Restaurant terrace permits in France: the process and the rules

How do you get a terrace permit for a restaurant in France?

The pavement, square or street in front of your restaurant is public land. To put tables and chairs there, you need the agreement of the authority in charge of it. This is true even if the previous owner had a terrace: the permit was in their name, not attached to the premises.

The basic rules are national, but each French town sets its own: fees, dimensions, furniture, hours, sometimes even parasol colours. This guide gives you the official framework; your town hall will give you the details, often in a terrace charter. The terrace is one of the steps to open a restaurant in France: for the big picture, see opening a restaurant in France.

Pavement permit or fixed-terrace permit: which one do you need?

Service Public Entreprendre, the French government’s business portal, distinguishes three permits. For a restaurant, the first two matter.

Most restaurants apply for a pavement permit for an open terrace. A closed terrace (glazed, with a fixed floor) needs a permission de voirie, and often planning permissions too: ask at the town hall before ordering anything.

Good to know: a simple counter opening onto the street, where customers only stay on the pavement while buying, does not need a permit according to the official page. As soon as you put out a table or a chair, however, you need one.

What should the application include, and where do you send it?

You apply to the town hall, or the prefecture depending on the road (some roads are not managed by the town). Many towns have their own online form; otherwise, form cerfa no. 14023 is used.

The documents usually requested, according to Service Public Entreprendre:

• a company registration extract (Kbis) or proof of registration in the national business register;
• the licence, for a café or restaurant;
• the commercial lease or property deed for the premises;
• proof of insurance;
• a description and plan of the installation (surface, table layout, furniture);
• bank details for paying the fee.

The list varies from town to town: ask the town hall before applying. A precise plan, with the pavement measurements and the space left for pedestrians, often speeds things up.

Timing

Processing usually takes 2 weeks to 1 month. Careful: if the town hall does not reply within 2 months, the application is considered refused, not accepted. The decision takes the form of an order (arrêté), displayed for at least 2 months. Apply well before the season: a terrace ready on the first sunny day earns more than one approved in July.

How much does a terrace cost?

A terrace on public land is subject to a fee, also called a road occupation fee (droit de voirie), paid to the town. There is no national rate: each town sets its own. According to Service Public Entreprendre, it depends on three things:

• the surface used;
• the duration: all year or seasonal only;
• the commercial value of the street: a busy square costs more than a quiet side street.

The amount can change at renewal. To know whether the terrace is worth it, do the maths before applying. A fictional example: a terrace of 8 tables, served 100 days a year, bringing 2 extra covers per table per day at an average spend of €20 before VAT, adds 8 × 2 × 100 × 20 = €32,000 of turnover. Compare this with the fee, the furniture, extra staff and food cost, using the method in restaurant profitability.

Which rules apply once the terrace is set up?

The permit is not a permanent right: it sets conditions, and breaking them can be expensive. The general rules given by the official page:

• Do not obstruct pedestrians, people with reduced mobility or visual impairments, or access for emergency services.
• Leave access to neighbouring buildings.
• Preserve the peace of the neighbourhood.
• Respect the dates and hours set in the order.
• Stay within the permitted surface: no extra table “just for tonight”.
• Follow the rules of your trade, including food hygiene, on the terrace too.

Heating and air conditioning are forbidden on an open terrace. They are only allowed, under conditions, on a closed terrace that is sealed and airtight.

Penalties: setting up a terrace without a permit, breaking its terms or not paying the fee exposes you to a €1,500 fine, according to Service Public Entreprendre. The permit can also be withdrawn.

Do not forget the signs: in France, prices must be visible from outside during service. The full list is in mandatory restaurant signs in France.

Is the terrace passed on when you buy a restaurant?

No, not automatically. The permit is personal: it cannot be sold, transferred or sublet. When a business is sold, the buyer must apply again. According to the official page, the holder can put forward a successor to the town, under conditions the town sets.

This is essential if you are buying a restaurant in France: part of the turnover may come from the terrace. Before signing:

• ask the seller for the current permit order and its conditions (surface, duration, season);
• ask the town hall about the chances of renewal in your name;
• ask what share of turnover comes from the terrace;
• if possible, make the preliminary agreement conditional on getting the terrace.

Since the permit can also be revoked at any time without compensation (roadworks, new rules), never build your business plan on the terrace alone.

How do you let people know your terrace is open?

A terrace attracts passers-by, but also customers searching “restaurant with terrace” on their phone. A few simple steps:

• Add daylight photos of the terrace to your Google listing.
• Mention the terrace in your Google listing’s attributes and description.
• Update your hours if the terrace has different hours, and remember special hours.
• Announce the start of the season on social media and on your website.
• Think about booking: say whether terrace tables can be booked or not.

Prepare the team for terrace service

A terrace changes the work in the dining room: longer walks, trays carried outside, tables that empty all at once when it rains. Before the season, decide who serves the terrace, how orders reach the kitchen, and what happens to bookings if the weather turns. Write it down for the team, and check that the permitted surface is respected at every service, including on busy evenings when it is tempting to add a table. A clear routine keeps both customers and neighbours happy, and protects your permit at renewal time.

For more ideas to fill the dining room and the terrace, see getting more restaurant customers.

The restaurant owner’s guide

Open, run, grow: each stage has its full guide and detailed guides, with their reading time.

This guide for your trade

• Restaurants
• Bars and cafés
• Restaurant website

Go further

• How to open a restaurant in France
• Permits to open a restaurant in France
• Mandatory restaurant signs in France
• Buying a restaurant in France
• Google Business Profile: the complete guide