise that is too loud, too long or too repetitive can be penalised.

What the rules say

From the article My neighbour's dog barks all day long: what can I do?

In France, the Public Health Code (article R1336-5) says that no particular noise may, through its duration, repetition or intensity, disturb the peace of the neighbourhood. This also applies when the noise comes from an animal in someone's care. Barking is one of the everyday noises that can lead to a fine.

During the day, according to service-public.gouv.fr, a noise can be an abnormal neighbourhood nuisance if it is repetitive, intense or long-lasting. Between 10 pm and 7 am, it is called night-time disturbance: the offence can apply even without those criteria, but the person responsible must be aware of the disturbance and do nothing to fix it.

The recommended steps are gradual: talk to your neighbour, then send a simple letter, then a registered letter with proof of receipt. If your neighbour rents, also write to the landlord. After that, you can turn to a court conciliator, the landlord, the building's managing agent, a local mediator, the town hall, or a commissaire de justice (court officer) who can record the nuisance officially. As a last resort, you can take the matter to court. Local or prefectoral bylaws and your building's co-ownership rules may add local requirements, so check with your town hall or managing agent.

Sources:

Troubles de voisinage : bruits de comportement (service-public.gouv.fr)
Troubles du voisinage : que faire en cas de nuisances ? (masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr)
Article R1336-5 - Code de la santé publique - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)

From the article Neighbour's party on a weeknight: how late is OK?

In France, noise from people's behaviour (voices, shouting, music, sound systems, etc.) can be penalised whenever it disturbs the neighbours in an abnormal way, day or night. Noise at night, between 10 pm and 7 am, counts as night-time disturbance (tapage nocturne). At night, it can be an offence even if the noise isn't repeated, intense or long-lasting. The person making it must still know they are disturbing others and do nothing about it. During the day, noise becomes an abnormal disturbance when it is repeated, intense or goes on for a long time. So making noise before 10 pm isn't risk-free: you can be penalised for noise that is too frequent, too long or too loud, at a party for example. The French Criminal Code punishes night-time noise that disturbs others as a third-class petty offence. If neighbours file a complaint, the fine can reach €450. A local or regional order (arrêté) can also ban certain noises at certain times, so check with your town hall. In a block of flats, also read the building rules (règlement de copropriété or house rules). Trying to sort it out amicably first is recommended before calling the police or gendarmerie.

Sources:

Troubles de voisinage : bruits de comportement (service-public.gouv.fr)
Article R623-2 - Code pénal (legifrance.gouv.fr)

From the article Neighbor's loud music at night: knock or call the police?

The French Criminal Code (Article R623-2) punishes nighttime noise that disturbs other people's peace with a fine for a 3rd-class minor offense. According to the French Ministry of the Interior, neighborhood noise can be punished day or night once it counts as an abnormal disturbance, with a fine of up to 450 euros. The recommended first step is to talk: calmly tell your neighbor, who may not realize they're causing a problem. If the noise continues, Service-public recommends sending a simple letter, then a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt. After that, you can turn to a conciliator or mediator, have the noise officially recorded by a commissaire de justice (court officer), file a police report or complaint, and collect statements from other neighbors. If the noise is happening right now at night, you can call the police or gendarmerie, who can confirm the noise and issue a fine. Depending on your situation, the landlord, the building's property manager (syndic) or the town hall can also step in. A local bylaw or the building's co-ownership rules may add extra rules.

Sources:

Neighborhood disorders: noises created by abnormal behaviors (service-public.gouv.fr)
Article R623-2 - Code pénal - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Troubles du voisinage : que faire en cas de nuisances ? (masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr)

From the article My neighbour makes noise after 10 pm: what does the law say?

In France, there are no set national hours when noise is always allowed or always banned. The one exception is night-time disturbance (tapage nocturne), between 10 pm and 7 am. At night, an offence is possible even if the noise isn't repeated, loud or long-lasting. However, the person making it must know they're disturbing others and do nothing about it. Night-time noise that disturbs other people's peace is punishable by a fine of up to €450. During the day, noise can also be penalised if it's unreasonable, meaning too loud, too long or too frequent. Local rules can differ: your town hall may have issued an order on certain noises, and building co-ownership rules can limit or ban some of them. The recommended steps, in order: talk to your neighbour, then send a simple letter, then call the police or gendarmerie. After that, you can go to a court conciliator (free) and, as a last resort, take the matter to a judge, who can award damages.

Sources:

Troubles de voisinage : bruits créés par des comportements anormaux (service-public.gouv.fr)
Troubles de voisinage : bruits créés par des comportements anormaux (justice.fr)

From the article Neighbour upstairs walking in heels at night: a nuisance?

Footsteps, including heels, are classed as behavioural noise from a tenant or owner. To count as an abnormal neighbour nuisance, the noise must go beyond the ordinary inconveniences of living close to others. What matters is its loudness, how long it lasts and how often it happens: a one-off disturbance is less often recognised than a recurring one. This noise can be penalised during the day (7 am to 10 pm) and at night (10 pm to 7 am). Night-time noise that disturbs other people is punishable by a fine of up to 450 euros, and the item causing the noise can also be confiscated. Recommended steps: talk to the neighbour first, then write a simple letter, then a registered letter with proof of receipt. You can also inform the landlord or the building manager (syndic), and try a free court conciliator (conciliateur de justice) before going to a judge. Be careful: reporting someone to the police falsely can lead to a conviction for malicious accusation.

Sources:

Troubles de voisinage : bruits créés par des comportements anormaux (justice.fr)
Troubles du voisinage : que faire en cas de nuisances ? (masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr)

From the article Neighbour plays piano every evening: is that allowed?

In France, the Public Health Code (article R1336-5) states that no particular noise may, through its duration, repetition or intensity, harm the peace of the neighbourhood or people's health. Service-public lists musical instruments among the possible sources of disturbance.

Nationally, there are no set hours when noise is automatically allowed or banned, except night-time disturbance (tapage nocturne) between 10 pm and 7 am. So playing before 10 pm isn't an absolute right: noise can be penalised day or night if it goes beyond the normal inconveniences of living close to others. What matters is intensity, duration, repetition and the local setting.

Mayors can set hours through local by-laws. In a co-owned building, the building regulations may also restrict certain noises, so check with your town hall and read your regulations.

The person making the noise can be fined up to €450. Before going to court, an attempt to settle things amicably is mandatory: a conversation, a simple letter, then a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, and possibly a conciliator or mediator.

Sources:

Troubles de voisinage : bruits créés par des comportements anormaux (service-public.gouv.fr)
Article R1336-5 - Code de la santé publique (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Bruits de voisinage et excès sonores (dordogne.gouv.fr)

From the article My neighbour mows his lawn on Sundays: is he allowed to?

In France, there are no national time slots when noise is always allowed or always banned, except for night-time disturbance between 10 pm and 7 am. Mayors can issue local orders setting times when certain noises are banned or restricted. Some local or prefecture orders set hours for noisy gardening and DIY tools, such as lawnmowers. These hours vary from one town or department to another, so you need to check the order that applies where you live. On top of local hours, the Public Health Code (article R1336-5) sets a general rule: no particular noise may, through its length, repetition or loudness, harm the peace of the neighbourhood or people's health, in a public or private place. This includes noise from something you are in charge of, like a mower. If a neighbour ignores the local order, the official guidance suggests, among other steps, informing the mayor.

Sources:

Troubles de voisinage : bruits créés par des comportements anormaux (justice.fr)
Article R1336-5 - Code de la santé publique (legifrance.gouv.fr)

From the article Neighbour doing DIY at 8am on Saturday: is it allowed?

At national level, there are no set hours when noise is always allowed or always banned. The only exception is night-time disturbance, between 10pm and 7am. DIY hours are therefore set locally: prefecture or municipal orders can ban certain noises at certain times, DIY work for example. These hours vary from one département and town to another. In a block of flats, also check the building's co-ownership rules. For example, in the Doubs département, the prefecture order allows noisy DIY on Saturdays from 9am to 12pm and from 3pm to 7:30pm. There, drilling at 8am would fall outside the permitted hours. Even within the allowed hours, noise can be penalised if it disturbs others by its duration, repetition or intensity, by day or by night. The fine can be up to €450. To find out which rules apply where you live, ask your town hall (mairie).

Sources:

Troubles de voisinage : bruits créés par des comportements anormaux (service-public.gouv.fr)
Troubles du voisinage : que faire en cas de nuisances ? (masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr)
Réglementation: principales dispositions de l'arrêté préfectoral "bruit" (doubs.gouv.fr)

General information, not legal advice.

Hedges, trees and fences

Neighbour's bamboo spreading into my garden: what to do?
In France, you can cut the roots that cross into your land yourself, exactly at the boundary line. If the bamboo breaks the planting distance rules, you can also demand that it be removed or cut down, after first trying to settle things amicably.
Neighbour's hedge hangs over my garden: who must cut it?
In France, it's up to the hedge owner to cut back the branches hanging over your property. You can make them do it, but you can't cut the branches yourself.
Fence between two gardens: who has to pay?
In France, anyone may fence their land, but a neighbour can only be forced to share the cost of a new fence in towns and their suburbs. An existing shared fence is maintained at joint expense, unless one neighbour gives up their share of ownership.
Neighbour's tree leaves in my garden: who rakes them up?
In France, each owner normally clears the leaves that fall on their own land: no rule requires your neighbour to come and pick them up. However, you can demand that they cut branches overhanging your property, and take action if the nuisance becomes abnormal.

What the rules say

From the article Neighbour's bamboo spreading into my garden: what to do?

Roots: under Article 673 of the French Civil Code, if roots, brambles or twigs grow onto your land, you have the right to cut them yourself at the boundary line. This right never expires. Overhanging branches are different: you can't cut them yourself, you can only make your neighbour cut them. The law doesn't mention bamboo specifically.

Distances: the official service-public.gouv.fr guide does mention bamboo. Local rules can set the distance, so check with your town hall. Without a local rule, plants taller than 2 metres must be 2 metres from the boundary, and other plants 0.5 metres. Height is measured from the ground to the top, and distance from the middle of the trunk. If these rules are broken, the neighbour affected can demand removal or a cut back to the permitted height. There is one exception: the time limit for taking action, which starts from the day the plant grew past the permitted height.

What to do: you must try to settle things amicably before going to court. If that fails, the court where the land is located handles the case.

Sources:

Plantation de végétaux (haies, arbres, bambous...) (service-public.gouv.fr)
Article 673 - Code civil - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Article 671 - Code civil - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)

From the article Neighbour's hedge hangs over my garden: who must cut it?

Article 673 of the French Civil Code says that a person whose property has branches from a neighbour's trees, shrubs or bushes growing over it can require the neighbour to cut them. Service-public explains that cutting these branches is the plant owner's responsibility: you can make them do it, but you're not allowed to cut the branches yourself. If you can't reach an agreement, you have to take the matter to the court where the property is located.

Roots, brambles and twigs growing onto your land follow a different rule: you can cut them yourself, up to your property line. Fruit that falls naturally from the overhanging branches belongs to you. The right to have branches cut back never expires: the law says it is imprescriptible.

For planting distances, Article 671 first refers to local regulations and customs, which you can check with your town hall. Where none apply, plants taller than 2 metres must be 2 metres from the boundary, and others half a metre. If the hedge is jointly owned, either neighbour can remove it up to their property line, provided they build a wall on that line.

Sources:

Article 673 - Code civil - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Article 671 - Code civil - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Plantations (haies, arbres, arbustes...) (service-public.gouv.fr)

From the article Fence between two gardens: who has to pay?

Every owner has the right to fence their land, in town or in the countryside. That right doesn't mean the neighbour has to pay: the French Civil Code only provides for a mandatory contribution in one specific case.

Article 663 of the Civil Code: in towns and their suburbs, anyone can require their neighbour to contribute to building and repairing the fence that separates their houses, yards and gardens. The height is set by local regulations or established local custom.

A fence separating two properties is presumed to be jointly owned, with exceptions set by law, for instance when only one of the two properties is enclosed (article 666). A jointly owned fence is maintained at joint expense, but a neighbour can escape this obligation by giving up joint ownership (article 667).

In every case, the local planning rules must be respected (height, type, appearance and position of the fence). These vary from one municipality to another, and some rules come from local custom: ask the town hall's planning department. Finally, a fence must not cause an abnormal nuisance to the neighbour, for example by depriving them of light or view.

Sources:

Section 1 : Du mur et du fossé mitoyens (Articles 653 à 673) - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)
What are the rules for building or settling a fence? (service-public.gouv.fr)

From the article Neighbour's tree leaves in my garden: who rakes them up?

No French rule states that a tree owner must clear leaves that fall into a neighbour's garden. Article 673 of the Civil Code allows a person whose property is overhung by a neighbour's branches to require the owner to cut them. This right never expires. Service-public.fr specifies that you are not allowed to cut your neighbour's branches yourself. Fruit that falls naturally onto your land belongs to you. Planting distances depend first on local rules (check with your town hall). Otherwise, a tree taller than 2 metres must be at least 2 metres from the boundary, and lower plants 0.5 metres. Finally, since 17 April 2024, Article 1253 of the Civil Code makes anyone causing a nuisance beyond the normal inconveniences of living next door automatically liable for the resulting harm. It is up to a judge to decide, case by case, whether a nuisance goes beyond what is normal between neighbours.

Sources:

Article 673 - Code civil - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Article 1253 - Code civil - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Plantation de végétaux (haies, arbres, bambous...) (service-public.gouv.fr)

General information, not legal advice.

Parking

Neighbour parking in front of my gate: what can I do?
In France, parking on a public road in front of a driveway entrance counts as obstructive parking, with a €35 fine. Talk to your neighbour first.
Neighbor parks in my space when I'm away: is it OK?
In France, parking in someone else's private space without permission is not a right, even if it's empty. The holder can say no.

What the rules say

From the article Neighbour parking in front of my gate: what can I do?

On public roads, the French Highway Code (article R417-10) treats parking in front of the driveway entrances of roadside properties as obstructive, meaning, in plain terms, a gate or garage a car can drive through. The text makes no exception for a neighbour, or even for the owner of the gate. According to Service Public, obstructive parking carries a fixed fine of €35. The vehicle can also be immobilised and towed to the pound if the driver is absent or refuses to move it. A private individual cannot decide to have a car towed: it is ordered by a judicial police officer or assistant judicial police officer (national police, municipal police, gendarmerie). If your gate opens onto a private road, a housing estate lane or a shared courtyard in a co-owned building, different rules may apply: check the co-ownership or estate regulations.

Sources:

Article R417-10 - Code de la route - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Amende pour stationnement interdit (abusif, gênant, très gênant, dangereux) (service-public.gouv.fr)
Fourrière : ce que vous devez savoir (economie.gouv.fr)

From the article Neighbor parks in my space when I'm away: is it OK?

In a private car park where the Highway Code doesn't apply (for example a gated residential car park), the French Highway Code (Code de la route) says that vehicles left there "without right" can be impounded at the request of the "maître des lieux" (the person in charge of the premises), at their own responsibility (article L325-12). You make the request to the local judicial police officer, at the police or gendarmerie station (article R325-47). If you know the car owner's name and address, you must attach proof that you sent them a formal notice by letter with acknowledgment of receipt, giving them 8 days from receipt to remove the car (article R325-48). If you don't know who they are, you attach a request to identify them. Towing and storage fees are paid by the vehicle's owner (article L325-9). If the car park is open to public traffic, different rules may apply. In a co-owned building, also check what your building's rules (règlement de copropriété) say.

Sources:

Sous-section 2 : Véhicules laissés sans droit dans des lieux non ouverts à la circulation publique. (Articles R325-47 à R325-52) - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Article L325-12 - Code de la route - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Chapitre 5 : Immobilisation et mise en fourrière. (Articles L325-1 à L325-14) - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)

General information, not legal advice.

Smoke and barbecues

Neighbour's barbecue smoke: is it allowed in France?
In France, yes, as long as it's occasional: a barbecue now and then isn't an abnormal neighbour nuisance, even if it smokes. It can be penalised if it's frequent and long, meant to annoy, damages your home, or breaks a local order or building rules.
Neighbour smoking on their balcony: what to say?
In France, a neighbour's smoke can only be penalised if it amounts to an abnormal neighbourhood disturbance, judged on intensity, frequency and duration. Start by talking calmly and suggesting concrete fixes before sending any letter.

What the rules say

From the article Neighbour's barbecue smoke: is it allowed in France?

Using a barbecue now and then is not considered an abnormal neighbour nuisance, even if it gives off smoke and smells, as long as the bother is occasional and unintentional (because of the wind, for example). However, a court may treat frequent, long use as a nuisance. The same goes if the barbecue is used to annoy the neighbour, or if it damages their home (a wall blackened by smoke, ash blowing over).

A municipal or prefectoral order may restrict barbecues, for example at certain times of year: check with your town hall. In a co-owned building or a housing estate, the co-ownership rules or the estate's specifications can limit or ban barbecues. A lease can also set rules. If these rules are broken, you can tell the building manager or the mayor.

Recommended steps: talk to the neighbour first, then send a simple letter, then a formal notice by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. After that, you can turn to a court conciliator (free), a mediator or a participatory procedure. This attempt at a friendly solution is required before going to court. The judge can then order the nuisance to stop, possibly with a daily penalty, and award compensation. Getting help from a lawyer is recommended.

Sources:

Que faire en cas d'utilisation abusive d'un barbecue par un voisin ? (service-public.gouv.fr)
Barbecue, réglementation et voisinage : que devez-vous respecter ? (anil.org)

From the article Neighbour smoking on their balcony: what to say?

Official French guidance doesn't treat tobacco as a separate case: the general rules on smell nuisances apply. A smell can be penalised if it amounts to an abnormal neighbourhood disturbance, meaning it goes beyond the normal inconveniences of living near others. The Civil Code (Article 1253) says that whoever causes such a disturbance is automatically liable for the resulting harm, with no need to prove fault. A judge decides case by case, looking in particular at intensity, frequency, duration, the surroundings and compliance with regulations. Any kind of evidence is accepted: witness statements, a petition, a report by a court officer (commissaire de justice), letters sent to the neighbour. In a co-owned building, check the building rules (règlement de copropriété) first: they can restrict or even ban certain practices. If there is a clause on smells, inform the property manager (syndic). Before going to court, an attempt at an amicable settlement is mandatory: a court conciliator (free), a mediator (paid) or a participatory procedure. If the disturbance is recognised, the person responsible can be ordered to pay damages, and a lease can be terminated if they are a tenant.

Sources:

Troubles de voisinage : nuisances olfactives (odeurs) (service-public.gouv.fr)
Chapitre IV : Les troubles anormaux du voisinage (Article 1253) - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Modèle de lettre - Mise en demeure de cesser les nuisances de voisinage (service-public.gouv.fr)

General information, not legal advice.

Privacy

Neighbour's camera filming my garden: is it legal?
In France, no: according to the CNIL, people may install a camera at home, but it may only film their own property. If it covers your garden, ask your neighbour to re-angle it.
Neighbor keeps taking my parcels: favor or problem?
It's a favor done in good faith, but it becomes a problem when nobody knows where the parcel is. The easiest fix is to agree on a clear signal: a note in the mailbox or a quick text.

What the rules say

From the article Neighbour's camera filming my garden: is it legal?

According to the CNIL (France's data protection authority), people may install cameras at home to keep it secure. However, they must respect the privacy of their neighbours, visitors and passers-by. The cameras may only film their own property: the inside of the house or flat, the garden, the private access path and the front of the home. A neighbour's garden is not part of that. These systems are exempt from personal data protection rules only if they stay strictly within the private sphere.

If you think your neighbour's camera invades your privacy, the CNIL says you can contact its complaints department, the police, the gendarmerie or the municipal police.

Under criminal law, Article 226-1 of the French Criminal Code sets a penalty of one year in prison and a 45,000 euro fine for deliberately invading someone's privacy. This includes capturing, recording or transmitting, without consent, the image of a person who is in a private place. The same article says consent is presumed if this happens in plain sight of the person and they do not object when they could have. The courts assess each situation on its own facts.

Sources:

Mon voisin a installé une caméra qui filme mon domicile, quels sont mes recours ? (cnil.fr)
La vidéosurveillance – vidéoprotection chez soi (cnil.fr)
Article 226-1 - Code pénal - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)

General information, not legal advice.

Shared areas and buildings

Neighbor feeding pigeons, dirty balcony: who's right?
In France, regularly attracting or feeding pigeons is banned when it makes things unsanitary, for example droppings that dirty the neighbors' balconies. So the neighbor should stop, but a calm talk is still the best first step.
Dog poop outside the building: who should clean it up?
It's first up to the dog's owner to pick up after their own pet, wherever it is. In France, cleaning the pavement usually depends on the town, and shared areas fall to the building's management or landlord, not to a neighbour picked at random.
Can you dry laundry on your balcony in a French condo?
In France, condo law lets each owner use their home freely, as long as they don't harm the other owners. The building's co-ownership rules can restrict or ban hanging laundry outside, so check them first.
Neighbour's bins left outside my house: what to do?
Start by talking calmly with your neighbour: they often don't realise it bothers you, and a simple fix usually works (a different spot, bins taken in quickly). If nothing changes, check your town hall's local collection rules, then consider mediation.
Can you leave a stroller in your building's lobby?
In France, it mainly depends on the building's co-ownership rules, which set how the lobby can be used. If they say nothing, the law still lets residents use common areas, but only without harming the rights of other residents.

What the rules say

From the article Neighbor feeding pigeons, dirty balcony: who's right?

The French Public Health Code (article R1331-54) bans systematically or regularly attracting or feeding animals, including pigeons and cats, when this makes things unsanitary. So two conditions must both be met: the feeding is regular, and it causes dirt or a hygiene problem.

On top of that, the prefect (the state's local representative) can issue an order banning the feeding of wild animals, including pigeons, in a given area and for a set period. The goal is to stop diseases from spreading. This ban often appears in the departmental health regulations, which you can read on the prefecture's website or the regional health agency's (ARS) website. The exact rules therefore depend on the department. Also check with your town hall and read your building's co-ownership rules or your lease.

If the problem continues, the authorities recommend going step by step: a letter, then a registered letter (formal notice), then trying to settle it amicably with a court conciliator, the landlord, the building manager or a local mediator. If needed, you can then have a bailiff (commissaire de justice) record the facts, or contact the town hall.

Sources:

A-t-on le droit de nourrir les pigeons ? (service-public.gouv.fr)
Article R1331-54 - Code de la santé publique - Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Troubles du voisinage : que faire en cas de nuisances ? (masecurite.interieur.gouv.fr)

Verified on 24 October 2026

From the article Can you dry laundry on your balcony in a French condo?

In France, the Act of 10 July 1965 on co-ownership sets the principle: each owner freely uses the private parts of their unit and the common parts. The only condition is not to harm the rights of the other owners or the intended use of the building.

The co-ownership rules (règlement de copropriété) set the intended use of private and common parts and the conditions for using them. So they can include rules on hanging laundry. But they cannot impose restrictions that aren't justified by the building's intended use, as defined in its founding documents, its features or its location.

The answer therefore depends on your building: one set of rules may ban visible laundry, another may say nothing. If the rules are silent, you can dry your laundry outside as long as it doesn't bother your neighbours. It's also worth asking your town hall whether a local rule applies.

Sources:

Article 9 - Loi n° 65-557 du 10 juillet 1965 fixant le statut de la copropriété des immeubles bâtis (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Chapitre I : Définition et organisation de la copropriété. (Articles 1 à 16-2) (legifrance.gouv.fr)

From the article Can you leave a stroller in your building's lobby?

In France, the lobby of a co-owned building is one of the common areas, meaning the parts set aside for the use or benefit of all co-owners, or of some of them (Article 3 of the law of 10 July 1965). Each co-owner can freely use the common areas, as long as they don't harm the rights of other co-owners or the building's intended use (Article 9 of the same law). The co-ownership rules (règlement de copropriété) set the purpose of the common areas and how they can be used. So they can ban or limit leaving items such as strollers in the lobby. The rule varies from one building to another, and this is the first document to check. Changing the rules on how common areas are used requires a vote at the general meeting by the double majority known as "Article 26". If you rent, also ask your landlord which rules apply in the building.

Sources:

Article 9 - Loi n° 65-557 du 10 juillet 1965 fixant le statut de la copropriété des immeubles bâtis (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Chapitre I : Définition et organisation de la copropriété. (Articles 1 à 16-2) (legifrance.gouv.fr)
Règlement de copropriété (service-public.gouv.fr)

General information, not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Can I complain about barking before 10 pm?

Yes. In France, a noise can be an abnormal neighbourhood nuisance during the day too, if it is repetitive, intense or long-lasting. The 10 pm cut-off only applies to night-time disturbance.

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Am I allowed to cut my neighbour's bamboo roots?

Yes. In France, Article 673 of the Civil Code lets you cut roots that grow onto your land yourself, at the boundary line, without asking permission. This right doesn't expire over time.

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Can I have the car blocking my gate towed myself?

No. In France, towing to the pound is ordered by a judicial police officer or assistant officer (national police, municipal police or gendarmerie). Call them rather than a tow truck, and don't touch the vehicle.

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Can you have a barbecue on a balcony in a French flat?

There's no general ban. But the co-ownership rules or your lease can limit or ban barbecues, so check with your building manager or landlord.

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Is my neighbour allowed to install a camera at home?

Yes. According to the CNIL, people in France may install cameras at home for security. But the cameras may only film their own property, and they must respect their neighbours' privacy.

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Is it legal to feed pigeons from your balcony in France?

In France, it's banned if you feed them regularly and it makes things unsanitary, for example droppings on the neighbors' balconies. Depending on the department, a prefect's order or the departmental health regulations can be stricter.

From the article Neighbor feeding pigeons, dirty balcony: who's right?

Can you make as much noise as you like until 10 pm?

No, that's a myth. In France, noise that is too loud, too long or repeated can be penalised at any time, even in broad daylight.

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Can I cut my neighbour's overhanging branches myself?

No. In France, the law only lets you require your neighbour to cut them. If you'd still rather do it yourself, the safest option is to get their written permission first.

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Can I have my neighbor's car towed right away?

Usually not, in a private car park closed to the public. The Highway Code says to go through the judicial police officer. If you know the owner, you first have to send a formal notice by letter with acknowledgment of receipt, giving them 8 days to move the car.

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Is my neighbour allowed to smoke on their balcony?

The official sources we checked have no specific rule about smoking on a balcony. The limit is an abnormal neighbourhood disturbance. In a co-owned building, the building rules may also restrict some practices, so check them.

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All the verdicts in this category

Written with the help of AI · This is not legal advice. How Who's Right decides

Disputes between neighbors: the guide

Noise

Hedges, trees and fences

Parking

Smoke and barbecues

Privacy

Shared areas and buildings

Frequently asked questions

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